Audi, one of the most popular German auto brands, is well-known for its luxurious interior with a sporty appearance. Built on the Volkswagen B platform, Audi A4 was a start to the brand’s new era. The mid-size sedan was a successor to the Audi 80 model. That said, the first generation A4 launched in 1994 gave the German auto brand a much-needed revival with a new and refreshing design.
Due to its history and legacy, the A4 is one of the most popular used Audi cars in the UAE. Let’s go through the Audi A4 history and revisit its 28-year journey to date.
JOURNEY OF AUDI A4 OVER THE YEARS
Audi A4 gave life to the German brand and became a best-seller soon after it was launched in the market. That said, 120,000 units were sold in Germany only in its first year of sales. Moreover, with A4’s elegant and sporty exterior, the sedan was up for healthy rivalry with BMW 3 series and Mercedes C class.
Let’s walk through the history of the Audi A4 and find out how its generations evolved over the years.
B5: FIRST GENERATION AUDI A4 (1994 TO 2001)
The first generation of Audi A4 brought the literal meaning to the brand’s slogan “Vorsprung durch Technik” meaning progress through technology. That said, the A4 was equipped with a four-link front suspension which improved the steering performance and handling significantly. Moreover, the B5 generation included the following engine options:
- 1.6-litre turbocharged engine which produced 148 hp
- 2.8-litre V6 engine boasting 250 hp
Apart from the engine options, the sedan came with front-wheel drive and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive train and provided manual and automatic transmission options. Moreover, it had a wider wheelbase and more features as standard than its predecessor, Audi 80. The first generation of Audi A4 received a facelift in 1998 onwards models.
B6: SECOND-GENERATION AUDI A4 (2001 TO 2005)
The 2nd generation of Audi A4 came with a sleeker look and lighter body. It was announced at the Paris Motor show in late 2000. Moreover, this generation in the history of Audi A4 was designed on the B6 platform. One of the notable changes included the replacement of Tiptronic automatic transmission with the CVT. In this generation of A4, German auto manufacturer included the following engine options:
- In-line 1.6-litre engine
- 1.8-litre turbocharged engine
- 2.0-litre engine
- 2.4-litre V6 engine
- 3.0-litre V6 engine
The 1.8-litre turbo charged and 2.4-litre V6 engine came with CVT or manual transmission as options. Other than that, the 3.0-litre V6 engine also came with Audi’s Quattro (all-wheel drive system). The interior design was quite simple and had decent legroom for the rear seat passengers. Besides, Audi offered three car body types for the 2nd generation of A4: sedan, wagon and two-door convertibles.
B7: THIRD GENERATION AUDI A4 (2006 TO 2008)
In late 2004, the third generation of Audi A4 was announced. This generation of A4 used the B7 platform, known for the production of longitudinal engines. The Audi A4 had a refreshed exterior design. Although the front grille looked the same, its design was inspired from the Audi A6. Moreover, the third generation had a bigger overall length but the wheelbase was the same as previous generations.
For the first time in Audi A4 history, the car was equipped with Bluetooth connectivity and a coloured navigation display. A new engine was introduced, the 3.2-litre V6 engine replaced the 3.0-litre V6 in this generation. Moreover, it was the first time that Audi used a direct fuel injection system in their A4 model.
Alongside other changes, a notable improvement was the 6-speed manual and Tiptronic transmission onboard, replacing the 5-speed transmission options.
B8: FOURTH GENERATION AUDI A4 (2009 TO 2016)
In 2008, Audi presented the fourth generation of A4. The car received minor changes to its design as it was built on the B8 platform. That said, the redesigned exterior had a different grille and headlight but overall it had the same appearance as the third generation. The wheelbase was 2800 millimetres, slightly longer than the predecessor which provided a spacious interior.
Moreover, a high beltline protected passengers in case of a side crash. Other than that, this generation of Audi A4 had onboard car computers and a new infotainment system. That said, the users could connect to the Audi MMI and also, select different drive modes and suspension settings.
In 2011, Quattro versions of A4 were equipped with 8-speed automatic transmission. Moreover, for the first time in the history of Audi A4, electronic power steering assist was introduced.
B9: FIFTH GENERATION AUDI A4 (2017 TO PRESENT)
Audi A4 has come a long way since its introduction in 1994. The current generation made its mark at the Frankfurt Motor show in 2015 and its sales began in 2016. The current A4 model is based on the B9 platform. Moreover, the latest generation of Audi A4 has slightly larger size than the previous generations but the manufacturer has reduced the weight quite significantly with the use of aluminium in the body and suspension.
The sedan is sportier than its predecessors and features sports leather seats along with a multifunctional steering wheel. The aggressive front fascia along with the single-frame grille provides a wider appearance. Furthermore, this generation got a facelift from 2019 onwards models. Moreover, the fifth generation Audi A4 is equipped with LED headlights and modern safety features along with a hybrid engine option as well.
Besides, the latest generation of Audi A4 comes with different options such as front-wheel drive or Quattro. Besides, transmission options include manual, seven-speed S Tronic or 8-speed Tiptronic transmission. This was all about the Audi A4’s history which is one of the premium models by the German auto giant and has become one of the most popular used Audi sedans in the UAE. Therefore, if you are an Audi lover, you can find a used Audi A4 for sale in the UAE. Besides, you can explore other used cars in the UAE with powerful powertrains and modern technology.
Keep reading the UAE’s leading auto blog to know facts and history about different auto brands and their famous car models.
Related Posts
