All-new Audi A4: Style & Substance

Some time last month, two days before a scheduled trip to Singapore, I got a call from a representative of PGA Cars, exclusive distributors of Audi vehicles in the country. “Sir, would you like to test drive the new Audi A4?” I was asked. “Of course! I’ve been waiting to get my hands on it for some time now,” was my immediate reply. “It’s yours for the weekend,” I was told. Suddenly, the lure of sambal stingray didn’t seem as compelling as it did just a couple of seconds before.

Yes. I admit. I am enamored with the all-new Audi A4. Those fascinating new headlamps alone are enough to make one drool. They’re the automotive equivalent of Angelina Jolie’s lips, for crying out loud! At once so distinct that they’re sexy, anyone who has any sense of aesthetic automotive design would be mesmerized. But alas, it was not meant to be – at least not yet. Thanks to my pre-determined trip to Singapore, I had to wait for the car’s long list of suitors (test drivers) to run its course before I could get my shot at it once I had returned. But as they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder.

When I finally got to test drive the A4 in late November, therefore, my expectations were marginally higher. I had, after all, already heard stories of the car’s improvements. Foremost of which were first, the new drive control system, which I was told was so advanced that it significantly adjusts the car’s operating characteristics to suit a driver’s preferences and driving style, and the new dynamic steering, that is also improved to the point where it adjusts to road speed. I would get to judge those raves for myself, but first, I must admit that the car’s aesthetics were what primarily took my breath away.

This all-new midsize saloon from the German manufacturer may not be largest in class, but at 4.7 meters, it’s significantly larger than its predecessor. As such, it boasts a powerful road presence that puts it at par with its rivals like the ever so appealing BMW 3Series and the strikingly imposing new Mercedes Benz C-Class. The aforementioned headlamps make it the runaway winner in the immediate impact department – at least in my book. Stately, taut lines that suggest a more progressive yet emotive design concept make it every much the head turner that both its rivals are.

Inside, the Audi makes a bold statement with its lively lighting and obvious high-quality workmanship. The red and white combination of the dashboard’s lighting serve as tasty eye candy. And the logical, intuitive control panel, which now includes a thoughtful iPod/AUX input jack, makes it quite the modern masterpiece. At once, the new Audi A4 screams modern functionality and thoughtfulness – the kind one would expect from higher end variants. And the seats, I’d say they’re at par with the Benz’s where the combination of comfort and tactile quality are concerned.

Now as for the previously mentioned technological improvements, let me just say that while I do appreciate the assistance systems’ ability to enhance the A4 driver’s sense of control, I found the new steering system quite ambiguous. Not that it’s difficult to use – quite the contrary, in fact. It’s just that I have driven Audis before and have reasonably sound expectations of how an Audi’s steering response is/should be. This new steering system really starts off on the heavy side before easing up and approximating that more familiar Audi feel as you pick up speed. Maybe it’s just me. But I really have no beef with cars maintaining steady steering response parameters. I just don’t take to it, perhaps. Kind of like the way I still cannot appreciate auto-adjusting in-car audio systems.

Speaking of, the new Audi A4 comes with a series of communication and entertainment technology options at the customer’s disposal. The unit I was lent may not have had the iPod interface option, but I was quite happy with the input jack available. And the standard sound system had enough punch to make the music lover in me a happy trekker. Given the right circumstances (read: zero traffic), it’s pure bliss inside an A4.

As for political correctness, you can’t ask for more from the Audi A4 2.0 TDI (which is the variant I was fortunate to have tested). Equipped with four cylinders and common rail fuel injection with piezo injectors, the Audi A4 2.0 TDI is one frugal yet luxurious vehicle. Keep a steady foot on that gas pedal and you won’t have to worry that your fuel expenses might be catching up with your monthly amortization expenses. In fact, during a recent fuel economy run conducted by the renowned German Auto Bild magazine for 20 randomly selected readers (common, everyday, non-professional drivers all), the Audi A4 2.0 TDI was able to register an astounding 27 and 29 kilometers (on the average) of fuel per liter. That’s a whole lot better than most of what smaller cars nowadays can offer!

And so in conclusion, with its enviable combination of style and substance, I can say with finality that the all-new Audi A4 makes a convincing argument for itself. There is very little to complain about, given what the car brings to the table. The Audi A4 has been a constant dream of mine, in fact (yes, even if the previous variants lacked some of the pizzazz that this version has in spades). This iteration just makes me lust for it even more.