Belfast Audi Press releases in detail

20/2/2008

More style, more passenger and luggage space, and greatly enhanced driver appeal for latest Audi load carrier.

• All new A4 Avant to make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show on March 3 – opens for UK ordering on the same day with SE or S line trim options, with first UK deliveries in June

• UK OTR prices to be confirmed, but expected to carry a premium of approximately £1,200 over the equivalent Saloon (SE Saloon OTR prices range from £22,590 to £30,290)

• Five engines at launch – 1.8 Turbo FSI petrol (160PS), 3.2 V6 FSI petrol (265PS), 2.0 TDI (143PS), 2.7 TDI (190PS), 3.0 TDI (240PS)

• Largest-in-class luggage space – 490 litres with standard split-folding rear seat in place; 1,430 litres with rear seat folded

• Longest-in-class wheelbase, achieved through repositioning of front axle, enables enhanced passenger space, particularly in the rear, and optimises weight distribution

The all-new Audi A4 is about to enter a new dimension as the Avant – for a long time the most sought-after premium sector estate – with a largest-in-class load bay to add to the already long list of advances on offer. Available to order from early March, the new load carrier is expected to carry a premium of approximately £1,200 over its Saloon equivalent.

The successor to the long-established sector leader underpins its expanded 1,430 litre load bay with a reconfigured suspension set-up. It features the longest wheelbase in its class and increased cabin space, following in the footsteps of the latest A4 Saloon. Increased leg room boosts comfort for rear seat passengers in particular and, when all seats are filled, the load area – with its versatile reversible load floor – is the most accommodating in the class with a 490 litre capacity.

An optional powered tailgate facilitates access to the load bay, and loads can be secured using the standard luggage net and tie-down straps, or with the telescopic bar and securing belt system first seen in the A6 Avant (also available at extra cost).

The new A4 Avant launches in the UK with a choice of either the SE line or the more sporty S line specification options, with a choice of five state-of-the-art FSI direct petrol injection and common rail piezo TDI engines. The initial range will take in the 160PS 1.8 Turbo FSI four-cylinder, the 265PS 3.2 litre V6 FSI, the 143PS 2.0 litre TDI, the 190PS 2.7 litre TDI and the 240PS 3.0 litre TDI.

Depending on the engine chosen, there will be the option of the latest six-speed manual gearbox – an extensively revised, faster shifting six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission – or an updated and even smoother version of the ultra-efficient multitronic continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

The advanced engines and transmissions propel a body that is 120 mm longer and considerably more rigid than its predecessor, yet around 10 percent lighter. The engines and transmission work perfectly in conjunction with the completely new suspension and steering configuration. The front axle is located 154 mm forward of that in the existing car, so the new chassis reduces overhang and optimises weight distribution for enhanced handling balance and composure.

To extract the best from this new configuration, A4 Avant customers will also be able to opt for the unique-in-class Audi Drive Select option at an extra cost. Available in three ‘packages’, Audi Drive Select enables the driver to fine-tune the car’s dynamic characteristics – including suspension settings, steering behaviour, throttle response and transmission shift points – via dashboard-mounted controls to suit their personal preferences or the road conditions.

Driver assistance options will also include Audi Side Assist, which uses sensors to warn of vehicles approaching in mirror blind spots, and Audi Lane Assist, which guards against unintentional lane changes by activating steering wheel vibrations to alert the driver.