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August 30, 2001
The New A4 Avant: Dynamism and Design in the Fast Lane
Text and pictures courtesy of Audi AG
The new Audi A4 Avant has arrived: it provides top-level dynamism with the unsurpassed agility of its aluminum suspension and powerful, free-revving engines. Its design combines aesthetic precision and functional perfection in a truly modern interpretation of the Avant’s typical lines. It’s a genuine Audi in every way.
After an impressively successful history – with more than 500,000 units sold, the A4 Avant is the most successful premium estate car in its segment worldwide – Audi now presents the next generation. The current A4 Avant again overtakes its competitors and makes a convincingly dynamic design statement.
Audi A4 Avant: the trend-setter
Audi A4 Avant: since 1996 this model designation has stood for one of the most popular vehicles in its segment. From the very start the A4 Avant became the best-selling car in the German premium midsize estate car segment and remains unchallenged to this day.
In other markets, too, the Avant quickly became one of the most popular cars in the upper midsize class. In Western Europe, the Audi A4 raced clearly ahead of its two main German premium-segment rivals in the sales statistics.
The previous A4 Avant, introduced in 1996, sold more than 300,000 units in Western Europe alone and established a new segment. Its name became a synonym for the compact, exclusive estate car. This success is evident from a glance at the sales statistics: the Avant’s share in the total volume of Audi A4 sales was 47 percent in 2000 and therefore significantly higher than competitors’ shares in the premium segment.
There are many reasons for this success story, for instance the big range of engines – spark-ignition units from 102 to 193 bhp and TDI engines from 90 to 150 bhp – provides an ideal choice for everybody.
Every model except those with entry-level engines was available with quattro permanent all-wheel drive, a unique option in this class.
Audi quattro: this term has long been synonymous with a perfect blend of good handling and safe driving in all conditions. It comes as no surprise therefore to learn that latterly almost one in four buyers of the A4 have opted for quattro permanent all-wheel drive.
An equally important factor for many drivers of the A4 has been the quality of the materials used on this model and its standard of workmanship throughout its entire life cycle – in both cases with the influence of the luxury car class well and truly evident. Such standards have always been particularly noticeable inside the A4. Its drivers benefited from a wide range of equipment and customization options. The A4 model range proved capable of satisfying the desire for both undiluted sports character and exclusive lifestyle articles.
Audi's development engineers also treated safety as a matter of prime importance on the A4 Avant. Outstanding body rigidity, the safety pedal system and finally the pioneering SIDEGUARD airbag system are prime examples of advanced technology for occupant safety. Market studies have revealed that safety was consequently one of the key criteria for many customers deciding to buy an A4 Avant in the first place.
Interestingly, though, in many instances it was also a case of "love at first sight". The Audi A4 Avant’s sporty, functional design impressed customers and experts alike. In 1999, three years after its introduction, as many as 40 percent of A4 Avant drivers declared that design was their most important reason for buying the car. ”Love at first sight” was thus mentioned twice as often as for its two most important competitors from Germany.
The Design
The already classic, sporty yet elegant outline of the preceding model and its enduring appeal dictated two important requirements to be met by the designers of the latest Audi A4 Avant. They decided that this latest version of the Audi Avant should retain a shape noted for its clarity and precision.
As with the saloon, the decisive move by Audi’s design team led by Peter Schreyer was to reduce the chosen lines and design elements to an optical minimum.
What are the features of this formal idiom? Even at first glance, one can identify the relationship between large, clearly shaped body surfaces and the flat, equally bold strip formed by the windows. The discreetly ascending shoulder line and the flat roof area highlight the powerful, dynamic appearance even at a standstill. Clear proportions, a mild wedge-shaped outline and the striking, circular wheel arch cutouts give the A4 Avant’s silhouette that genuine Audi look at the very first glance.
No less typical of contemporary Audi design is the way in which the geometry of the joint lines is mapped out with exactitude, as if with a single stroke of the pen. Vertical seams connect the car's underbody with the headlights; the bumpers seem to be genuinely supporting the lighting units.
The well-balanced, simply styled rear end underlines this tension. Seen from the rear, the A4 Avant looks wide and muscular. A chromium edge strip highlights the load area. Visible exhaust tailpipes for spark-ignition engines and alloy wheel rims up to 17 inches in diameter add to the car’s sports and elegant character.
This is the image of a vehicle that has come of age, as confirmed by the exterior dimensions. The new A4 Avant’s overall length is 4,544 millimeters. The wheelbase has gone up by 33 millimeters from the previous model. Rear-seat occupants in particular benefit from 43 millimeters more knee room.
Overall width has increased to 1,766 millimeters, making the journey considerably more comfortable, as this increases elbow room for the front passengers by 17 millimeters and as much as 29 millimeters for the rear occupants. The height has gone up by 12 to 1,428 millimeters, to the benefit of the interior. Headroom at the front is 13 millimeters greater.
The Interior
As in the A4 saloon, the Avant’s interior combines exceptional ergonomics with a subjective feeling of comfort. Its spaciousness marks a leap forward from one design generation to the next.
The lines of the new A4’s cockpit extend far into the door-panel and middle console areas, ”embracing” the driver as it were. This ”wrap-around” effect is accentuated by the A4's high waistline.
The architecture of the dash panel and center console make it possible to accommodate instruments and controls at a high level, in other words within the driver's ideal field of vision – an ergonomic strategy that is adopted in every aircraft cockpit for very good reasons.
The new lines divides the driver’s display and control area into clearly defined zones. These can be distinguished at a glance, which is a worthwhile ergonomic improvement that speeds up access to the individual information units and function groups. This has been achieved in a visual and haptic manner: the control and display elements are associated with one another as functional units by means of the materials used.
The most important information elements on the instrument panel are located under a dome-shaped cover. The dial graphics of the large round instruments dispense with all fashionable gimmicks. Together with the standard central color display, the white instrument lighting ensures optimum readability.
The most important controls for occupant comfort and convenience are grouped together on the center console: automatic air conditioning, the audio system and the swivel monitor for the optional navigation system Plus. The separate air conditioning controls are within easy reach of both front seat occupants.
The door trim design reflects the differing needs of the driver and front passenger. Because no grab handle is needed on the driver's side, the window lift buttons and door mirror adjusters are integrated here, in the best location ergonomically. The front passenger, on the other hand, has the grab handle precisely where it is ergonomically most appreciated. The padded door armrests and the optional center armrest are immaculate touches on both sides.
As in the A4 saloon, the seats are of completely new design and improve the A4 Avant’s ergonomics even further. They have a larger cushion surface for increased thigh support and comfort. This improves the sitting position considerably, particularly for tall occupants. The fine-adjustment mechanism allows the front seats to be adjusted almost continuously in the forward/back direction and in height.
There are more benefits to the new interior design apart from sheer practicality. The design of the self-contained zones also creates a basis for a wide range of materials and color options. From the designers' viewpoint, this opens up entirely new horizons, and for the A4's customers it provides scope for an unprecedented degree of customization.
The customer's tastes and imagination are almost unrestricted when it comes to the choice of equipment and decor. Craftsmanship and the quality of all fabrics and upholstery materials to standards you would normally expect to find only in a luxury model – a true indication of how Audi perceives itself as a supplier of fine cars.
The Load Area
The A4 Avant’s load area combines an exclusive atmosphere with optimum usability and a versatile layout. This synthesis of successful interior design and multi-functionality sets new standards.
The available storage space has been increased by inserting a variable double storage floor. With three different floor-panel positions, the load area capacity is between 377 (closed), 422 (partially open) and 442 liters (removed). With the storage floor open, the increase in capacity compared with the previous model is between 32 or 52 liters. Maximum storage capacity with the rear seat folded is 1,184 liters. Loading heavy and bulky objects into the car is simplified considerably by the low height of the loading edge. Objects up to 1,000 mm wide can be loaded through the hatch opening, which is unprecedented among B-segment premium estate cars,. Through-loading width has been increased by 64 mm compared with the previous model and the load aperture width by as much as 70 mm.
The smooth-surfaced inside panels have no bulges, making the load area look tidy at all times. The available capacity can be used efficiently, with neither edges nor projections in the way.
Even in its standard version, the A4 Avant’s load area offers a full range of ingenious details such as a net for small items, chrome-plated load-securing lugs, a storage compartment behind a cover in the rear side panel, an easily accessible 12V power socket in the side panel and a light in the tailgate that also illuminates the area behind the vehicle. To increase carrying capacity, the rear seat back can be folded by one third, two thirds or completely.
The load-area floor is at the same height as the folded rear seat backrests, thus guaranteeing an almost level storage surface thanks to optimized backrest pivot points. The luggage cover and the dividing net are located in a special compact, space-saving housing.
This combined housing is attached to the wider part of the rear seat backrest and folds forwards with it. In this position, the housing can easily be removed through the rear side door.
In many vehicles, extending the dividing net requires some dexterity. This is why a more convenient, innovative solution is used on the A4 Avant. The new dividing net can be attached to the retaining eyelets without having to apply excess tension, and subsequently tautens itself automatically. The net can be used in the rear or front rear-seat back positions. The luggage cover can also be operated conveniently with one hand.
The storage floor is a second level in the luggage compartment, but is not rigidly attached to the vehicle and can be folded. Its position can therefore be changed easily, making a useful contribution to the unique level of load-area versatility.
Under the floor there is a plastic pan attached to the body; this increases carrying capacity further. It is made of water-repellent PP plastic with an embossed surface, and is easy to clean.
The toolbox cover in the spare wheel recess on the opposite side from the plastic pan is dust-proof, which is particularly beneficial when dirty objects have to be carried.
The load area can be prepared for various transporting tasks with a few simple movements. To carry smaller objects securely, the floor panel can be positioned vertically in the middle of the load area. If the plastic pan is to be used for transporting larger objects, the floor panel can be folded forwards completely. When maximum load capacity is needed, the entire floor panel can be removed equally easily.
The reflective warning triangle is stored on the inside of the tailgate und can therefore be reached even if the load area is full. The tailgate opens to an overall height of 1.98 meters, which corresponds to an inside handle height of 1.83 meters. By applying additional pressure, the tailgate can be raised by an additional 15 centimeters and stops in every intermediate position thanks to a new gas spring. This prevents damage caused by striking low garage ceilings.
Two handle recesses at the left and right allow the tailgate to be pulled shut from any position.
A load-area package with practical detail solutions for numerous situations is available as an optional extra: a luggage net prevents objects from sliding about; it can be fastened in no time at all to the four lugs provided. The luggage net can also be transformed into a net-type storage pouch and attached behind the rear seat or at the rear to carry smaller items. There is a choice between hooks on the left and right side trims or two hooks on the luggage cover housing or beneath the roller cover. A retaining strap in the right side trim can also be used to secure smaller objects and is adjustable to several positions.
The Petrol Engines
The new 3.0-litre V6
Audi is also presenting a new top engine in the A4 Avant: the 2,976 cc V6 with five-valve cylinder head and a power output of 162 kW (220 bhp) at 6,300 rpm. Its maximum torque is 300 Nm at 3,200 rpm, enough to accelerate the front-wheel drive A4 Avant with 5-speed manual gearbox from a standstill to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 243 km/h.
The average consumption of this version is a mere 9.6 liters per 100 kilometers (1999/100 EC).
This engine differs from the previous 2.8-litre V6 not only because of the power output and engine size increase by 20 kW (27 bhp) and 0.2 liters respectively. It shares only the basic concept, the 90-degree cylinder bank angle and the identical bore with the smaller V6. The Audi 3.0 V6 engine consequently not only has a very high power output, but is in fact one of the most modern engines of its kind.
The supremacy of this engine is audibly expressed by its carefully tuned, sporty sound. And the new design of the engine compartment, signaling a departure from plastic-shrouded drive units, is a visual reflection of the advanced technical caliber of Audi engines.
The new 3.0 V6 is a remarkable 17 kilograms lighter than its 2.8-litre predecessor, and weighs just 163 kilograms. Choosing aluminum for the engine block has made a significant contribution to the radically reduced weight. But in view of the increased loads resulting from the increased power output and higher engine speeds, it was nevertheless necessary to revise the design radically.
Weight-saving construction principles also dictated the use of new smooth-skirt pistons with small-diameter, short piston pins. Compared with the 2.8-litre engine, the moving masses have been reduced by 71 grams, a measure that enhances the engine's special quality of freedom from vibration.
The new engine has a balancer shaft or, more accurately, a mass equalizing shaft, for optimized smooth running. The balancer shaft is driven from the crankshaft via a roller chain at a ratio of 1:1; the direction of rotation is opposite to that of the crankshaft. This measure suppresses mechanical vibration and greatly improves engine acoustics.
In the 3.0 V6, the inlet camshaft can be gradually advanced by up to 42 degrees by a motor-driven pivoting mechanism; on the exhaust side, the camshaft can be retarded as necessary by up to 22 degrees. The system achieves maximum overlap at an engine speed of only 1,900 rpm, thus generating the highest possible torque. Peak torque of 300 Nm is available at as low an engine speed as 3,200 rpm, but what is surely no less impressive is that 90 percent of this figure is available all the way from 2,200 to 5,200 rpm.
The new Audi 3.0 V6’s engine management is supplied by Bosch – the Motronic ME 7.7.1. Electronic accelerator system and continuous oxygen sensing ensure optimum mixture preparation and, consequently, low fuel consumption and excellent exhaust emission quality.
The new 2.0-litre engine
The other newcomer to the range of petrol engines for the new Audi A4 Avant is the four-cylinder inline engine with a displacement of 1,984 cc and an output of 96 kW (130 bhp).
As for the 3.0 V6, the engine block of the 2.0-litre unit is made of aluminum for significantly reduced weight. At 129 kilograms, the Audi’s two-liter four-cylinder engine is the lightest in its class, and with a length of a mere 460 millimeters, it is also the most compact.
On the five-valve cylinder head, the entire rear area was designed for installation of a continuously variable camshaft mechanism. The camshafts are located in a ladder frame structure that increases the rigidity of the entire cylinder head and also clearly improves its acoustic vibration properties.
As an undersquare engine, the two-liter unit is ideal for a good torque characteristic at the low end of the speed range. To make maximum use of this potential, there is map-controlled adjustment of the inlet camshaft through 42 degrees. A pivoting motor controlled by the engine management system maintains the necessary pressure in the hydraulic system. A highly wear-resistant toothed belt transmits the power.
A two-stage variable-length intake manifold governs the desired power output and torque characteristic. The 2.0-litre unit reaches its maximum torque of 195 Nm at 3,300 rpm; 90 percent of this maximum value is available across the broad speed range of 2,300 to 5,000 rpm. The changeover from the high-torque to the high-output position is controlled by a mapped characteristic: load, engine speed and temperature are the relevant parameters.
This engine reaches its maximum power output of 96 kW (130 bhp) at 5,700 rpm. It accelerates the front-wheel-drive A4 Avant with 5-speed manual gearbox from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.2 seconds and gives it a maximum speed of 208 km/h. These figures are all the more convincing in view of the low fuel consumption of 8.0 liters per 100 km (1999/100 EC).
To optimize the smoothness of the new 2.0-litre engine, Audi's developers have installed a balancer shaft assembly in the oil sump. As on the 3.0 V6, the die-cast aluminum casing contains the oil pump and the balancer shafts.
Two balance shafts rotating at twice the speed of the crankshaft are used to compensate for the engine's inertial forces. The outcome of these measures is outstanding low vibration for a four-cylinder engine. Perceptible vibration and drumming frequencies under load are both effectively suppressed. It is no coincidence that the engine’s idling behavior matches that of a six-cylinder unit.
The fact that the 2.0 easily complies with EU4 exhaust emission requirements can almost be taken for granted.
The 1.6
Plenty of know-how has gone into this, the current entry-level 1.6-litre engine for the A4 Avant. A cylinder head with valve actuation by roller cam followers reduces interior friction considerably. Audi’s developers have optimized other components for minimum friction too.
Together with the engine electronics and an optimized exhaust system, these measures have resulted in the exceptionally low fuel consumption of just 7.8 liters per 100 km (overall figure according to 1999/100/EC).
The engine’s power output of 75 kW (102 bhp) and its torque of 148 Nm give the A4 Avant 1.6 a maximum speed of 186 km/h. This Avant version accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 13.2 seconds; the engine complies with the tough EU IV emission limits.
The 1.8 T
An engine that in successful use thousands of times over is also available at the launch of the new Audi A4 Avant: the 110 kW (150 bhp) 1.8 T four-cylinder unit.
It reaches its peak torque of 210 Nm at just 1,750 rpm. This figure remains constant up to 4,600 rpm, which means that maximum torque is always available in the most frequently used driving and engine-speed range.
Because of this exceptionally good torque pattern, drivers have in effect access to two different power units rolled into one, each with a highly distinctive character. They can either use the lower to medium speed range, with the emphasis on economical, relaxed driving, or they can exploit the entire speed range in order to enjoy the engine's full vigor.
The Audi A4 Avant 1.8 T with front-wheel drive and manual gearbox consumes just 8.2 liters of unleaded Super petrol (95 RON) per 100 km (1999/100 EC). The power output of 110 kW (150 bhp) gives the A4 1.8T a top speed of 219 km/h and accelerates it from 0-100 km/h in a mere 9.1 seconds.
Increased power output and torque: The 2.4 V6
Audi’s engine developers have also updated the 2.4-litre V6 engine thoroughly. This has achieved particularly low fuel consumption of just 9.6 liters per 100 km for the manual-shift 2.4 Avant. Moreover, the engine’s emission levels are below the EU IV limits.
The modifications result in clearly increased performance: the 2.4’s power output is now 125 kW (170 bhp) and its maximum torque 230 Nm. The A4 Avant with this engine accelerates from a standstill to 100 km in 9.0 seconds and has a maximum speed of 223 km/h.
TDI engines
The 2.5 TDI V6
Audi's 132 kW (180 bhp) 2.5 V6 turbocharged direct-injection diesel is further evidence of its expertise in TDI technology. This engine made its production début in November 1999 as a fitting source of power for Audi's top model, the A8 saloon, and was offered shortly afterwards in the A6 model line.
Audi's move in making the new 2.5 V6 available in the A4 Avant as the top TDI option is in response to the huge success of its high-performance turbocharged diesels in this model line. TDI drivers, who are already accustomed to the V6's typical combination of substantial torque and smooth, quiet running, will discover another new dimension of excellence in this engine.
The vigorous 132 kW (180 bhp) engine with four valves per cylinder, centrally located injectors, a turbocharger with electronically controlled variable turbine geometry (VTG) and an ultra-modern radial-piston distributor-type injection pump, represents the state of the art in TDI technology.
Engine torque is an ample 370 Nm between 1,500 rpm and 2,500 rpm, an ideal basis for excellent pulling power over a large road-speed range and powerful acceleration even from low engine speeds.
This engine is very similar to the 114 kW (155 bhp) V6 TDI, the capacity of which is also 2.5 liters and which is now also available for the A4 Avant. Its torque of 310 Nm will satisfy even the most demanding performance requirements.
The V6 TDI's response to accelerator pedal pressure, even at very low engine speeds, is also quite amazing. A substantial and immediately usable amount of torque is available even at only 1,000 rpm. The carefully optimized dynamic response characteristic now consigns the term "turbo lag" well and truly to the history books.
Performance on the road speaks for itself: it takes the 2.5 TDI quattro (132 kW) with 6-speed manual gearbox only 8.7 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h and continue briskly up to its maximum speed of 222 km/h. The manual-shift 114 kW version with front-wheel drive takes only marginally longer, at 9.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. Its maximum speed is 219 km/h.
Fuel consumption, on the other hand, is extremely economical: the 132 kW A4 2.5 TDI quattro consumes a mere 7.8 liters of diesel (total figure according to 1999/100/EC) per 100 kilometers, the 114 kW version even less at 6.9 l/100 km. A single tank of fuel is thus sufficient for an operating range of up to 1000 kilometers. Another positive factor is that the Audi A4 TDI 2.5 V6 complies with the EU3 exhaust emission standards.
The 1.9 TDI with pump-injector technology
The new top-of-the-line 1.9-litre four-cylinder TDI is a further highlight in the A4 model line. Even those familiar with TDI engines find the power output of this ultra-modern engine most impressive: 96 kW (130 bhp) at 4,000 rpm.
Yet the torque of this high-tech-TDI is even more impressive: 285 Nm from the 5-speed version of the 1.9 even at 1,750 rpm. The 6-speed version has no less than 310 Nm at 1,900 rpm, a supreme figure for a four-cylinder engine.
The key technical feature of this new engine version is its high-pressure pump-injector fuel supply system, which currently achieves the highest operating pressures of any such system. The technological input is considerable: each cylinder has a separate pump-injector unit controlled by a solenoid valve.
An injection pressure of up to 2050 bar is possible: this is equivalent to the weight of a midsize car being supported on an area the size of a finger nail. Such a pressure permits unparalleled torque values, while further optimizing the already low fuel consumption.
The maximum speed and power output figures are equally impressive: the front-wheel-drive Audi A4 TDI 1.9 with manual gearbox accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.1 seconds and has a maximum speed of 204 km/h.
Conversely, the fuel consumption of 5.6 liters per 100 km (overall figure acc. to 93/116/EC) is as low as that of many a less powerful diesel engine. This means that the car has an operating range of around 1,250 kilometers on a single tank of fuel. Emissions from the new engine with pump-injection fuel supply are also gratifyingly low. This has earned it a place in the lowest vehicle tax bracket according to the EU3 standard.
Another version of the 1.9-litre inline four-cylinder engine with a power output of 74 kW (100 bhp) at 4,000 rpm is available. This engine reaches its maximum torque of 250 Nm at 1,900 rpm. This is part of the secret of the 5-speed manual-shift A4 Avant 1.9 TDI’s inspiring performance: acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds and a maximum speed of 191 km/h. Its economical fuel consumption of just 5.4 liters per 100 kilometers is another plus for the A4 Avant 1.9 TDI.
Stepless perfection: the multitronic
Audi is offering the multitronic, a continuously variable automatic transmission, for the first time in this vehicle category on the new A4 Avant. This transmission is the only one of its kind in the world. The revolutionary multitronic is available for all versions with front-wheel drive.
The multitronic can now transmit torques as high as 310 Nm. Even the most powerful petrol engine in the A4 series, the 3.0-litre V6 with 220 bhp and 300 Nm of torque, can be combined with multitronic.
With its multitronic Audi has developed a continuously variable transmission which avoids the previous drawbacks of this principle and exploits all its advantages by adopting optimum gearshift strategies. The big difference with multitronic is that, for the first time, the gain in convenience is not at the expense of dynamism or operating economy. Quite the opposite, in fact: most of the performance data for an A4 with multitronic are actually superior to an otherwise identical vehicle with 5-speed manual gearbox.
The differences compared with the conventional multi-stage automatic transmission with torque converter are even more impressive, as the latter – despite all the progress that has been made – is prone to transmission losses due to its fundamental concept. A further advantage of multitronic compared with even the most modern torque-converter transmissions is that the gearshifts are entirely jerk-free.
Another significant advantage shouldn’t be forgotten either: the multitronic weighs around 15 kilograms less than conventional 5-speed automatic transmissions. The use of magnesium for its casing in particular saves an impressive eight kilograms.
One fundamental advantage of the ”variator” in the multitronic is the high spread of ratios. This refers to the difference between the largest to the smallest transmission ratio - 1:2.1 to 1: 12.7. This spread of more than 1 to 6 is almost the ideal gearbox scenario. It permits dynamic, sports-style acceleration thanks to the use of lower ratios, but also fully exploits the engine's economy potential by using the highest ratio.
A further special feature is the ability of the electronics to emulate the functions of a manual gearbox. Audi has opted for six forward speeds, which can be selected by the driver with a single touch of the selector lever in the second gear-shift plane, or activated by pushing a button on the multifunction steering wheel (optional extra).
These six speeds are stored as fixed gear-shift programs. Depending on which gear the driver selects, the controller is supplied with the ratio as a set point, which it establishes at the variator and maintains. Even these manually prompted gearshifts take place with pleasing smoothness and without jerking, satisfying the desire for sports performance thanks to the smooth, jerk-free changes between them.
quattro Permanent All-wheel Drive
One in four Audi drivers already enjoys the benefits of all-wheel drive: permanent quattro all-wheel drive has long since been one of their favorite technical concepts. Almost 25 percent of all 1999 Audi A4 models were equipped with all-wheel drive; the figure will undoubtedly be higher for the new-generation Avant. Because right from the production start, Audi will supply the new A4 with engine versions from 110 kW (150 bhp) upwards as quattro models.
The major benefits consist of capabilities that have come to be regarded as a matter of course over the past twenty years: convincingly better operating dynamics and driving safety, and a distinctively superior form of travel.
On the new Audi A4 Avant, with its longitudinally installed four and six-cylinder engines, a Torsen differential automatically distributes power to all four wheels. The name "Torsen" is a contraction of the two terms "torque" and "sensing". The Torsen differential is a self-locking worm gear.
The advantage is that the locking action is only prompted by the driveline. This type of differential accommodates differences in speed when the brakes are applied and when cornering. Normally the power is split 50:50 between the two pairs of wheels, but in extreme cases the entire propulsive power can be diverted to either pair. In the event of more than one wheel encountering considerable slip, the Electronic Differential Lock EDL can even concentrate the available tractive force at one wheel.
The New Light Alloy Suspension
Audi has demonstrated ”Vorsprung durch Technik” with the new A4 saloon’s aluminum suspension, the strengths of which are dynamism and comfort, easy handling and active driving safety at a high level.
As far as consistent implementation of weight-saving construction principles are concerned, this suspension is unique in its class: agility and on-road comfort are equally impressive. The new A4 Avant now benefits too from the dynamic potential of this state-of-the-art design.
The aluminum suspension uses a tried-and-tested concept at the front that has been fundamentally modified: four-link front suspension, now of light alloy construction and 8.5 kilograms lighter.
The front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions of the Audi A4 both have self-stabilizing trapezoidal-link rear suspension with identical wheel control properties.
The rear suspension consists predominantly of alloy components. It is responsible for drastically reduced unsprung weight, yielding a new dimension of driving pleasure in this class.
Less means more: this lightweight construction principle is doubly significant for the suspension because every scrap of weight that can be saved here counts double, particularly in terms of comfort. The "unsprung weight" – in other words, wheels, suspension components and parts of the brake system that move up and down with the wheel – have an especially significant influence on changes in wheel loads.
The fact that all new Audi A4 cars with 96 kW (130 bhp) or more powerful engines have alloy wheels is therefore more than a question of purely visual appeal. Alloy wheels reduce the unsprung weight by several kilograms compared with steel wheels.
The lightweight components naturally make a difference to the overall weight of the vehicle as well. Fuel consumption, performance and driving dynamics: the high-tech aluminum suspension benefits drivers of the new Audi A4 in diverse ways.
The Front Suspension
Audi's four-link front suspension layout set the standard in the midsize car category, with its precise, comfortable steering action and good road behavior. This is true of front-wheel-drive A4 and quattro versions in equal measure. The advantage of this concept is that the steering axis – a virtual line around which the wheel moves when the steering is turned – runs almost perpendicularly through the wheel's center, so that virtually no driveline influences are felt at the steering.
Audi's suspension developers have now updated this highly advanced suspension concept by adopting numerous lightweight but very strong aluminum components.
On the four-link suspension layout, each wheel is located by four aluminum control arms. The swivel bearings are likewise now made from the same light alloy, a change which cuts the weight by around 40 percent compared with the conventional version. The subframe, on the other hand, is a systematic application of weight-saving design principles in steel; the use of high-strength, thin-walled sheet metal reduces the weight by around two kilograms.
Large-volume rubber/metal components are used as the upper shock absorber mounts on the new suspension design. This helps to isolate the shock absorbers acoustically.
quattro Rear Suspension Now Also on Front-wheel-drive A4
All versions of the new Audi A4 Avant are equipped with one of the most advanced and efficient rear suspensions available today: the self-stabilizing trapezoidal-link rear suspension used on quattro models is now also installed on the front-wheel-drive cars.
The trapezoidal-link rear suspension makes for top-quality ride comfort on all models, coupled with dynamic behavior that will amaze the driver of many a competing model.
The trapezoidal link is made from hollow-section aluminum. This torsionally and flexurally rigid control arm absorbs a large portion of the forces and moments acting on the wheel. Together with the track rod located behind it, it determines the elastokinematic behavior of the axle. The track rod is made from lightweight sheet steel.
This design is notable for its low weight and high functionality as well as its outstanding space efficiency. The compact design permits a low load-area floor in all versions, coupled with a generous load-area width. These were the main characteristics that have made the space efficiency and smooth surfaces of the A4 Avant’s load area possible.
All wheel control elements pivot on the resiliently mounted subframe via rubber-metal mounts which isolate axle vibration very effectively from the body. Molded rubber mountings are also used for the suspension springs between the trapezoidal link and the body's longitudinal member. Here again, the material chosen provides excellent acoustic insulation.
The twin-tube gas-filled shock absorber is connected to the wheel carrier, so that direct-ratio effect is obtained. Combined with the separately mounted spring, this ensures optimum response from the shock absorber.
The Steering: Precision and Lightness
The steering contributes decisively to the A4 Avant’s excellent dynamism and responsiveness. Numerous reviewers have already praised the precision of the A4 saloon’s steering.
The new A4 Avant has the same hydraulic power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, bolted rigidly to the suspension cross-member.
The improvement can also be felt at the steering wheel: a new steering valve greatly reduces steering torque tolerances. The driver registers this as greater precision and an even more spontaneous response to steering movements.
Six-cylinder versions of the new Audi A4 Avant are fitted with damping valves integrated into the steering system. They reduce steering wheel vibration and any tendency to jerk as a function of steering-wheel angular velocity.
Audi's developers have also achieved an optimum steering layout in terms of safety for the A4. Thanks to the use of two universal joints, the steering column is decoupled telescopically in the event of a crash, to isolate it from the steering gear and prevent bulkhead intrusion.
The dictates of lightweight design even extend as far as the design of the steering wheels for the Audi A4: for reasons of weight, the single-section skeletons are die-cast in magnesium.
Road Behavior: a Policy of Neutrality
Superb traction when coming out of even the tightest of curves; neutral, clearly defined self-steering characteristics, and finally, maximum agility; in short, a new best-in-class system. These were the requirements that had to be met when developing the Audi A4 Avant's suspension.
Such targets can only be attained by coordinating all new and modified elements to a high standard of precision. The role of the new self-stabilizing trapezoidal-link rear suspension in the overall package is of course particularly significant. Its elastokinematic properties ensure above all the desired precision of response, while significantly pushing back the handling limits.
On the circular test pad, the most revealing gauge of behavior close to these limits, the Audi A4 Avant needs only a slight increase in the steering wheel angle to remain on course at moderate to high lateral acceleration.
From the driver's standpoint, the effect is clear enough: the Audi A4 Avant remains unruffled even when close to the adhesion limits, and stays on the chosen line with controllable and strictly neutral behavior. Only at a very stage does its response shift to restrained, easily controlled understeer.
Body movement even in S-bends remains moderate, without any of the loss of comfort that might be expected from this dynamically firm layout. This is because the spring rate have been raised to boost roll stiffness considerably – a positive effect that is maintained in a wide variety of load conditions.
All Audi A4 models are fitted with the latest Electronic Stability Program ESP as standard. This system helps the driver to remain in control of the vehicle in potentially critical situations if the handling limits are reached.
The new Audi A4 Avant has a particularly safety-conscious, permanently alert passenger on board at all times: the electronic brake assist system. As an integral part of the latest ESP generation, it is part of the standard specification. Its task is to help the driver in emergency braking situations by automatically increasing braking pressure. Even inexperienced drivers can be sure of maximum deceleration close to the wheel-lock limit.
All versions of the Audi A4 have disc brakes at the front and rear; the front discs are ventilated. The diameter of the front discs on four-cylinder models is 288 millimeters, with 312-millimetre discs in conjunction with a six-cylinder engine. The rear disc diameter is 245 mm on four-cylinder A4 models and 255 mm on the six-cylinder versions.
Occupant Protection
The new Audi A4 Avant remains faithful to the manufacturer's best tradition of safety. According to crash tests with the new A4 saloon, this model line is one of the safest automobiles in Europe.
The test staff of Germany’s Auto Bild magazine stated after the frontal offset crash test at 64 km/h that ”these are the lowest load values ever measured by Auto Bild. Due to the perfect combination of the vehicle structure and the restraint systems, all load values are in an acceptable area.”
This result is complemented by the latest success for Audi in the Euro NCAP crash test (”The A4 is a very safe car”). During this test, the A4 set new standards especially for the feared side post impact, where the occupant cell is subjected to extreme load. A safety feature that contributed greatly to the A4’s positive result was the SIDEGUARD head airbag system. According to the German automobile club ADAC, which co-organized the test, ”the saloon’s head injury figures are impressively low.”
A rigid passenger cell with clearly defined deformation properties provides the basis for effective occupant protection in the Audi A4 Avant. The most important components in the composite cell are the new front-end and floor pan concept and the large-area bumper cross-member. The latter ensures an even distribution of loads, even in an offset crash.
The design of the sills, using an integral aluminum extruded section, and the A-post, results in a sturdy side-panel frame.
Particular attention was devoted to the footwell’s behavior in a frontal crash, especially with regard to possible intrusion. The driver's legs are also well-protected in the new A4 because the pedals are decoupled in a frontal crash and do not intrude further into the footwell. Additional energy-absorbing padding protects the feet against severe impact.
The safety steering column of the new Audi A4 also makes its contribution to frontal crash safety. Its components complement the protective potential of the seat belts and airbags. A telescopic mechanism and an additional system of joints mean that the steering wheel is by and large isolated from any deformation of the front bulkhead. The steering wheel and therefore the airbag too remain in their designated position in front of the driver.
Energy-absorbing cushions and load distributors cover the area beneath the steering column and the steering lock. In particular, they considerably reduce the risk of injury to the driver's knees.
The floor assembly, where large sills with an aluminum profile on the inner side and rigid cross-members divert or absorb impact energy, provides a safety basis in the event of side impacts. The crash-optimized B-posts using ”tailored blank” technology also contribute towards stability. Even in a collision at 50 km/h in the Euro NCAP test, the side profile is only minimally deformed.
The seats also make a valuable contribution towards occupant protection. The front seats are integral steel structures with extremely rigid cross-bracing. They thus largely retain their shape in a side-on crash. This is of crucial benefit in keeping the survival zone intact.
The occupants are in addition protected by several side airbag systems. In the event of a side impact, remote sensors transmit signals which are compared with those from the sensor in the central airbag control unit. This concept enables all the side airbags to be triggered in accordance with the accident sequence.
The risk of injury to the torso and pelvic regions of the body in a side crash is above all reduced effectively by the thorax/pelvis side airbags integrated into the front seat backs. Rear thorax/pelvis side airbags are available as an option for the outer rear seats.
The head and neck regions benefit from SIDEGUARD, not just in this vehicle category a unique safety extra. This head-level side airbag system covers virtually the entire side window area, from the A-post to the C/D-post.
As well as improving the head injury criterion, SIDEGUARD also reduces the load on the neck, since movements of the head are much less severe. In offset crashes too, the head airbag reduces the risk presented by impact against the A-post.
The Body
Acoustic quality and minimum vibration
New developments for reducing the transmission of vibration which have already been used successfully on the A4 saloon and which include the re-tuned gearbox mounting at the body, are the basis for the A4 Avant’s excellent refinement. The necessary synchronization of the cavity characteristics of the passenger cell and the dynamic body, door and lid properties were a special challenge to the interior acoustics experts.
In order to achieve an improved low-frequency interior noise level, Audi’s engineers employed the latest methods of numeric acoustics simulation and compared them with actual measurements. The result: whereas in the past complex acoustic relationships could only be investigated by tests on the vehicle itself, good preconditions for freedom from vibration were achieved by carefully planned computer simulation during the A4 Avant’s development.
As with the new A4 saloon, body rigidity of the A4 Avant has been increased significantly – for instance, torsional rigidity is up by 20 percent. A new body concept between the D-post and the rear roof frame, with large-surface profiles extending over the nodal areas, is particularly effective in increasing torsional rigidity.
Audi’s engineers set themselves the demanding goal of achieving the same subjective noise impression for the Avant as for the saloon. Rolling, exhaust and airflow noises are suppressed efficiently by a new insulating concept for the rear body area.
Large molded absorber elements, well-planned ventilation and air extraction and the avoidance of airborne sound bridges in the body ensure an interior acoustic free from disturbing noises. As a vehicle with a large interior, the new A4 Avant was equipped with improved body soundproofing and fine-tuning of the powertrain mountings.
Aerodynamics and aeroacoustics
Despite the aerodynamic problems that the estate-car body style are bound to cause, the Avant’s drag coefficient of cD=0.30 is lower than that of the previous saloon. The cD figure has been reduced by six percent compared with the previous Avant.
The quality of the aerodynamic shape was achieved by systematic design support at even early model development stages. The following areas were given priority:
Rear roof spoiler lip
Front and rear bumpers of aerodynamically high quality
Body recesses in the rear sides
Sealing around the radiator
Airflow in the wheel areas
The Avant also benefited from the progress achieved during joint development of the saloon. The aerodynamic underbody used for the first time on the A4 is an important detail that results from this work. The underbody trims offer significant potential for reducing air resistance and lift. Considerable detailed development was required when adopting these effects, as used in motor sport, on a production car. Development work with this much attention to detail could only be carried out in a wind tunnel that is unparalleled in the automotive industry – the one operated by Audi in Ingolstadt.
New technologies have permitted significant progress in aeroacoustics on the A4 Avant. The most striking example is the new duplex aerial, which has been optimized aerodynamically and aeroacoustically. An invisible but all the more effective example is the new A4 door sealing concept, which makes the Avant 3dB(A) quieter than its predecessor. To put this another way, isolation of the body against wind noise is twice as effective, and the A4 Avant has the same interior noise levels as the saloon.
Electronics and Equipment
Navigation: Electronic Scouts
Two navigation systems are available as optional extras for the new Audi A4 Avant: the basic version supplies information by means of a spoken announcement and arrow diagrams in the instrument cluster's high-resolution color display. The driver is given all the relevant directions along the chosen route, and the distance to the destination or the estimated remaining journey time are displayed.
In all Audi navigation systems, a new processor ensures even quicker route calculation and maximum user convenience.
The navigation system Plus also has a five-inch swivel monitor on the center console, which also projects the route in map mode. The driver can have the route displayed in close-up or on a larger scale. Dynamic navigation using Traffic Message Channel broadcasts from radio stations is a useful additional feature. Thanks to CAN bus technology, the data picked up in this way can also be used by the navigation system and directly incorporated when compiling an alternative route.
Audi Telematics
A unique telecommunications service is also being offered by Audi for the Audi A4Avant: by supplying carefully selected traffic information directly to the cockpit, Audi telematics helps drivers on Germany's roads to reach their destination quickly and without getting caught up in traffic congestion.
Audi telematics users benefit from a unique network of information sources. Several thousand sensors monitor the traffic flow almost everywhere on German autobahns. The traffic situation is then calculated electronically, based on the sensor data; tailbacks and hold-ups are reported to the vehicle's terminal. Information output is either via the display of the Driver Information System (DIS) or by speech output in conjunction with the navigation computer.
The advantage this information technique enjoys, especially over radio traffic services, can be expressed in plain figures. At the moment up to 83 percent of all traffic hold-ups on autobahns can be detected quickly and reliably; this figure is only about 45 percent if conventional methods are used – air surveillance and reports from people whose task it is to identify traffic congestion, for example.
In emergency situations Audi telematics makes sure that help is sent out to where it is needed as quickly as possible. In the event of a breakdown, pressing a button is all it takes to connect the driver by telematics telephone to the Audi service center: the latter will then arrange assistance. The driver need not even know where the car is situated; the automatic position-finder tells the breakdown recovery personnel where to go. In the event of an accident, the system even makes an automatic emergency call. In situations like these, functional safety benefits from the crash-resistant installation of the stand-by battery and an emergency aerial.
The Audio Systems
Audi drivers have been accustomed to concert-hall quality for many years. The new A4 Avant further refines this quality with the audio systems available as optional extras. The audio characteristics of these systems have been specially matched to the Avant’s interior acoustics and the selected equipment.
Ten loudspeakers ensure tailor-made acoustics. A loudspeaker in the center of the dashboard generates a highly differentiated spatial effect, and a subwoofer towards the rear of the interior supplies impressive bass sound even on the standard version, with at least 150 Watt output. The total output of the Bose sound system is no less than 215 Watts.
As with the Bose sound system, an additional CD changer for six CDs located in the glove compartment can be combined with all three radio systems.
On all radio versions there is an increase in the number of programmable station memory keys to 12, and long-wave reception is now available too. The ”Concert” and ”Symphony” models benefit from aerial diversity, which results in significantly better reception.
Telephone with voice activation (in conjunction with Audi telematics)
The optional car telephone system can be ordered with voice activation, which is extremely easy to operate. The driver just has to speak the desired number in order to be connected. The hands can remain on the steering wheel and the driver can continue to concentrate fully on the road.
Easier to Read: The Instrument Cluster Display
The new Audi A4 Avant features a new, particularly easy-to-read central display on the instrument panel when ordered with a telematics or navigation system. This display (referred to by the specialists as an active-matrix display) between the two large circular dials no longer simply consists of red lettering against a black background; it can now use eight different foreground and background colors for the presentation of information.
Considerably improved resolution of 442 x 236 pixels further enhances graphic displays, and above all optimizes the appearance of navigation symbols and directions. It is now also possible to adopt the typeface used on the dials in the display, for a more harmonious appearance.
Anti-theft alarm system with integral tow-away warning
There is a tilt-angle sensor in addition to the tried-and-tested anti-theft alarm (optional extra) on the Audi A4 Avant: if the vehicle is jacked up when parked – whether in an effort to tow it away or to remove its wheels – the anti-theft alarm is triggered off. This function can be deactivated manually at any time, for instance when the vehicle is to be towed with the owner’s permission.
Ultrasonic monitoring of the car's interior and the sensors at the doors and lids are effective safeguards against any attempts to gain access to the car's interior.
Appearance Made to Measure
There is a choice of 16 body colors for the new Audi A4 Avant. The color spectrum includes particularly sporty shades such as Silver metallic to Amulet Red, and also elegant colors such as Burgundy Red pearl effect and Crystal Blue metallic.
The high-gloss package available optionally, with the drip moldings and window capping strips included, gives the car a highly elegant note.
The interior also satisfies virtually every design requirement. The materials used are without exception of the highest quality – a characteristic that is conveyed not only visually, but also by their feel.
In addition to Phoenix and Zenith cloth upholstery, there is also the sporting elegance of Buffalino leather, which is tanned without chromium salts and dyed without using heavy metals. This unadulterated material is notable for its natural appearance and outstanding practicality. The combination of Pearl Nappa with Alcantara, as available for the sports seats, is also very attractive.
High-gloss inlays on the dashboard and doors are standard; they are matched to the respective interior in four colors. Aluminum inlays in Visor Grey and wood inlays in Walnut Brown or Amber Vavona are available as optional extras.
Important Standard Equipment Items
A perfect climate can be obtained on both sides of the vehicle – thanks to the deluxe automatic air conditioning in the new Audi A4 Avant. The standard version of this system, which is also regulated according to the position of the sun, can be adjusted separately for the driver and front-passenger areas. This system, which is equally important in terms of comfort and safety, is part of the standard equipment specification of all new A4 Avant models at market launch.
The deluxe air conditioning can be extended with the automatic air recirculation system.
The height and also the reach of the four-spoke steering wheel can be adjusted.
The driver's and front passenger's seats have manual height adjustment. A center rear armrest increases travel comfort.
Electric front windows – with anti-pinch protection – and electrically adjusted door mirrors optimize operating convenience.
The standard ellipsoidal headlights behind clear-glass covers guarantee a good view. High-performance halogen fog lights are also part of the standard specification.
All Audi A4 Avant models from 96 kW (130 bhp) upwards are equipped with alloy sports wheels as a standard: the four-cylinder versions have seven-arm, 15-inch wheels with 195/65 R15 tires.
The standard equipment package for six-cylinder models includes seven-hole cast aluminum wheels. The 16-inch wheels on the 2.4 and 2.5 TDI have size 205/55 R16 tires; the 3.0 rides on size 215/55 R16 tires.
Optional Extras
Six further alloy wheels of sizes 7x16 to 7.5x17, available from the launch date, give drivers a further means of enhancing the characteristic appearance of their new Audi A4. Tire sizes up to 235/45 R17 ensure an uncompromisingly sporty character that is manifested in ways other than just visually.
There are also wheel and tire sets for winter use: for the four-cylinder version there is a 6.5x15 inch pressed-steel wheel with full-diameter cover. This is best used in conjunction with 195/65 R15 winter tires. A 7x16 inch cast aluminum wheel with 205/55 R16 tire is offered for the six-cylinder versions.
Electric adjustment is available for the driver's and front passenger's seats. The seat positions can be stored by a memory function (also available as an optional extra). The position of the door mirrors can also be memorized.
The storage package can accommodate numerous personal items. It includes drawers under both front seats, luggage nets on the front seat backs and two additional cup holders in the rear center armrest.
On warm days, the optional cooling box in the glove compartment is very useful: the contents are cooled by the automatic air conditioning while the car is on the move and remain at a low temperature for some time after the engine has been switched off.
The heated windscreen is a welcome accessory for cold days. It can melt ice on the windscreen completely in just a minute at a temperature of –5° Celsius.
Audi’s range of optional extras includes top visibility at night: the best example are xenon low-beam headlights with automatic, dynamic beam angle adjustment. They illuminate the area in front of the car evenly and intensively.
A Made-to-Measure car The standard seats in the Audi A4 Avant provide maximum comfort on long journeys, but they can be customized to meet your individual requirements even more perfectly, for example with a 4-way electric lumbar support for both front seats.
The sports front seats in the range of optional extras for the Audi A4 Avant offer an ideal combination of excellent lateral support and maximum seating comfort. They can also be combined with electric adjustment and a memory function as an option.
And while on the subject of sport, even a car as dynamic as the new Audi A4 Avant may arouse the desire for a more uncompromising concept. This wish can be fulfilled with further items from the range of optional extras for the new Avant. Specially developed sports suspension, with the body lowered by 20 millimeters, firmer shock absorber/spring rates and 7Jx17 wheels demonstrate the new Audi A4 Avant in an entirely new light: here the focus is clearly on its sporting potential – a potential that makes no secret of the sports tradition that the brand enjoys on the racing circuit and in rallying.
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