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India bound 2016 Audi A4: All you need to know

2016 Audi A4 (1)

The India bound 2016 Audi A4 saloon made its public showcase at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. In its fifth-generation, the new B9 A4 will be the new  best sellers from the Ingolstadt based auto-mobile major, and will be available in saloon and estate (Avant) body-styles.

Based on a new front-wheel drive MLB Evo platform, the new Audi A4 is bigger, wider, lighter and more efficient than its predecessor, apart from being more technologically advanced. To put it in numbers, around 120 kg of weight has been shed, while adding 21mm to the length and 12mm to the wheelbase compared to the outgoing saloon version. Audi has also improved fuel economy by 21 per cent across the new model range, while upping power by 25 per cent at the same time.

Design 

Ok, it’s not the most newest design around, but the new A4 is more than just making a tantalizing appearance. It’s a well rounded, carefully honed evolution. For starters, the new A4 has an extremely low drag coefficient figure of 0.23 for the sedan and 0.26 for the estate. Audi says that this accounts for better fuel efficiency and a significantly quieter cabin.

2016 Audi A4 (4)

The front end is denoted by Audi’ new trapezoidal, Single frame, grille, flanked by sharply styled headlamps that can be that can be had with optional LED or, with the latest Matrix LED technology.

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In profile, it looks remarkably similar to its predecessor, but some squinting reveals that the lines have become sharper and tauter. For this generation, the side mirrors have now moved to the doors from the triangular window panel. Along with new, aerodynamically designed mirror caps, the new positioning helps improve the turbulent airflow in that area, reducing drag.

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The back is rounded off with slimmer tail-lamps and a similar, deep rooted understatedness that characterises the whole design. The S-Line kit featured here add aggressive bumper-work and tastier wheels.

Interiors

2016 Audi A4 Interior (3)

The newly appointed interiors have more headroom and shoulder room all around, along with legroom at the back. The thoroughly re-designed dashboard has been styled along the lines of the new Q7 SUV. Behind the newly designed steering wheel lies the Audi Virtual Cockpit. Featuring a massive 12.3-inch colour display, it’s Audi’s first fully digital instrument cluster, and was seen on the new TT, followed by the new Q7.

2016 Audi A4 Interior (2)

The insides are sumptuously trimmed with Alcantara inserts, open-pore woods, high-quality plastics, and leather. Other niceties include a new MMI touch-screen system with a 8.3-inch, high-resolution display, a Bang & Olufsen sound system that comes with 3D audio technology, heads-up display, Audi phone box with wireless charging, new, lightweight front seats, automatic climate control with a new interface, optional LED interior lighting packages with color-adjustable ambient lighting etc.

Engines

2016 Audi A4 Headlamp

The 2016 Audi A4 will be powered by a choice of 7 all-new, or heavily revised petrol and diesel engines, available in 4-cylinder (TFSI & TDI) and 6-cylinder (TDI) guises. Amongst all, destined for India should be the 2.0-liter TFSI, turbocharged, petrol, four-cylinder and the 2.0-liter TDI, turbocharged, four-cylinder diesel engines. The 2.0 TFSI is rated at 252 horsepower and 370 Nm of torque (190 hp/320 Nm in Ultra guise), while the 2.0-liter TDI makes 190 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. Both engines will be mated to a seven-speed, dual clutch, S Tronic transmission.

The petrol engine is significantly updated, with a new cylinder head including an integrated exhaust manifold, dual fuel injection, variable valve lift, and an electronic waste-gate for the turbocharger. Apart from the aforementioned modifications, the new engine employs an entirely new combustion process – unlike with a conventional gasoline engine, the timing for the intake valves opening and closing is offset on an engine featuring the so called B Cycle. This delivers fuel efficiency figures akin to a normal diesel engine.  For example, the 190 hp, 2.0 L TFSi Ultra returns 4.8 l/100 km (20.9 km/l).

When driven tepidly, the intake valves close early during the intake stroke, which reduces the volume of air entering the cylinders. This means that there’s lesser to be compressed, thereby reducing compression losses. It also allows the compression ratio to be raised from 9.6:1 to 11.7:1, restoring the power lost due to the smaller intake volume. In contrast, during spirited driving, the intake valves stay open for a longer period of time, letting more air into the cylinders. These changes help maintain the car’s power and performance when driven hard, while at the same time, increases fuel efficiency when driven more conservatively.

Technology

2016 Audi A4 Avant (1)

The new A4 is bristling with new age technology. To start off, a new traffic-jam assist system will guide the car through slow-moving traffic at up to speeds of 65 km/h. At crawling speeds of up to 13 km/h it allows for hands free driving, with the car maintaining land discipline on its own.

A Predictive Assistance System helps the driver save fuel by adapting the selected speed to the conditions. The road topography, speed limit and preceding vehicles are all taken into account, including bends and roundabouts.

Further Piloted Driving technology comes in the form of an advanced Stop&Go adaptive cruise control system which uses the navigation to increase or decrease the car’s speed in order to maximise fuel economy without any direct driver input. Audi claims this system makes the A4 up to 10 per cent more fuel-efficient.

Images and details : Autoblog

2 thoughts on “India bound 2016 Audi A4: All you need to know”

  1. Great Interiors !!!! Surprised to see no Pano-sunroof ??. Don’t understand why it wouldn’t be a highlighted feature !!!

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