Topic: Preview: 2017 Audi A4

[Autos_Editor]

Finely honed.
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[mlin32]

I will admit, part of my opinion is shaped by the fact I live in a town literally dominated by VW Group products (WOB is 20km away). But the Audi shapes are getting a bit.....boring. Not ugly, but a bit too similar their respective predecessors. Kind of like how every Porsche looks exactly like the one it replaces.

New Q7? Yawn. Facelifted Q5? Audi A6? It's getting a bit stale. Try harder guys. They look like the styling was done in boring ol' Wolfsburg instead of Ingolstadt.

[mmret]

I actually kind of like the strategy of very evolutionary styling. They are selling a brand, a concept, moreso than a specific car.

[OliverD]

No manual and no dual clutch in the new S4. Bruuuuutal.

Yeah, that's definitely disappointing.

[Guy]

For me the A4 styling is starting to get old. It's starting to look like a 10 year old car. Personally I much prefer BMW styling, where you have a continuity but changes. With the A4, I'm not sure I could spot the changes even with the old and new versions side by side.

And nothing looks more like an A4 than an A3.

[evil_twin]

I have no qualms with the Audi styling.  Conservative sure, but I still think they look nicer than their comparables from Mercedes and BMW these days.

But no manual really hurts.   Would eliminate the A4/S4 from my short list in this class.

Unfortunately the way things are going, the death of manuals is removing this whole segment from any future short list for me.   Hopefully BMW sticks to a manual 335i for the next gen.

[Snowman]

I love the styling in and out but as I suspected a year ago there is no manual. It is officially off my list as a new car option  The enthusiast is dead, long live the enthusiast.

[Snowman]

I love the styling in and out but as I suspected a year ago there is no manual. It is officially off my list as a new car option  The enthusiast is dead, long live the enthusiast.

You're just going to have to buy American to get a stick in the next 5 years.

BMW M4 Coupé just moved to the top of my list.

[Snowman]

I love the styling in and out but as I suspected a year ago there is no manual. It is officially off my list as a new car option  The enthusiast is dead, long live the enthusiast.

You're just going to have to buy American to get a stick in the next 5 years.

BMW M4 Coupé just moved to the top of my list.

Lotta cheddah. I"m into the 80s before tax with minimal options. Sux you have to pony for the $4500 premium package to the the HUD.

Yep....now I'm down to a M235i for $58k. Hard times 

[evil_twin]

Mustang GT w/ Perf Pkge + used pickup for winter duty and/or pretending I'm handy and need a truck.

Covers my needs better than any single sedan.   And I shove my girls in the back of the Mustang when required.

[Railton]

I love the styling in and out but as I suspected a year ago there is no manual. It is officially off my list as a new car option  The enthusiast is dead, long live the enthusiast.

You're just going to have to buy American to get a stick in the next 5 years.

BMW M4 Coupé just moved to the top of my list.

Lotta cheddah. I"m into the 80s before tax with minimal options. Sux you have to pony for the $4500 premium package to the the HUD.

Yep....now I'm down to a M235i for $58k. Hard times 

OK, I don't feel so bad now.
Railton

[OliverD]

I love the styling in and out but as I suspected a year ago there is no manual. It is officially off my list as a new car option  The enthusiast is dead, long live the enthusiast.

You're just going to have to buy American to get a stick in the next 5 years.

BMW M4 Coupé just moved to the top of my list.

Lotta cheddah. I"m into the 80s before tax with minimal options. Sux you have to pony for the $4500 premium package to the the HUD.

Yep....now I'm down to a M235i for $58k. Hard times 

What about the upcoming M2?

[dave]

I will admit, part of my opinion is shaped by the fact I live in a town literally dominated by VW Group products (WOB is 20km away). But the Audi shapes are getting a bit.....boring. Not ugly, but a bit too similar their respective predecessors. Kind of like how every Porsche looks exactly like the one it replaces.

New Q7? Yawn. Facelifted Q5? Audi A6? It's getting a bit stale. Try harder guys. They look like the styling was done in boring ol' Wolfsburg instead of Ingolstadt.

No manual and no dual clutch in the new S4. Bruuuuutal.

Looks like the BMW 340i M-Sport is my only option next year if I'm shopping for a new sedan with a manual.  The S4 and MB C450 AMG will have to be pretty special for me to jump ship.

[JRM]

Very nice evolutionary styling.  Why mess with a good design?  The 3 series is a bit over styled for my taste. 

[Hannibalsmith]

I will admit, part of my opinion is shaped by the fact I live in a town literally dominated by VW Group products (WOB is 20km away). But the Audi shapes are getting a bit.....boring. Not ugly, but a bit too similar their respective predecessors. Kind of like how every Porsche looks exactly like the one it replaces.

New Q7? Yawn. Facelifted Q5? Audi A6? It's getting a bit stale. Try harder guys. They look like the styling was done in boring ol' Wolfsburg instead of Ingolstadt.

No manual and no dual clutch in the new S4. Bruuuuutal.

Looks like the BMW 340i M-Sport is my only option next year if I'm shopping for a new sedan with a manual.  The S4 and MB C450 AMG will have to be pretty special for me to jump ship.

Just get the M3 

[Snowman]

I love the styling in and out but as I suspected a year ago there is no manual. It is officially off my list as a new car option  The enthusiast is dead, long live the enthusiast.

You're just going to have to buy American to get a stick in the next 5 years.

BMW M4 Coupé just moved to the top of my list.

Lotta cheddah. I"m into the 80s before tax with minimal options. Sux you have to pony for the $4500 premium package to the the HUD.

Yep....now I'm down to a M235i for $58k. Hard times 

What about the upcoming M2?

When I see the pricing then yes. I suspect in Canada it will start in the low to mid 60's

[Noto]

it will sport an all new 3.0L turbocharged TSFI V6 that makes 354 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, available from 1300 to 4500 rpm. Yes, you read that right. Supercharging is out, and turbocharging is in for the new S4.

That's more of the killer for me than the loss of the manual.  I love supercharged engines - the lack of literally any lag is just so delicious.

Initially there will be two spec levels of this engine: a 190 hp/236 lb-ft version and another putting out 252 hp/273 lb-ft. The 2.0L turbo in the current A4 makes 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. A TDI-four worth 190 hp and 295 lb-ft will also be on the menu. Transmission duties fall to Audi’s seven-speed dual clutch.

Oliver, don't fight with me on this one.

I don't understand the base tuned 2.0T.  Why not just ship with two engines (both 2.0T, but one petrol, one diesel)?  I'm guessing this is just a guise to garner a higher pricetag on the diesel, rather than MB's efforts of making the Blu as the base engine.  So wrong.  So very, very wrong.

...but a 190hp, 295lb-ft diesel...*purr*

...I mean, not better than MB's 2.1L diesel, but still, *purr*

[OliverD]

Oliver, don't fight with me on this one.

I don't understand the base tuned 2.0T.  Why not just ship with two engines (both 2.0T, but one petrol, one diesel)?  I'm guessing this is just a guise to garner a higher pricetag on the diesel, rather than MB's efforts of making the Blu as the base engine.  So wrong.  So very, very wrong.

...but a 190hp, 295lb-ft diesel...*purr*

...I mean, not better than MB's 2.1L diesel, but still, *purr*

  I think the purpose of the lower engine is less about price point and more about fuel economy.

[dave]

I will admit, part of my opinion is shaped by the fact I live in a town literally dominated by VW Group products (WOB is 20km away). But the Audi shapes are getting a bit.....boring. Not ugly, but a bit too similar their respective predecessors. Kind of like how every Porsche looks exactly like the one it replaces.

New Q7? Yawn. Facelifted Q5? Audi A6? It's getting a bit stale. Try harder guys. They look like the styling was done in boring ol' Wolfsburg instead of Ingolstadt.

No manual and no dual clutch in the new S4. Bruuuuutal.

Looks like the BMW 340i M-Sport is my only option next year if I'm shopping for a new sedan with a manual.  The S4 and MB C450 AMG will have to be pretty special for me to jump ship.

Just get the M3 

I'd love to.  My brother out West has a 2015 (manual of course) and raves about it.  A new one is out of my price range.  I'm contemplating waiting a couple years for a CPO M3...but not sure it would make sense as my DD. The S4, 340i, 450AMG, IS350, etc. all have more than enough power/performance for my (current) needs.

[Noto]

I think the purpose of the lower engine is less about price point and more about fuel economy.

Have the expected fuel economy figures been released?  You may be correct, but I wonder how much 'better' the detuned version could be on paper. 

Does the BMW 320i actually sell?  I mean, yay, $36k BMW, but...like...seriously?  The 320i (RWD) gets the same combined fuel economy as the 328i (RWD) despite the 60hp drop.  Only when xDrive is configured does fuel consumption go up by 0.4L/100km between the two tunes.  I doubt that's the driving factor for Audi to offer the de-tuned engine.  I'm guessing it's lower price point over fuel economy.