Vorsprung durch Technik. It means advantage by technology. In A4 that's more than just a war song.

The new A4 abounds with innovation, and even claims to have more ground breaking ideas per square inch than anything else on the road.

South African A4 sales kick off immediately but we’ll initially only see the 1.8T FSI and 2.0 TDI models on the road. The rest of the line-up will be phased in during the course of the year. And there are a lot of derivatives, both petrol and diesel, to choose from.

With economic and ecological considerations at the forefront many might fear that the A4 entry-level variants wouldn’t offer much in the performance stakes but a brisk drive through the Klein Karoo in a 1.8T proved this is not the case.

The 1.8T FSI, the smallest petrol unit, makes use of 4-cylinders, direct injection and turbo-charging to create 118kW and a maximum torque of 250Nm. The engine block has little in common with the previous engine and innovation abounds.

A new high-pressure fuel pump is driven by a four-lobe cam on the exhaust camshaft and sees the injection pressure measuring in at 150 bar. This is pumped through six-hole injectors, which are said to distribute fuel more accurately in the combustion chambers for an extremely efficient combustion process.

The force-fed air supply comes from a Borg Warner water-cooled turbo and response is good, even at slow engine speed, so there is no real turbo kick. The air intake system is also new and features charge-movement flap valve to generate the required turbulence for a balanced fuel-air mixture.

We didn’t get a chance to drive the 3.2 FSI as it will only hit SA shores in August but indications look good for the V6 petrol lump. The existing 3.2 has been extensively redesigned and now incorporates the likes of the Audi valvelift system, FSI petrol direct injection and various measures aimed at reducing internal friction.

195kW and 330Nm is on tap from 3000 to 5000 pm and it is claimed the 3.2 FSI quattro with triptonic box will sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 6.4 seconds. This combines with a claimed consumption figure of 9.2 litres per 100km to make it a leader in the V6 pack. The Audi valvelift system plays a large role in the consumption figure improvement. It controls valve lift in two stages to ensure excellent combustion chamber filling in all situations. It regulates the amount of combustion air drawn into the engine by varying inlet valve lift. In most cases the throttle butterfly can therefore remain fully open, which largely eliminates undesirable throttling losses.

Later in the year two 2.0T FSI engines will be released, one delivering 132KW and 320Nm while the other promises plenty with 155kW and 350Nm.

Audi continues a tradition of high torque and low consumption diesels with both 2.0 and 3.0 litre options. The new A4 the 2.0 TDI has been given common-rail fuel injection with piezo injectors that operate at 1800 bar. A state of the art intake-air management system and new piston geometry allow for a free revving motor and the limit is now 5000rpm. Sound too is not a problem and you’ll be hard pressed to separate the diesel and petrol motors while sitting in the car. As mentioned a 125kW version of the 2.0 TDI will join the fray a bit later in the year.

The 3.0 TDI has been heavily revised and accelerates the A4 from 0 to 100km/h in 6.3 seconds. Even more impressive is that it only consumes an average of 6.9 litres per 100km. Quattro and six-speed Triptonic box is standard on the 3.0-litre. Power figures are strong, developing 176kW and a whacking 500Nm of torque.

In the transmission department there are a number of options for the A4. A 6-speed manual version is succinct and sporty while the multitronic is set to work in conjunction with a front-wheel drive format. We’ll have to wait and see how the 3.2 and 3.0 TDI’s Tiptronic works but will bet it does the job admirably.

The innovations abound and it would also be possible to wade through the ride and looks. I’ll leave the interior and exterior appearance judgment up to you but I can tell you that the finish in both departments is top-drawer. The Audi A4 is now a large car, similar in fact to the previous generation A6. So obviously occupant headroom, legroom and width are better than before. The ride matches this appearance and class. It is not only comfortable but also delivers plenty sporting appeal.

The cockpit is driver focused and the layout of switches and controls measures up to the high Audi standard admirably. There are obviously a plethora of cubby-holes, drink holders and the like as well as a standard display screen that displays all the audio/climate info.

In the safety department the A4 trumps with a five-Star NCAP thanks to the likes of adaptive airbags, seat position detection in the front seats, side-impact protection and then of course some fast stopping brakes, side assist warning against blind spot intrusions and ESP. You can even get a lane assist system that vibrates the wheel if you accidentally cross over a barrier line.

Bottom line is that Audi’s latest A4 is bigger and better in every respect. It is definitely a step forward and could well see people who traditionally buy a level up from the old A4 to come back down a notch. There is no reason for a sedan bigger or more expensive than an A4.

Pricing:

Petrol Engines:
1.8T FSI manual Attraction (118kW): R269 000
1.8T FSI manual Ambition (118kW): R285 000
1.8T FSI multitronic Attraction (118kW): R284 000
1.8T FSI multitronic Ambition (118kW): R300 000
2.0T FSI manual Ambition (132kW): TBC
2.0T FSI manual Ambiente (155kW): TBC
3.2 FSI quattro Tiptronic Ambiente (195kW): TBC

Diesel Engines:
2.0 TDI manual Attraction (105kW): R289 000
2.0 TDI manual Ambition (105kW): R305 000
2.0 TDI multitronic Attraction (105kW): R304 000
2.0 TDI multitronic Ambition (105kW): R320 000
2.0 TDI manual Ambition (125kW): TBC
3.0 TDI quattro Tiptronic Ambiente (176kW): TBC