NEW YORK — Audi is again setting a benchmark among German sports sedans with the new generation A4, unveiled today at a press conference prior to the opening of the New York Auto Show. With the A4's uniquely satisfying driving character, dynamic performance and design, Audi has created the most rewarding German sports sedan in the class.
The all-new 2002 model A4 delivers on these promises with enhancements in every aspect of its performance. The latest generation of Audi's revolutionary four-link front suspension and a new fully independent suspension in the rear set the foundation for new levels of driving dynamics. With a body that is 45% stiffer than the previous generation, the new A4 telegraphs pure driving pleasure.
True to its motorsports DNA, Audi again offers two powerful engines: a completely new five-valve 3.0-liter V6 aluminum block engine producing 220 horsepower; and the turbocharged 170 horsepower 1.8 T four-cylinder engine, the first turbocharged engine certified to the ULEV standard and a two-time Ward's Auto World "10 Best Engine" winner.
To meet the performance demands of customers in this class, a 5-speed manual transmission is standard with the 1.8 T, and a 6-speed manual gearbox is standard with the 3.0 liter V6 to handle its increased power output. For those who prefer an automatic transmission, models equipped with quattro(R) are available with a 5-speed Tiptronic(R) transmission including steering wheel controls.
For front-wheel-drive models, Audi is introducing a revolutionary transmission technology, offered for the first time in a premium class vehicle: a continuously variable automatic transmission known as multitronic(R). The benefit of this technology is a transmission as quick as a manual transmission vehicle and smoother than an automatic, all with increased efficiency.