Successful Start for the New Audi A4

Although the new Audi A4 sedan is available in just a few European markets, it has been reported that it has generated successful sales so far. At the time of market launch in the first European countries the A4 had already generated 33,000 customer orders. That figures exceeded the initial expectations, even though it is the most-sold model of Audi.

The Audi A4 has been available in Audi dealerships for just a few days now – in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. In January 2008 the car will be available in France and Spain, and thereafter for the remaining European countries. It is interesting to note that in the United Kingdom, Audi’s strongest export market in terms of sales, the A4 will start selling at the end of February 2008.

Even as a brand new model, it has already won major awards such as “Golden Steering Wheel” as best midsize car by Bild am Sonntag newspaper, and also received the Auto Trophy 2007 from Auto Zeitung magazine. In the individual test carried out by Auto Motor und Sport, it achieved the top five-star rating.

Source: Worldcarfans

Of course,it's a brilliant car and i would buy one if i could.

Very good start... let's hope the trend continues in the NA market.

From the reviews I have read the sales for the A4 will grow exponentially. The car handles well, interior looks premium and the engine program is amazing.

It's a great car, why shouldn't it do well? As for the NA market, AUDI needs to come up with a good marketing/advertising campaign besides attacking it's competitors and basically saying "me too".

Why shouldn't it do well?

I drove an A4 2.0 TDI with about 20k euro in options. It's difficult to compare option prices over different countries as cars/options on cars are expensive in my country. However, it stays a fact that the new A4 requires a lot of options to look as good as the Audi press pictures make it look.

If I compare it against the C class, that looks great in Avant Garde, and the 3 series that is becoming much more loaded with standard options as the model ages. The A4 is now the most expensive option if you compare it against BMW/Mercedes.

And then, the A4 is lacking RWD, so you will have to go for quattro or settle for FWD.

Now for the drive itself, it drove very well. I drove a standard chassis (non sports) with 17" rims. It was a bit too comfortable for my tasting, steering was as expected from Audi. I missed a bit of feedback. Overall the car was neutral with a natural tendency to understeer. The new 2.0 TDI engine (common rail) was absolutely great, it reminded me of the fantastic 2.0D engine from BMW. Smooth, silent almost petrol like. However, it misses 30bhp to really compete with the BMW 320d.

But the driving itself did not push my button, it was nice but not great.

Interior is great looking but again requires all the right options to look like the Audi press pictures. Please remind that if you don't take the most expensive navigation you will not get the nice color screen and MMI.

Overall a nice car, but expensive, and really can you explain why an Audi should be more expensive than a BMW or Mercedes?

Just what I've been thinking. It's time for their marketing department to begin hyping the brand and make people aware of that Audis are just as good as bimmers and Benzes.

I don't know how it is in your country but here in the US, the AUDI's are usually a bit cheaper than the BMWs which are just a bit cheaper than Benz.

As for your driving impressions of the car. Nice little write up you did there, but it is your opinion. It's not right or wrong, it's just how you feel. But most people in the world who will end up buying this car will buy this for the way it looks on the outside, the room on the inside and trunk.

Most people don't have any idea what "engine smoothness", "sports handling" or even "steering feel" is all about. Hell, there is a reason why people love lexus in the US, and that's thanks to the way the cars take the bumps and there is no feedback/drama in the steering wheel. Sure, us enthusiasts hate that but the rest of the public is pretty much ignorant about that subject and can care less about it because to them the car is meant to go from point A to point B and they buy the car that can do that in the most luxurious way that their budget can afford.

So for what it's worth, this car one of the best cars that upper-middle class family could afford without TRULY breaking their bank. So, this is a good car and is up to date with todays standards. As for the options, I believe the Germans are the stingiest F__ks when it comes to them. When everyone else is making some of the basic sh!t like HID lights standard, the Germans insist on charging for them, and not even a fair price either. They freakin charge anywhere from $900 to $1500 for HIDs. Hell, you can find 'em for FAR cheaper in after-market. As for the press pictures comments, dude it's called marketing. They're not going to show their most basic POS interior/exterior, so they show WHAT you can get if you pay the price. That goes for ALL automakers in the world.

That applies for the c-class and 3er as well. It's not a common sight to see a young dude driving a close to bare 318i. Getting a proper premium esperience one have to spend 2-5k(10-20% of the car's price) on options for a C, 3er and A4 to look like a stud.

I agree that the A4 looks a little weak on the outside with standard trim and options, but on the inside it does look very good bare, especially compared with the C and 3er.

It's hard to compare the prices as we are in different countries... Especially as Audi is delivering the A4 in Attraction(basic), Ambition (Sport) and Ambiente (Luxury) in Germany and not in The Netherlands. Both BMW and Mercedes are delivering comparable editions of their cars (BMW Executive/ Mercedes Avant Garde etc).

Just for the record, this is a picture of the A4 interior I keep seeing.


And it looks great...

But what am I looking at in options? And what do I get if I just buy an A4?

This interior has at least the following options:

• Leather
• Leather multifunctional steering wheel
• Alu look dash inlay
• Multi Color High Res Driver Information System
• Upgraded Aircon (The standard does not have the screen)
• Navigation with MMI (So if you will not take this, you will not get all the buttons around the gear and this will just be a blind plastic plate. The MMI concept control will move to the dash)
• CD changer
• Light packet (some extra lights for air vents and dashboard cabin)
• Electronic Key start. (No start button)

This is around 12k in options... And we are still missing the sport seats (Which are absolutely great)

This is just the first Audi that outprices the competition. I expect a lot of people in Europe to consider the A6 as the price difference with the A6 is very small now.