Slicker and Quicker - The New Audi A4

It would appear if you asked most Motor journalists atThe rationale behind this according to an Audi
the moment that new models from Audi would appearspokesman was that the company was most keen
to be arriving by the bucket load.not to detract from the popularity of the A4 and
The entire industry is rife with rumours left right andtherefore adversely affect sales of one of their
centre about the features or non-features theflagship models. Considering the fact that the new
brand-new Q5 has which of course Audi are keepingmodel is scheduled to go on sale in mid to late 2008
under a real tight cover.then you can understand the company's reluctance to
So what is the motor journalist to do when asked bypositively do anything that would damage existing
his editor to go out and find out as much informationsales.
about the new Audi A4 is possible?With regards to the engines for the new series is
Not the easiest of tasks but here goes.probable that in the first stages the engine range from
What are we to expect with the new A4? Well to bethe current A4 will be carried over so that means that
honest we are not actually going to have to wait thatthe popular 2L TDI Diesel variants will be unaffected.
long before the new A4 appears in "the metal" so toThese are expected to be joined by naturally
speak at this years Frankfurt motor show in Germanyaspirated and turbocharged 2L petrol variants.
in September.At the top end of the scale it is expected that the
Trying to put together information gleaned fromcompany will introduce a series of high performance
various different source is it would appear that beingvariants such as the S4 and the even faster RS4. At
you a full is clearly a four door saloon with what looksthe moment none of the test staff or design people in
like conventional handles. At the front-end of the car itAudi are prepared to comment.
is probably likely to display the latest sort of styling theLastly it is expected that the new A4 will be offered in
company has become famous with i.e. a four sidedboth saloon and Avant estate versions initially and it is
grille with the company logo on the front.hoped that a new version of the soft top will be
At the rear end of the car, the lamp clusters it isreleased the year later. The company have yet to
reckoned could well resemble a carbon copy of themake a decision whether the new Cabriolet will retain
current A5 coupes rear.the fabric top or whether the company will return to
The thing about the launch of the new A4 is thatfolding metal hard tops following the path of BMW.
though it is quite common practice amongst carIt is expected that this is unlikely to happen as the
manufacturers to keep information under wraps asCompany are on record as saying that this is a road
much as possible, it is probably quite rare to keep thisthat they do not wish to go down again.
control of information is tight as it currently is.Time will tell.