THE AUDI A4

The Audi A4 is a luxury compact executive car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1994. It is the successor of the Audi 80. It is available as an "Avant", Audi's name for a station wagon/estate car, a saloon/sedan, and a Cabriolet version.

The first-generation Audi A4 (known internally as the Typ 8D) was debuted by Audi in 1994 on the Volkswagen B5 platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat. It had a longitudinal engine and standard front-wheel drive, although many of the A4 owners selected the optional quattro four-wheel drive system. The A4 was initially introduced as a four-door saloon/sedan; the Avant (estate/wagon) arrived a year later. Audi refreshed the model in the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales beginning in Europe in early 1998.

The second generation is An all-new A4, internally designated Typ 8E, debuted in late 2000, now riding on the all new Volkswagen B6 (PL46) platform. The car's new styling was inspired on the C5 (second-generation) Audi A6. The 1.6 L base model remained unchanged, but most other petrol/gasoline engines received either displacement increases, or power upgrades. Audi also introduced a continuously variable transmission developed by LuK, named Multitronic.

Audi introduced a heavily revised third generation of A4 in late 2004, with the internal designation of B7. However, this new range A4 still utilised the existing Volkswagen B6 (PL46) platform, a chassis derived from the outgoing B6, but enjoyed heavily revised steering settings, suspension geometry, new engine ranges, navigation systems and chassis electronics (a new advanced Bosch 8.0 ESP system).

Audi released the first official pictures of the B8 series as fourth generation of A4 in August 2007, and unveiled the car to the public at the September 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. Saloon/sedan and Avant models are offered. The Avant was unveiled to the public at the March 2008 Geneva Auto Show. The B8 A4 substantially shares the same underpinnings as the Audi A5 coupé. Compared to prior A4 chassis, the front axle is moved forward with respect to the engine.