Category: Audi

Audi City, a new kind of electronic tyre kicker’s dream, brings the virtual into reality with the opening of a new digital showroom in central London.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi’s marketing and sales boss, explains, “Audi City combines the best of two worlds—digital product presentation and personal contact with the dealer.

“This new retail format brings us even closer to our customers—geographically, of course, but first and foremost in terms of the quality of our relationship. Audi City offers new freedom for tailor-made services and an even more individual contact with the customer.”

By 2015 Audi plans to have a more than 20 digital showrooms open across the world’s major cities.

It’s pretty cool, we have to say. You start by selecting your preferred model from a tablet then flick it to a life size Powerwall. The videos and pics after the break show it best.

Would you like a Subaru Outback, but are a bit of a badge snob? Well we have good news for you. Word has come our way confirming the new Audi A4 allroad quattro will be sold in Australia. It will be the first time the model has been seen in local showrooms and as such Audi is taking a cautious approach by limiting numbers to just 150 models.

The A4 allroad quattro is due to launch in November this year and while pricing is yet to be confirmed, you should expect a list price of around $70,000. A 130kW 2.0 TDI will be the sole engine choice, and is shown below in a list of key specs for the Australian market:

• 2.0 TDI S tronic quattro with 130kW/380Nm
• Fuel consumption around 6.0l/100km
• 180mm ground clearance and a wider track than A4 Avant
• Offroad detection system (ORD) that automatically adapts the ESP according to road conditions
• Underbody protection, front and rear, in stainless steel
• Model specific exterior trim
• Standard equipment to include xenon headlights, MMI navigation and Audi parking system plus with rear camera

Audi has just launched its ‘product improvement’ enhanced A4/S4 range to the Australian market. Product improvement is just a marketing name for facelift, but to give Audi credit they have added quite a bit of substance with this mid-cycle update.

Headlining the news is word the latest S4 Avant will now be offered for sale in Australia; it satisfies AUSmotive’s appetite for fast Euro estates rather nicely. Powered by a 245kW supercharged 3.0 litre V6 it can reach 100km/h in 5.1 seconds and, if you behave, sips fuel at the relatively miserly rate of just 8.4l/100km. We’d really quite like one!

The S4 sedan shaves 0.1s and 0.3l/100km off the 0–100km/h sprint and fuel consumption numbers and is priced from $120,400. The stylish S4 Avant starts at $123,900.

Coming back to reality for a moment the entry level A4 1.8 TFSI ($52,700) has had its engine updated and now has 125kW/320Nm. That represents a modest gain of only 7kW, but a much healthier boost of 70Nm will bring noticeable real world benefits.

We do agree with Audi in their claim that the A4 2.0 TFSI quattro is the sweet spot in the range. Priced from $61,700 (sedan) or $64,500 (Avant) that’s where the smart money should go. Under the bonnet is the same engine found in the award winning Golf GTI and it produces 155kW/350Nm.

Audi has paired the Avant 2.0 TFSI quattro with a 7-speed S tronic transmission as standard equipment. Sedan buyers can choose from a 6-speed manual or the S tronic. For both body styles you’re looking at mid 6s to reach 100km/h and fuel consumption around 7l/100km.

Making the case for 2.0 TFSI quattro more compelling is its impressive list of standard equipment, which includes the Technik and Comfort packages. Those packages add things like Sat Nav, xenon headlights, front and rear park assist, electric seats, convenience key and more.

In addition to the models already discussed Audi offers a poor man’s S4 in the form of the A4 3.0 TFSI. It’s available in Australia as a sedan only and for your $93,400 you get 200kW in return.

Of course, diesel technology is well represented and Audi Australia has brought three TDI options down under: the 130kW 2.0 TDI ($57,900), the 150kW 3.0 TDI ($68,900) and a 180kW 3.0 TDI (sedan only, $88,000).

We’re off to spec up an A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI quattro, in the meantime you can read over the full details from Audi Australia below.

Audi Australia has just added the five-door Sportback to its A1 range. It’s still only a four-seater, but the addition of rear doors and a small 16mm increase in the model’s roofline help to make this a more practical option for A1 buyers.

Also added to the A1 range is a new entry level Sportback 1.2 TFSI Attraction costing $26,500 (plus on roads). In exchange for the attractive price you get a not altogether appealing 62kW accompanied by a relatively tardy 11.9 second 0–100km/h time.

Thankfully, the A1 offers more oomph than that and, if you can swallow the pricing, we would recommend either the 90kW 1.4 TFSI (from $33,450, tested December 2010) or the 136kW 1.4 TFSI Sport (from $42,500).

Despite its small size, all A1 models bring the peace of mind offered by a five-star rating. The frills come via the Attraction and Ambition trim levels and total of 12 exterior colours, including three roof contrast options. The A1 brings standard equipment like a 6.5″ infotainment screen, Bluetooth connectivity with including streaming audio, cruise control, multi-function steering wheel and more.

Full details from Audi Australia can be accessed below.