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Audi A4
One should be considerate towards an older gentleman, after all, it has been around since 1972 and deserves a special status, indeed, all the models that followed were only possible because of its technology.
This
even includes the Quattro drive train. In particular the first and a few further Passat models profited from it. In the past, this was the one that was meant when anyone spoke of 'Audi', even though at that time, it was
still
called the Audi 80. In Autumn, together with the A4, the estimate is, that 10 million vehicles will have been produced.
Of course, it doesn't look like at all like an elderly gentleman, on the contrary, even though, going against the latest trends, it has grown a little, 2,5 centimetres longer and a good centimetres more wheelbase. It
suits
the car well and is good for the aerodynamics. Exceptional values underline this, whereby the difference between the saloon (0,23) and the Avant (0,26), is surprising. Then, there is again the 'up to' 120 kg lighter.
What
they should do, is give us the exact model and how it is fitted out to achieve these fabled values.
It certainly was quite a feat, to offer nearly all the engines, except for the natural gas variation, in both the saloon and the Avant, and that in the first year. As far as the CO2-emission is concerned, once
again the petrol engines have profited the most. Here there is probably still a bit more to be had. Since the Euro 6 classification, the Diesel engines can't avoid AdBlue any longer, whereby recently, the size of the
fuel-
tank can be selected. The rest can be dealt with quickly: Performance, Performance, Performance.
The automatic transmission has undergone a small alteration. It is the final demise of the infinitely variable drive in favour of the popular double-clutch gearbox. Perhaps in the near future the price may also
become a
bit more reasonable. The strongest Diesel engine however, still maintains the eight-speed converter automatic gearbox. 600 Nm of torque does impose severe demands. If you happen to have your eye on the
fabulous 3.0 TDI, then give some thought to the negligibly weaker model, not only because of this automatic but also because it is the most ecologically friendly six-cylinder that there is.
In the above picture, you can see the filigree front- and rear axle. Thereby, the sports differential can only be had together with the
strongest Diesel engine. This is then really laid out for the highest driving performance. Pay attention to the almost totally enclosed underbody. This is also where good aerodynamics begins. Apart from this, we
can
hardly keep pace when describing the new technology.
Audi states that the maximum number of control devices installed is '90'. Now, one should not imagine most of them to be very large. Nevertheless, the number is impressive, also the stronger emphasis on
FlexRay
than on the, as far as the latent-time is concerned, more stable Bus. As an option, there is the 12,3 inch virtual cockpit behind the steering wheel with a resolution of 1.440 x 540 pixels. The somewhat unshapely 7-
inch, (800 x 480 pixels) MMI-monitor perches on the dashboard, and unfortunately cannot be folded down. 07/15
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