Indian Autos blog

Edit – On revisiting the spyshot, we’re starting to suspect that this could be the new Audi A6. Our well-informed Twitter follower Gavin compiled an image (left) having the Audi A6 on top, Motorbeam’s spyshot in the center and the A4 facelift at the bottom for a comparative study.

The spyshot is not crystal clear and hence our preliminary studies to detect an A6 proved inconclusive. The roofline and headlamps don’t look like they come from the A4.

Even if this spyshot is not of the Audi A4 facelift, we have other spyshots and video as proof that Audi’s testing it in India for a 2012 launch.

Yesterday we saw BMW’s all-new 3 Series sitting collecting dust at the Mumbai port and today our good folks at Motorbeam show us the new Audi A4 chillin’ in Mumbai. The new A4 is not a generation shift. The changes, based on the current model, are mainly cosmetic with revisions to suspension settings and an improved steering system that consumes less power, thereby marginally improving fuel efficiency.

There are minor changes around the body like new chrome inserts, headlights styled like the A6, new tail lights and a different exhaust system. The powertrains are a straight carryover. Audi is expected to launch the new A4 just after BMW announces the new 3 Series in India. Audi’s next big launch is the Q3 crossover that can help it close in the gap to Mercedes Benz.

Audi has recently given the A4 a comprehensive facelift to bring it at par with the rest of the family. Considering Mercedes already facelifted the C class and BMW was set to drive in a new 3 Series, the old A4 would have lost to the competition in terms of freshness. Also, the A4 represented the old design language which had to killed very soon. Hence, a face-lifted A4 was presented to the audience in October 2011.

Unlike the new 3 Series or the new C-Class, the new A4 has not grown in length. The exterior of the new A4 is somewhat similar to the A5 with a new grill and new headlamps. The most significant changes can be observed inside the car which now comes with new steering wheels and trimming options. The Audi MMI has also now been upgraded.

The 1.8-liter TFSI and the 2.0-liter TDI diesel are further refined to be more environmentally friendly. Other mechanical changes include a revised suspension and a new electromechanical power steering.

Hopefully, we will get a closer glimpse of the new A4 at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo.

The official unveiling of the refreshed Audi A4 is complete in Europe with the car sporting a redesigned grille, revised headlamps and new hood. The 2012 model also gets a new diffuser, redesigned tail lamps and a dual exhaust. No word on the prices yet but don’t expect a significant difference. For now Audi has released data and photographs of the new model.

See images and video of the 2012 Audi A4 testing in Mumbai

The cabin also has a fair share of additions with revised steering wheel, chrome accents, updated infotainment system and buttons for seat warmers.

Powertrain options for the European market are also detailed in the press release

click through to read on

If you have been following IndianAutosBlog.com, you know that Audi is testing the refreshed A4 sedan in Mumbai. Sporting psychedelic camouflage, the A4 could have new body panels with design cues of bigger Audi sedans.

The new A4 could debut simultaneously in India as the C-Class facelift is out on the market and four variants of the next generation 3 Series is expected to come out before mid-2012. How often do we see an unreleased overseas OEM model testing in India? The luxury car market in India is booming and looks good to shatter the 20k cars/year barrier in the next few years.

In a recent interview to a television channel, a higher official in Audi said its target in 2012 is 7,500 units in India. This is a massive number and cars like the A4 and the more affordable Q3 crossover will have to work overtime to reach that number. Chances are if Audi reaches the target it will surpass Mercedes Benz which doesn’t have a crossover competitor at that price point.

Brief video of the A4 facelift testing in Mumbai

Mechanical changes on the A4 replacement is minimum. The 3.2-liter FSI engine is likely to be replaced by a smaller 3-liter TFSI V6 outputting 272PS. Other variants could have improvements based on the inputs given by A4 customers in the last three years.

Will Audi work out a different pricing strategy for the A4 to appeal to a larger customer base?

We’d like to thank our readers Suraj and Aditya for sending in footage of the mule.

Last week we brought you a story on the Audi A4 facelift and now we have some more spyshots of the new (well sort of) A4. Audi is hard at testing the facelifted A4 in Germany because the launch is due later this year at the Frankfurt Motorshow. Along with spy pics, here’s a rendering posted on Automobile Magazine France.

The whole idea of the facelift is to arrange the A4 (sedan and estate) in line with the current generation of Audis such as the A6 and A8. The new A4 will derive considerable inspiration from the 2012 Audi A6. It will sport a restyled grille with chamfered edges. The headlamps will be derived from the A6 as well. The side profile will not change; however the rear will receive a minor cosmetic job. Two things that constitute the car’s rear – tail lamps and bumper – could be redesigned to create a mini A6 effect.

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At IAB, we think that the Audi A4 is one of the coolest looking car money can buy. One in black with 3.0L TDI engine just melts your heart like a vanilla ice cream on a sunny day.

Its contemporary styling and crisp LED cluster make it the car Iron man would drive if he was an accountant.

But the current A4 has been with us for 4 years and the styling is getting old (just a bit). Considering the new Mercedes C Class has been already unveiled to the world and the next generation BMW 3 Series is just around the corner, Audi cannot just sit there and do nothing.

So they have decided to give the Audi A4 a mid life facelift to make its styling more in line with its elder sisters A6 and A8. Here we have a station wagon version of the A4 doing its testing rounds. Although, Audi India doesn’t sell the wagon version, the styling cues are more or less similar.

From the looks of it, the new A4 is going to have sharp bonnet lines like the new A6 and a refreshed front grill. The rear LED cluster will be replaced by a completely new one. On the inside, Audi plans to provide latest MMI controls along with a lot of features that will trickle down from the A6.

By our guessing, this will hit the market exactly after BMW chooses to display its new 3 Series. So expect an Auto Expo 2012 debut for the new A4.

In my opinion, the Audi A4 (read our review here) is one the best looking German cars till date. The sheer simplicity of the design coupled with the aggressive LEDs makes it one of the coolest looking design in Audi’s stable. Yesterday Audi completed the production of 5 millionth A4 from the Ingolstadt manufacturing unit in Germany. The 5 millionth was a Misan red colored Avant 3.0L TDI Quattro. An  [ Read More ]

This is a short video which we made during our outing with the A4 3.2 FSI a few weeks back (links 1 2 3 4 5). We’re still suffering from the withdrawal symptoms.

Click here to jump over to the gallery of A4 photographs taken during dusk and night.