Audi A4 (B8) Range Minor Change

Audi's answer to the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the A4, was the kind of entry level luxury car that you may want to scoff and laugh about because unlike its rivals which are RWD, the Audi A4 only comes with either a FWD or quattro. This latest generation, designated as B8, is one step further to this entry-level Audi sedan and tourer that are targeted for the selected few. And now, at last, the Audi A4 B8 range deserved the big minor change it deserves.

2013 Audi A4

2013 Audi A4 Avant

2013 Audi A4 allroad

To keep the A4 B8 mountain dew fresh for the 2013 model year, Audi revamped the front and back to match the brand's "Vorsprung Durch Technik" slogan. The new front lamps were carried from the Audi A5 facelift and it comes with a slight wave at the bottom edges but customers would be interested in Xenon plus headlights as an option. Those LED daytime running lamps on the new A4 now creates a narrow, homogeneous band that takes advantage of the xenon lens. The rear lamps are also new as well. It was shaped to be more like the new Audi A8 in order for the new A4 to be one step ahead of its class. For the A4, it has three available models to choose from; one is the saloon version, the A4 Avant for those who need some space, and there's the Audi A4 allroad for those who are looking for some recreational machine.

2013 Audi A4 interior

The change is also implemented on the interior as well. There will be a selection of steering wheels with chrome and high-gloss inlays, with the leather sport steering wheel available by request. This would be somewhat a pick-and-mix choice for the customers to find the interior that well suits their personality. Aside from that, the MMI navigation plus system now offers four buttons to make a bit less complicating. Also, it can do Bluetooth connection with your smartphones, voice-controlled Google searches for points of interests and navigation with Google Earth pics, as well as Google Street View, which sounds convenient for the tech-savvy drivers. Lastly, the interior serves as a WLAN hotspot, providing passengers to surf the internet while they're stuck at traffic. Good mark for Audi, there.

So, what about performance? At the start and depending on the variant of your choice, the new Audi A4 is available in 1.8 TFSi, 2.0 TFSi, 3.0 TFSi, 2.0 TDi, 3.0TDi, and the 3.0TDi engine with clean diesel technology. The most fuel efficient of the Audi A4 range is the one with the 2.0L TDi engine that produces 136HP of power and it will have a fuel consumptions of 4.2L/100km on average, CO2 emissions of 112g/km. The new 1.8L TFSi engine on the new A4 comes with variable valve lift, thermal management, and direct fuel injection aside from its turbocharger that uses waste gases to force air into the engine more efficiently. Basically, it will have 120HP of power but other variants using the new 1.8L TFSi engine170HP of power and 320Nm of torque. Fuel efficiency, it is limited to 5.6L/100km and it has CO2 emissions of 134g/km. It's very eco. Oh, and I almost forgot. Most variants do come with a six-speed manual transmission but some may offer a multitronic CVT as an option. The quattro versions may come with an optional seven speed S tronic tranmissions.

Audi S4

2013 Audi S4

2013 Audi S4 Avant

2013 Audi S4 interior

The hardcore Audi S4, in sedan and Avant form, also gained a minor change as well, inside and out. It carries a 3.0L TFSi engine that produces 333HP of power an 440Nm of torque. It can go 0-100kph in 5 seconds and top speed limited to 250kph, which sounds too cheesy.

My Comment:
Keeping the Audi A4 B8 fresh is somewhat too cheesy for Audi to keep the "Vorsprung Durch Technik" tagline one giant leap ahead from its competitiors like BMW and Mercedes-Benz but still, it would always getting scoffed and laughed. With the introduction of the new BMW 3-Series F30, this Audi A4 facelift would be nothing more than a useless tool to me. I'm sorry Audi but neither you built a better A4 nor a good looking medium sedan for the chosen few. I could have hope for that...

Scoop: AUDI AG