Audi, the German luxury auto manufacturer, has announced that the company will introduce a facelifted model of its Audi A4 in the auto market of India on 3rd May 2012. The official images of this new version were revealed in October 2011. At that time the company was in mood to spark the new model in global market before the end of 2012 and then approach India during the initial period of 2013. However, the buyers have to not wait so far as Audi has already introduced this car on global platform and is now approaching towards Indian buyers. The company will place its facelift A4 ahead of the BMW 3 Series, whose launch is awaited.
The upgraded product from Audi’s platform will be offered with few drastic changes in interior as well as exterior styling. This time the company has put hard efforts in the designing process of A4, since its headlights are not provided with a curvy structural design and rather has edgy proportions. The upgraded Audi A4 now flaunts LED strip, which looks like a reputed trademark of Audi. Considering its rear portion, the tail lamps are also re-designed; round about all the panels at exteriors are provided with few design changes. Features like new LED elements with simplified MMI system enhance the overall appearance of this car. The exterior designing pattern followed in new A4 remains parallel with the terminology used in the new A6 and in new A8.
The up-gradations in new Audi A4 are not just limited to designing language, but the company has also offered an array of performance oriented engine options. Audi has provided an option of six diesel and petrol engines, which are all trademarked with company’s FSI direct injection technology. Reportedly, the Indian industry will be provided with a 2.0 litre turbocharged and a 2.0 litre diesel engine. It is believed that the 2.0 litre diesel engine will churn out impressive power of 158 bhp, whereas the 2.0 petrol engine will generate around 197 bhp.
In the European market, the company has introduced an-all new 1.8 litre TFSI engine, which has the potential to produce maximum power of 168 bhp, however analysts speculates that this motors will not be introduced in India. In contrast, it is expected that the Indian market will be offered with a squeezed version of 1.8 litre engine, producing 168 bhp of power. However, this engine is already introduced in the new generation models of Skoda and Volkswagen. In addition, the 3.0 litre diesel would deliver decent power of 242 bhp, whereas the supercharged 3.0 litre V6 petrol will generate peak power of 324 bhp.
Apart from the base 1.8 litre petrol versions, the company has assimilated Quattro all-wheel drive feature within rest of its models. The Indian market will be provided with only one FWD variant of the 2.0 litre diesel engine, which is expected to deliver decent figures of fuel efficiency. The A4 models equipped with V6 powertrains are incorporated with sports differential technology with torque vectoring that assists driver in handling the car.
In order to improve the performance of these efficient engines, Audi has provided various transmission systems, such as a six speed manual gearbox, the Multitronic CVT transmission and a seven speed DSG gearbox, known as S-Tronic. In addition, Audi has also provided an option of eight speed automatic transmission system in few markets across the world; however it is believed that this gearbox will not be offered in India.
To enhance the fuel economy of facelift Audi A4, it is equipped with an electromechanical steering system, which is recently assimilated within the Volkswagen new Jetta. With this new feature, the new A4 is around 11 per cent more fuel efficient than its existing model. Features like automatic start/stop and brake energy recuperation are USP of this car.
