AUDI HAS GIVEN its hugely successful A4 range an update. Now, normally I'd say they'd given the car a facelift, but the guys at Audi's marketing department in Ingolstadt don't like to use the term 'facelift.' Actually, how they referred to the car was, the 'revised A4'. Aye, whatever.
Anyway … the whole A4 range has been has been given a makeover, and thanks to the 'public sector' strike on Wednesday, I had a whirlwind day trip — rather than the scheduled 48 hours — to Lisbon to cram in putting the car through its paces.
Step into the 177bhp version, and you'll find yourself smiling and feeling rather smug. It's a unit which delivers more grunt and makes the A4 feel better balanced, and more robust and planted. Given the choice, I'd push to be able to buy the bigger version. Ok, it'll cost you £1000 more than the £26,555 136bhp, but I'd suggest it's money well spent.
Audi's Scottish dealership network is already taking orders for the all-new A4 range, despite the fact the first cars are not scheduled to be delivered until March next year. Prices for the extensive range, which includes saloon, estate, Allroad and the S4, start at less than £24,000.
There's subtle changes to the front — all very Audi A1-like — which definitely make the A4 look younger and more modern. There's re-redesigned headlights, more angular air-vents and flattened foglights.
Interior is impressive and uncluttered
The interior of any Audi is always a welcoming place to be, and the new A4 is no exception. In fact, ease yourself into the cabin and you'll find it even more impressive than the outgoing model.
The addition of a few chrome strips, allied to new gloss black trim certainly adds to the feeling of class. Sensibly, Audi has also reduced the number of buttons and switches, all of which add further to the feeling of the interior being uncluttered and easy to manage.
The biggest area to benefit from the reduction of switches is the MMI (MultiMedia Interface), which used to be a real nightmare to operate. Now it's much more user-friendly.
Take the volume control, for example. Now, unlike the previous version which required two additional buttons, the new control shifts left and right to allow drivers to skip tracks. Simple efficiency.
At the heart of the car is a new range of petrol and diesel powerplants, all of which deliver more power, yet are also more economical and cleaner.
Cleaner than the previous model
Given that diesel accounts for by far the biggest share of the A4 range, I concentrated on the new 2.0TDI engines: the 177bhp version, and the 136bhp TDIe eco.
They are, I have to say, a bit like chalk and cheese. The 136bhp, which will be the biggest seller in the UK, is a perfectly acceptable piece of kit. It will get you pleasantly from A-to-B, but won't exactly set your heart racing.
It's also cleaner than the previous model, down from 120g/km CO2 to 112g/km, and returns an impressive 65.7mpg.
But step into the 177bhp version, and you'll find yourself smiling and feeling rather smug. It's a unit which delivers more grunt and makes the A4 feel better balanced, and more robust and planted. Given the choice, I'd push to be able to buy the bigger version. Ok, it'll cost you £1000 more than the £26,555 136bhp, but I'd suggest it's money well spent.
Audi remains unflustered by rivals
Of course, if 177bhp isn't enough for you, you can always opt for the 3.0TDI quattro 245bhp: in seven-speed S tronic form it'll cost you £34,600.
Mention the A4, and immediately there are comparisons against its big rival, the new BMW 3-series. There's no denying the Beemer is more a true driver's car — it's handling has always been, and remains, sharper — but the Audi appears unflustered by such comparisons.
A4 buyers opt for the Audi simply because 'they' like it. And given that Audi is on course for another recordbreaking sales year, there are clearly many people who just like what Audi does.
Back inside the A4's cabin — where the designers have left the general design well alone — there are new trim finishes and new steering wheels.
The A4 will be available in a variety of trims, SE, SE Technik (only available on 2.0-litre diesels), S line and Black Edition. Standard spec is pretty good, including three-zone climate control, Bluetooth, cruise control, alloys and rear parking sensors.
Step up to the SE Technik — which appears targeted at business fleets — and you get leather and iPod integration. As is the case with Audi tradition, the S line and Black Edition have an altogether more sporty attitude, with bigger wheels and styling add-ons.
A number of my colleagues bemoaned the sport suspension upgrade, labelling it too harsh and uncomfortable. Me? Actually I've always liked the much firmer, sporty ride. So you pays your money and takes your choice.
The new updates are across the whole A4 range — saloon, Avant, Allroad and S4 — and, of course, Audi's world renowned quattro system remains in place on selected models.
The facelifted model delivers sharp styling and Audi's traditional high quality. Interestingly, model-for-model the A4 also generally undercuts it's 3-series rivals.
So: Audi or BMW? I know what my choice is: what's yours.
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars
Jim McGill