New Audi A4 (B8) in Malaysia

The long-awaited all-new Audi A4 - codenamed B8 - is now available in Malaysia. The first model to be available is the petrol 1.8L turbocharged direct injection (Turbo FSI). Here is a pictorial account of the new A4 as displayed at the Audi Hangar, Euromobil HQ in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.

Looking expansive in length than the B6 and B7. Claimed to be just few inches shorter than the current A6!


Lovely and sporty dials as usual from Audi!

Engine downsized to 1.8 now, capable of maximum power output of 160bhp/250Nm of peak torque. Claimed to be 13% more fuel efficient than the B7 2.0T FSI. Front axle now sits an extra 154mm forward i.e. engine and ancillaries' weight shifted more towards the engine firewall, resulting less of 'overhang' in frontal weight distribution. Claimed to sharpen handling along with new steering gear which sits lower and closer to the front wheels.

10-spoke alloys looked classier and premium, rather than sporty.

Dash and interior top-notch in design, ergonomics, materials, fit & finish and built quality. Typical of all modern Audis.

MMI screen (unlit, in black). Leather wrapped gearknob shifts 8-virtual gears of multitronic CVT tranny.

Audi Drive Select switches just aft to gear lever surround. Driver gets a choice of Comfort, Auto and Sport settings, which adjust throttle response, operating characteristics of engine, auto transmission, steering and adaptive damping of suspension.

Sleeker profile with taut lines and return of the tug-and-pull external door handles.

Rear end lower and wider now with a more distinct duck-tail boot lip. Single exhaust for the 1.8 TFSI A4 (B8).

Contrasting with its still good-looking predecessor, the B7 (in red). Expect the more wicked 2.0 TFSI lump to be in the B8 by sometime by March/April 2009.

The new Audi A4 is fully imported and is priced at RM235,000 (OTR without insurance).

All-New Audi A4 (B8) in 2008

Set to debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show 2007, the all-new Audi A4 has a host of improvements to keep it abreast of competition with the BMW 3series (E90) as well as the new Mercedes-Benz (W204) C-Class.

Click on images to enlarge
Having grown up substantially over the current A4, the new B8 has a length of 4,703 mm. To put things in perspective, the current B7 measure in at 4,586mm. In tandem, its wheelbase has extended from the current 2685mm to 2808mm. In short, more cabin space is to be expected along with a capacious boot volume of 480litres.


Audi’s compact four-cylinder 1.8 TFSI, develops 160bhp and a torque of 250Nm between 1500 and 4500rpm, all from a displacement of 1798cc. The manual A4 1.8 TFSI does 8.6 seconds to 100 km/h, and maintains its thrust up to a top speed of 225 km/h. Yet according to the EU test cycle its consumption is only 7.1 l/100 km –1.1 litres per 100 kilometres better than the previous model. What we are likely to see from Euromobil in Malaysia will be the multitronic version - with continously variable transmission.

The 1.8 TFSI is a close relative of the 2.0 TFSI engine chosen three times in succession by a jury of international journalists as “Engine of the Year”. On this smaller version 0f the B8 range, direct petrol injection and turbocharging represent an ideal combination. Injection pressure has been increased to 150 bar and new direct injectors distribute the fuel accurately to the combustion chambers. The turbocharger is exceptionally rapid in its response – at an engine speed of 2000 rpm it accelerates the engine 30 percent faster to a ten percent higher torque than the conventional 1.8T engine that powered the preceeding model. For all its vigour, this four-cylinder unit runs quietly, in a most refined manner.
Audi AG has not released power/torque figures for the 2.0 TFSI engine application in the new A4.

Similar transmissions choices are carried over with the S-Tronic (DSG) still missing form the A4 line-up. As such, a six-speed manual gearbox, the tiptronic automatic transmission, the multitronic continuously variable transmission are paired with either front-wheel drive or quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

The technical features of the steel bodyshell are also evidence of the major steps forward that have been taken on the new Audi A4. The body is extremely light in weight: although almost 12cm longer and over 5cm wider than its predecessor, the bare bodyshell weighs about 10% less – an excellent starting point for a saloon car of low gross weight. The Audi A4 1.8 TFSI, for instance, tips the scales at only 1410kg.

This weight saving is due to specific use of new grades of steel that combine exceptional strength with low weight. Only these ultra-high-strength steel grades give the body the high level of rigidity needed for precise, sporty handling and good ride comfort.

Interchanging the differential and the clutch has enabled the front axle to be moved forward by 154 mm. This change, aided by moving the car’s battery to the boot, helps to achieve ideal weight distribution.

With its wide track –1564 mm at the front, 1551 mm at the rear – the A4 suggests its dynamic power even at a standstill. Audi claims the new A4 will be the sportiest car in the midsize category: agile, effortless to handle and safe at all times.

The new A4 (B8) goes on sale by November 2007 in Europe. Expect to see this in Malaysia only sometime H2 2008.

Related post:

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/05/2007-all-new-audi-a4-b8.html

You may want to read this:

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/07/audi-quattro-27-years-and-counting.html

2008 All-New Audi A4 (B8)

By Dr Long

What is seen here is possibly the all-new Audi A4 due in the UK by September 2007 , as well as making its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2007. Based on the new B8 platform - first used in the new A5/S5 coupe - the key technical features of this new challenger to BMW 3-series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are a radical new drivetrain and front suspension design that promises better (read: more equitable) front:rear weight distribution.

With the B8 platform, the engine still sits longitudinally ahead of the front axle...but Audi engineers have placed the front differential between the engine and the transmission, effectively shifting the weight of the engine rearwards. The front driveshafts are also angled slightly towards the front of the car and supported by a new five link suspension system. As an example seen in the new A5, this new - albeit pricey - front wheel drivetrain solution means the front axle centreline, is some 12cm further forward than the current B7-based A4.

More significantly, the new B8-based A4 in AWD Quattro configuration - as claimed by Audi AG engineers - promises similar handling characteristics to a conventional RWD vehicle.

Speculated engine range of the Audi A4 B8 should include the new 1.8L turbocharged TFSI engine in two different state of tunes (130 and 160bhp), the superb 2.0 TFSI (200bhp), a 2.4 V6 FSI with 177bhp , the 3.2 V6 FSI with 260bhp, a 2.0 TDI turbo-diesel engine in 3 stages of tweaks (115-150-170bhp), a 2.7 V6 TDI that punches out 190bhp and finally the 3.0 V6 TDI boosted to 250bhp (from 233bhp).

In the course of evolution, the replacements S4 and RS4 will be upgraded too: the 4.2L V8 of the S4 will uprate from 344 to 360bhp, while the 4.2L V8 of the RS4 will go manic from 420 to 450bhp! It looks like BMW E92 M3 and Mercedes-Benz W204 C63 AMG will not have it so easy in 2008.

Pictured below is the new Audis S5 and subsequently the A5, from which most of the design cues of the all-new A4 are to be taken from. However, the boring rectangular healights are expected to be ditched in favour of the more shapely ones depicted above.

A reliable source from Euromobil Malaysia have indicated that the all-new Audi A4 2.0TFSI (and likely 1.8TFSI) will be making it into the local Audi showrooms only by Q3/Q4 2008.

Related post:
http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2006/12/audi-a4-tfsi-to-quattro-or-not-to.html