Test drive Audi A4 B7 2004 - 2007 Sedan

Audi A4

Before his death, Giuseppe Garibaldi asked him to put him so that he could see the sea. From the site on which I stopped the car, you can see the island of Kaprera, where the rejected hero met the sunset of life.
Garibaldi traveled half a world and knew a lot about beautiful places. And now the northern tip of Sardinia has chosen Audi for tests of the new A4. The ability to find amazing routes is also part of the brand.
Bright future
2015 Germany. Dad, what is BMW? The boy asks, seeing an unfamiliar emblem on the hood of a parked car ... Of course, the management of the company from Ingolstadt represents its future victory over the main competitors not so radically, but according to the approved plans by 2015, Audi should become the most successful premium brand of the world. There are grounds for optimism. From 1995 to 2006, the volume of Audi production increased. In 2007, the company has a chance to step over the line of a million cars a year. Record sales are recorded in 40 countries. Cool growth. However, there are weaknesses in this regard. No matter how good Audi cars are on their own, they are unlikely to be able to radically squeeze rivals from Munich and Stuttgart radically. In this segment, people are determined with the choice long before they begin to get acquainted with the characteristics of specific models. A person who wants Mercedes will buy Mercedes, no matter what they say about BMW. This is due to the established stereotypes, which are intensely supported by the powerful propaganda apparatus of companies. Mercedes is perceived by everyone as a standard of comfort and a demonstration of life success, and the BMW symbol of steepness and sports. In this regard, Audi is in a slightly vague position. The company speaks of the optimal combination of the best qualities inherent in the premium brand car. The slogan is too blurry to become a stereotype. So Audi remain the choice of those whose soul does not lie to the Bavarians or Stuttgarts. Perhaps the golden middle is the right path to success, but some features of the new Audi A4 demonstrate that there is still a certain emphasis in the politics of the Ingolstadt. The eighth generation A4 is one of the key elements of the Audi plan. 40% of Audi sold all over the world is A4, a segment D, a middle class, or compact limousines, as they are often called.
Inspired
In principle, the fact that Audi will make an increasing rate on sports, could be said in advance. It is not without reason that the company made a supercar R8 the main propaganda project of recent years. That's what they want to associate their products in Ingolstadt. At first glance or judging by the photographs, the new four is not too different from the predecessor. Its appearance is determined by familiar features: a large shield of the radiator grill and the main find of the designer Walter and the strong -shaped hood, which gives the car a formidable, but without deliberation. In fact, the differences are quite significant. If the former A4 is an ordinary and slightly boring sedan, then the new four makes you peer much more closely. And above all, thanks to its proportions. What a4 became large and how long! And what a deep landing in relation to the windowsills you sit like in a sports car. The proportions have become noticeably more supercarial: an elongated nose, a reduced front overhang, a composite roof. The car seems more squat. The height is the only overall size that has not increased. But in terms of the length of the wheelbase, it does not reach A6 only 34 mm. And the presence on the tests of the R8, which unobtrusively flickered here and there, left no doubt about the source of inspiration. There is, of course, in appearance and controversial moments. A4 looks so good both anfas and the profile that the view from the back seems insufficiently expressive. But most of all doubts personally caused me LED cosmetics under the headlights. Of course, daylight headlights are an excellent invention, which will become mandatory for all manufacturers in 2010. Indeed, why in the afternoon to burn the near light, if the goal is not to light the path, but to designate yourself on the road? The chain of 14 LEDs copes with this task, directly sending the imagination to the R8. Nevertheless, the performance of a sound idea seems doubtful to me: it looks like bulbs from teenage sneakers, which for some reason attached to classical shoes. However, I cannot but admit that in the mirrors of the rear view the wings look great. And taking into account how the new A4 rides, very soon they will become no less formidable signal for drivers than crazy BMW pupils. LED wings are attached only to xenon headlights. Standard halogen will be equipped with a chain of ordinary lamps located in the line along the lower edge of the headlights. It was not possible to see how it looks. On Sardinia, A4 were only in steep trim levels.
The technique of business
As often happens, behind a new design is not a whim, but an engineering calculation. New proportions the investigation of the new platform. It is still characterized by the longitudinal installation of the power unit, but the engineers managed to change the differential and clutch, so that the front axis was moved forward by 154 mm and put it under the engine. This made it possible to increase the wheelbase to 2809 mm (and therefore increase the salon), lengthen the hood, reduce the front overhang, and most importantly, the engine is now not in front of the axis, but above it, which most beneficial affected the weight and control of the car: the balance sheet became It is much more neutral than before, when the peeled before so strove to demolish from the trajectory. To improve weight balance, the battery was transferred to the trunk. The abundance of Hightecsky little things is another integral feature of premium. In this regard, A4 is at a height. Despite the increased characteristics and dimensions of A4, new engines on average consume 10% less fuel due to direct injection. The behavior of the car can be adjusted to your taste using the Drive Select system. The smart steering system is equipped with a wave gear with a compact device used on a lunocer and on Martian rovers (see insert). The Audi Side Assist system monitors the blind zones, informing about the invisible threat with flashes of LEDs on mirrors. Adaptive cruise control withstands the distance to the in front of the passing transport, warning about dangerous rapprochement with light slowdown. The Audi Lane Assist system using the video camera monitors the marking, warning about its intersection by vibration of the steering wheel. The decoration of the salon performed by Audi has long become the standard: the details are adjusted to each other with an accuracy of a pair of microns, only for the thermal expansion of materials. The handles rotate as if they are sitting on bearings (perhaps it is). The devices are mounted in the panel not rigidly, but are soldered using special vibration -insulating foam. Electronic key. Starter button. Electromechanical handbrake. The steering wheel is adjusted both in height and in the removal. You can order seats with electroregies and memory. Finally, the salon itself has become more. I searched for a long time what to complain about. Found! When trying to adjust the temperature on the display screen, a thermometer is displayed, and to return to more important information, for example, to the navigation card, you need to frantically fumble in search of a special button. Unknown. I was happy for a long time that I could at least criticize something.
Trembling the bowstring
At first, A4 will be offered with two gasoline and three diesel engines. Over time, the proposal will expand, but so far, among the gasoline power units, you can choose between a 1.8-liter turbo engine with a capacity of 160 hp. and 3.2-liter atmospheric V6 with a capacity of 265 hp The first is good, the second is magnificent. It was somewhat surprised that diesel engines liked significantly more gasoline. This also applies to the basic 143-horsepower diesel and the most powerful V6 with a capacity of 240 hp. The third diesel (190 hp) makes the choice not as radical as in the case of gasoline motors. Perhaps diesel sympathies are associated with the nature of the roads of Sardinia: narrow mountain serpentines, on which they periodically had to get into the leisurely transport of natives and then wait a short straight line to break out of the operational expanses. Perhaps if the jerks had to be done not with 6080 km/h, but with 120140 km/h, my opinion would be different. A4 is equipped with three types of transmission. Most of all on the roads of Sardinia I liked 6-speed mechanics. The elasticity of the engines made it possible not to do problems from the accuracy of choosing the moment of switching in the ligaments of mountain turn. It was possible to aggressively subside the transmissions, or you can flain on III, enjoying the landscapes. Yes, and the switching itself is very nice to the touch. On versions without a pen, frankly, this was exactly what was missing. The second place in my chart transmission was taken by the 6-band Tiptronic machine, which is offered for all-wheel drive versions. It is good in automatic mode, and with manual switching with steering wheel petals, the speaker is almost the same as on the mechanics. The only spoiled mood spoiled that the petals, although they rotate with the steering wheel, are too short and located uncomfortable, under the standard European grip of 3 and 9 hours, while I prefer 10 and 14. Because of this, I constantly had to stretch my fingers. Multitronic variator, which are equipped with anteroplative modifications, is good in automatic mode, but in manual you understand that its eight ranges are only imitation. Pampering with petals quickly bothers. If the mechanics and the automatic machine at the exit from the stilettos are made by the driver before a pleasant choice: II transmission (gun) or III (rocket), with a variator who constantly sought to promote the engine to optimal revolutions, had to click at the IV, V, VI transmission at a wild speed. Some kind of ping-pong. I guess I just didn't have time to adapt. And, of course, it must be said that the models are equipped with a full -wheel drive of Quattro the latest modification (with a basic distribution of traction of 60% on the rear axle), these are completely different cars compared to front -wheel drive drives. On dry asphalt, this, however, was manifested only in the most tight turns and at the limit of the adhesive properties of rubber. However, in this case, the difference would be huge if it were not for the efforts of electronics, which made all the forces to ensure that both modifications were driving the same way like rails. But through the electronic curtain it was clear that controllability is the area in which the new A4 has achieved the greatest progress. I don’t know which components have made the greatest contribution to a new suspension, a more rigid body, improved weighting, smart steering wheel. It is difficult to say in absentia whether the new A4 has surpassed the BMW of the 3rd series in sports, but in comparison with the predecessor, the car became much more assumed and dynamic. You write out the turns, and the steering wheel rings in the hands when touching the marking (Lane Assist system), like a tightly stretched bowstring. A very pleasant sensation, not to mention practical benefits. The car is definitely alive. And one more significant feature: the suspension in accordance with the general orientation on sports has become more rigid (especially if you do not have an optional Drive Select system with adjustable shock absorbers). It is very pleasant on the bends, but not very on bumps and potholes. If the Audi A4 is a compromise, then quite radical.
The coolest
If 150 years ago people wore painted T -shirts, then one of the most popular plots would be a portrait of a dull bearded person with the face of either a saint or a robber. He would be as familiar as the image of a bearded man with a star on the beret today. Nevertheless, Garibaldi cannot be called the Chex of the 19th century. The Italian, unlike the Argentinean, knew how to compromise. He, too, partisan in Latin America, but did not disappear in the jungle in a hopeless battle. He was a carbonarium, a fighter for freedom, but when italy had to be a compromise for the freedom of Italy, Garibaldi personally handed the power to the king. And then he left. But not in the jungle, but on a small island off the coast of Sardinia. Nowhere else I have seen such a sea. All shades of blue, blue, purple, green. And the gold of the rocks. Garibaldi was cool, the coolest in his generation, but appreciated mind and beauty. I think he would choose Audi.
Audi A4 1.8 TFSI 3.2 FSI
Dimensions, mm 4703x1826x1427 4703x1826x1427
Equipped mass, kg 1410 1580
Type of engine gasoline L4 with turbocharged gasoline v6
Max. Power, L.S./O/min 160/4500-6200 265/6500
Max. moment, nm/rpm 250/15004500 330/30005000
Max. Speed, km/h 225 250
Mechanical transmission 6-speed mechanical 6-speed
Front -standing permanent full drive
Fuel consumption, l/100 km 7.1 9.2
Acceleration time, 0100 km/h, with 12.4 9.5
Leonid Sitnik
Photo by the author and the manufacturer.
 
 
 
 

A source: Avtopanorama magazine