For the delectation of anyone who is as obsessive-compulsive as us about new cars, here’s a link to the microsite of the new Audi A4, a nice gallery of wallpapers of the new saloon from Ingolstadt and a video with studio shots of the A4 where the excitement consists mainly of seeing the xenon plus headlights and LED daylights being switched on and off.

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Some more photos of the new Audi A4, this time with the S line trim. And, to go with them, the official press release on the Audi A4 (pdf , 29 pages), of which you can find the brief version below the fold.

The sportiest midsize saloon
The Audi A4

In its design, the new A4 reveals its sporty, progressive character: taut and dynamic in its outlines, it speaks the language of technical perfection. With an overall length of 4.70 metres, the saloon has a substantial, powerful road stance and offers its occupants ample space in an interior full of light. The workmanship is typical of an Audi – quality with no compromises. The controls can be backed by the extra refinement of innovative assistance and multimedia systems. In the safety area, the brand with the four-ring emblem sets new standards: the coordinated action of the airbags and front seat belt force limiters protects the occupants even more effectively.

When compared with the previous model, the A4 has new, sporty proportions. The front body overhang has been drastically shortened; the bonnet and wheelbase are both longer than before. In the driveline, the differential has changed places with the clutch (or torque converter), making it possible to move the front axle forward by 154 millimetres. This innovative solution ensures ideal axle-load distribution. The new A4 is the sportiest saloon in the midsize car category: agile, light and precise to control. Its dynamic suspension is a totally new design, with most of its components made from weight-saving aluminium.

The results are impressive: supremely dynamic road behaviour and effortlessly precise handling.

New high-tech options make the A4 driving experience even more fascinating: Audi drive select varies the engine, automatic transmission, steering and suspension damping characteristics to suit the driver’s preferences at any given moment. Audi dynamic steering varies its ratio according to the car’s speed and keeps the new A4 stable close to the handling limits by slight, almost instantaneous changes to the steering angle. The damping control system for the hydraulic shock absorbers varies the damping characteristic individually, to combine sporty driving enjoyment with maximum road safety.

The new Audi A4 is being introduced with a choice of five engines, their power outputs ranging from 105 kW (143 bhp) to 195 kW (265 bhp). The four-cylinder petrol engine, like the diesels, is turbocharged, and both types of engine have direct fuel injection. All the engines, with their supremely refined flow of power, make the A4 a pleasure to drive and, thanks to their high efficiency, consume distinctly less fuel than the previous versions.

Various transmissions are available: a six-speed manual gearbox, the tiptronic automatic transmission, the multitronic continuously variable transmission, and either front-wheel drive or quattro permanent all-wheel drive, which has been subjected to intensive development work that has made its performance even more dynamic.

Equipment and trim, data and prices stated here refer to the model programme offered for sale in Germany. Subject to amendment; errors and omissions excepted.

Via | Fourtitude (grazie a Fabio per la segnalazione)

Official images of the new Audi A4 are here. The design of te B8 model of the mid-premium saloon from Ingolstadt seems to be a very moderate evolution of the previous model. Maybe too conservative.

The proportions seem to be a little more aggressive, maybe thanks to the shorter overhangs, the longer hood and the longer wheelbase. The hood has a little more of a slope and finishes in slightly less imposing single-frame grille. The headlights have pretty showy LED daylights.

Fortunately, underneath the body the changes are much more interesting. The MLB modular system made it possible to move the engine 154 mm backwards, for a better weight distribution.

The suspensions are completely new, made mostly in alloy. Also new is the drive select system, that changes the response of the engine, the gearbox, the steering and the supsensions according to the drivers’ preferences. Dynamic steering assistance and damper response are also available.

The engine range, at least for now, comprises 5 different engines with power output from 143 to 265 ps. For now there’ll be no DSG double-clutch gearbox, but A4 buyers will be able to choose between a choice of automatic, manual or CVT (Multitronic).

The top gasoline engine, at least for now, will be the 3.2 V6 FSI: power output will be 265 ps, torque will be 330 Nm, constant between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm. With this engine the A4 will reach a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited) and sprint from 0-100 km/h in 6,2 seconds with the manual gearbox (compared to 6.8 seconds for the old 3.2 FSI).

Below that will be the 1.8 TFSI four cylinder turbocharged engine: 160 ps, 250 Nm (constant between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm), 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, top speed 225 km/h.

The diesel engines are all new. At the top there’s the 3.0 V6 TDI: power output is 240 ps, torque is 500 Nm (constant between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm). The A4 3.0 TDI can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds (6.8 seconds for the old one) and reach a top speed of 250 km/h.

Below that there’s the 2.7 V6 TDI (190 ps, 400 Nm). Then, there’s the new four cylinder 2.0 TDI common rail turobdiesel (143 ps, 320 Nm). All diesel engines are equipped with antiparticulate filters and can comply with the Euro5 emission regulations.

The wheelbase of 2808 mm made it possibile to offer 36 mm more legroom for rear passengers, while all passengers benefit of more headroom and shoulder room.

The new A4 should be in showrooms by the end of november, in Europe.

Via | Motor Authority

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The official announcement for the new Audi A4 is expected tomorrow (august 28th). In the meantime, in an announcement about “efficient drive systems”, Audi has released some interesting tidbits that help us put the new A4 (B8) in perspective with the previous two generations (B6 and B7).

In the chart above (click on the image for a higher resolution version) you can see a comparison of technical data between B6, B7 and B8 for an A4 1.8T. A first thing to be noted is the very smal difference in weight, with the B8 25 kg heavier than the B6 (from 1,370 to 1,395 kg).

Another interesting thing is the passage from the old 1.8T to the new 1.8 TFSI. Power output has risen from 150 to 170 ps, torque from 210 to 250 Nm (passing through the 163 ps/225 Nm for the A4 B7), while fuel consumption is down 15% from 8.3 to 7.1 liters per 100 km. CO2 emissions are down 15% too, from 199 to 169 g/km. Performance should be sensibly better, with a 0-100 km/h time that should be down from 8.9 to 8.4 seconds.

Via | Auto.cz

Auto Motor und Sport has a rendering of the Audi A1 Speedster. The speedster is the open-air version of the future super-mini from Ingolstadt, and this rendering is a nice addition to the sketches of the A1 hatchback coming from Audi’s design center.

According to the german magazine, the hatchback version of the Audi A1 will be shown in the autumn at the next Tokyo motor show, in a hybrid version. We don’t know whether Audi will show it as a concept car or as a production car. We suppose it’ll be a concept, since the A1 is expected in 2009.

Base price of the Audi A1 should be under 20.000 €.