[Deutsch]

Originally Posted by Yannis

That is not very accurate since the new A4 will be similar to Roadjet and quite possibly the front will be identical.

Where did you get this info from, sounds like it's been confirmed by a source?

[Deutsch]

Autobild article translated:

By George Kacher Sie's would have thought? AUDI was last year for the first time the number one. Anyhow after sales figures in the upper middle class. The A4 overhauled the ér BMW and the C-class of Mercedes Benz. However succeeded only with the help of the rivals. With BMW the new more ér with late Touring only footstep had to once correctly seize after the model change, and with Mercedes the no longer completely rope-fresh C-class fell merciless. Before this background the fight for customers becomes already this year particularly exciting. Bitterly for Mercedes. Because the large model change lines up only in the spring next yearly. Up to then BMW might make already largely cash. After the fresh Touring starts to the year end the ér Coupé, the Coupé Cabriolet and for the yearly beginning of 2007 the new M3. And AUDI? The 200ër-Primus it to have condemned with difficulty to keep the customers up to model year 2008. Because only then we do not expect a completely new A4. with the Design plan AUDI so radical changes, but the technology under the sheet metal is totally umgekrempelt. "modular longitudinal component system" (MLB) is called the new component set, at which in the future also the A6 and the A8 become sharings. At the installation position of the engine in principle one does not shake, but it moves further to the rear. Since the transmission exchanges the place with the differential, the weight distribution is in the future less top-heavy. Also the designers profit from MLB, because despite pedestrian protection the front overhang can be cut opposite the current A4 around nearly 15 centimeters.

But it comes still better: In addition the technology plans new four-steering wheel front and rear axles, completely again-defined kinetics, stronger brakes with more braking force on the rear spar and, a tail-stressed torque distribution with vehicles with all-wheel drive and a new, down-lying steering element. The goal of engineers is the classical round envelope: more stability, more precision and more feedback, agileres handling, road-hugging property and above all no more disturbing drive influences improves in the steering element. At the same time with the new chassis the model pallet is extended: • at the beginning of of 2007 goes that to AUDI Coupé as A5 into production • at the end of of 2007 starts the A4-Limousine • in the middle of 2008 follows the new A4 Avant • at the end of of 2008 brings to AUDI the Roadjet • at the beginning of of 2009 is the Q5 into series to go • in the spring 2009 follows the A5 Cabrio. Are not individually specified S and R-S models and the A4 in discussion sport-bake themselves. With the propulsion technology also AUDI is long admitting member of the turbo-parliamentary group. Make the beginning followed the four-cylinders with 115 to 215 HP, of the TDI fleet with 120 to 245 HP. V6 and V8 are changed over likewise, whereby different priorities (torque or achievement) are to provide for a rather extreme spreading from 250 to 500 HP.


BMWS and Mercedes Benz go similar ways. While AUDI away from the start favors the direct A splash, the competition course changes over around course. The native of Munich plan for the BMW M3 a 4,4-Liter-V8-Sauger with 425 HP and filter course double clutch transmissions. Whether is enough? Finally Mercedes puts the measuring pole for new C 63 AMG to 503 HP. In the background already a 5,5-Liter-V8-Biturbo undertakes first going attempts also over 600 HP. Also with BMW each turbo- Benziner is not a high speed engine. As the auxiliary designations let assume ti and tis is split, depending upon model and targeted application. Where some turbo already provides with 2000 routes for maximum force thrust, the other turbo distributes its strength by sequential loading over a broader number of revolutions volume. The leistungsspitzen lie with 275 HP for the four-cylinder and with approximately 375 HP for the six cylinder. Also the Diesels continue to increase. BMW wants to crack the 200-PS-Marke with the two-litre already soon. The three-litre, which mobilizes up-to-date 286 HP as Biturbo six cylinder, is to add in two achievement steps on 250 and 300 HP. No surprises in the back: The tail opinions show little new. AUDI and BMWS set on divided lights, which C-class works against it dezent, nearly already somewhat courageless.

With the karosserievarianten those dare Bavaria the step from the folded slab roof Cabrio to the full-concealable Hardtop - despite disadvantages with the optics (joints), with the weight (high emphasis) and during the space utilization (luggage). Parallel to it a classical Coupé is offered. Purely optically both variants differ so clearly from sedan and Touring that they would have earned the designation êr row. Into the same module kit also the successor of the Z4 (2009) and the new X3 (Facelift September 2006, second generation March 2009) is merged. Which is still missing in the pallet, a compact, spacefunctional concept (RFK) is, a kind high-put sport combination. Mercedes would have itself at the new C-class almost lifted - sedan and t-model, CLK Coupé and Cabriolet, SLK and MLK, in addition still the SLT sport combi, the CLE as CLS in the compact format, the Sportcoupé and the Sportcabrio. Because this variety would never and never count itself considering the sinking paragraph numbers, one painted the four latter projects. Are no longer completely so safe nevertheless itself the Swabia of their thing, because the sedan business runs ever more badly. In addition the C-class does not have a as sharp product profile as the sporty more ér and the ever more frequently all-wheel-driven A4. Therefore the natives of stuttgart work on the clean Bluetec Diesel, but with the gasoline direct A splashes AUDI and BMWS lie in guidance. And with the hybrid Toyota enjoys an however position in the future with the new Camry anyway. A filter course mechanism, but (just like BMW) still no double clutch transmission possesses the Swabia. And the 4Matic will only then have success in the C-class even if she is combinable with a Diesel. Central issue end the conclusion: Who is best prepared for the future? AUDI has easy advantages, may however not fritter away. BMW can place itself only a leg (Design), Mercedes must new contents with old strengths connect (quality, reliability, worth stop). Then running is again completely open.

[Yannis]

Originally Posted by Deutsch

Where did you get this info from, sounds like it's been confirmed by a source?

I have my sources.

[Deutsch]

What else did they say? Could you possibly do a scan of the article?

[Yannis]

Originally Posted by Deutsch

What else did they say? Could you possibly do a scan of the article?

Sorry but i don't even know where i have left that issue. I read it a couple of weeks ago.If i have any news about next A4 you will be the first to know.

Anyway you can find some details here.

[Deutsch]

That article didnt' really share anything news worthy, thanks just the same. My beef w/ the Roadjets design are the gaudy wheels, headlamps, and somewhat bland side profile. Here's hoping that the B8's design livens things up a bit.

[Yannis]

From my point of view Audi Roadjet is perfect. It's elegant and simple. Minimal chic perhaps would characterize it. Audi is the equivalent of Apple or B&O of the Automotive industry and since right now it has one of the world's best designers (Walter Da Silva) behind the drawing board ,the result can only be successful.

[Yannis]

Autobild has a couple of sketches of and some interesting news on the next generation Audi A4.

Autobild starts by noting that last year was the first time that the Audi A4 surpassed the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class in terms of sales, thanks also to the fact that the new 3 Series was on sale only for part of the year (especially the Touring) and that the C-Class is starting to feel the weight of its age.

To face off current and future models from its german rivals in this segment, Audi's plan for an "A4 family" is pretty much this : the first to be announced will be the A5 coupè at the beginning of 2007, followed by the A4 saloon at the end of 2007, by the A4 Avant in mid-2008, by the Roadjet at the end of 2008 and by the SUV Q5 and the A5 Convertible at the beginning of 2009.

The main novelty is the platform, based on a technology called "Modularer Längsbaukasten" (MLB, Modular-length components) which will be used also in future A6 and A8 models. The engine will be moved rearwards, while gearbox and differential will exchange positions, so that the new A4 will be less front-heavy than the current model.

With these changes the front overhang will be shortened quite a bit (about 15 cm), as you can see from the following picture, which show the front of the current A4 attuale over that of the Roadjet concept, which is an anticipation of these solutions. The changed position of the engine will result in more space between the front wheel and the cockpit (the wheelbase will need to be lenghtened to offer the same space to occupants of the car).

Audi A4 - Roadjet

New front and rear axles will result in an improved 4-wheel steering system. Improvements are expected also in the braking system. Thanks to the new weight distribution, in 4 wheel drive versions the Quattro system's torque distribution will be more biased towards the rear axle.

Last but not least, the engines: the 4 cylinder direct injection engines, both turbocharged and naturally aspirated, will have power outputs ranging from 115 to 215 hp; the turbodiesel TDI engines will have between 120 and 245 hp; the V6 and V8 gasoline engines will have between 250 and 500 hp (!!!).

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[Audi4Life]

oo...im so excited!!!!!!!!!!!11

[Deutsch]

Cool article, but I hope Huckfledts impression is the real thing. The Roadjet looks off to me.