Info on the new B6 Platform Audi A4 (a little birdy told me) - LONG
04-22-2001, 08:47 PM
#1
AudiWorld Expert
Thread Starter
Info on the new B6 Platform Audi A4 (a little birdy told me) - LONG
<img src="https://www.audiworld.com/news/01/seefeld/seefeld20.jpg">The new B6 Platform Audi A4 - WOW!
The new B6 platform A4 is coming...and I think you will be very pleased at many things Audi has done to entice you to consider buying one. To be honest, tons of things were changed to respond to competition, focus group feedback, and just to keep ahead of the Joneses; BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Jaguar, and Volvo.
Here are some of the highlights:
Competitors to the new Audi A4 - What does Audi think the competitors to the Audi A4 are? Well, they are the BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-Class, Lexus IS300, Jaguar X-type, and the Volvo S60.
Goals of the new exterior - were to keep the Audi trademark high beltline, minimizing cutoff lines...and increasing the flowing nature of the existing design. The radio antenna..and that of cellular and new Global Positioning Service (GPS) are tastefully hidden in the headliner at the rear portion of the roof right before the rear window...increasing the flowing design by not cluttering up the look with an antennae. Colors? Yes, they have totally changed this year. What is now offered is; Denim Blue, Goodwood Green, Light Aluminum Silver, Black, Amulet Red, Polar White, Ming Blue..and two special colors of Pearl White and Ebony Pearl (I might be missing one).
Interior Changes - The atmospheres are out. The three interiors are unchanged with leatherette, cloth, and leather being offered. Sorry folks...no Terra Cotta option offered. A new blue leather is now offered. Much to the dismay of the ergonomics specialists back in Germany, the cupholders on the new A4 are greatly improved in size, number, and location. First off, the cupholder in the dash will be able to accommodate a larger cup size...and it has a drip tray...so it doesn't allow for drips on the shifter assembly or shift boot. Second, there is now a cupholder "in" the armrest, when you open it up. Third, there is now cupholders in the rear compartment...in the fold-down armrest. Rear footroom has increased 1.69 inches...actually quite a bit. The car now has three headrests in back...like the Avants.
Chassis and Suspension refinements - Lets see...the chassis has been improved and now is 45% stiffer than the B5 platform car of old. Many of you will be happy to hear that the uprights in the front suspension will be solely aluminum. The use of aluminum in this new platform is intended to decrease the overall weight of the car. The new rear suspension is a welcome change. It consists of a new trapezoidal multi-link suspension that is found on both the quattro and frontrak cars....This means that aftermarket coilovers can fit on frontrak cars now. The wheelbase of the car is about 2.0 inches more that the previous car...and it has a wider track (I think they are copying Pontiac...yeah right). The new sports package is definitely stiff and has less roll than the previous sports packages that have been offered on the B5 platform A4. The stock set up on the new A4 is about equivalent to the old sports package. The new sports package is even more stiff....showing that Audi may actually be actually listening to their sports minded owners and putting a bit more bite into the sport package.
Engine Changes - The 1.8T 4 cylinder engine will continue in 170 bhp trim. The all new, 33 lbs lighter, V6 30V engine will have increased output at 220 bhp. The new engine weighs 33 lbs lighter than the predecessor 2.8 liter engine.
Other Technical Advances - Several other technical changes have also been made to make the car safer, more easy to assemble, and service. The airbag sensors have been moved forward of the front wheels so they can react faster to collisions. Some new enhancements have been made to how the car is wired. The car now has a new CAN Network which allows a typical wiring harness to be reduced from 45 wires...to only 17 wires. There is essentially a network in the car now that eliminates the need for many of the wires that once traveled throughout the car.
Transmission Options - The car will be offered with four transmission choices. The 1.8T will get the manual 5-speed and Tiptronic in quattro trim...and the new Continuously Variable Transmission on the Frontrak cars. The 3.0 will get a manual 6-speed and a Tiptronic in quattro trim...and also get the CVT transmission for the Frontrak cars. The CVT will not be offered, at least initially, on the quattro driveline cars. The goals of the CVT transmission were as follows; 1) to handle 240 ft lbs of torque, 2) be lighter than the automatic (Tiptronic), 3) get better gas mileage than the manual, and 4) have the same or better performance than the manual. Audi apparently met their goals. The new CVT transmission is a new Audi exclusive...just like the quattro driveline that has been for the past 18 years.
Wheel Options - The wheel program on the new A4 will be to offer the 15" wheels standard on the 1.8T, and to offer the 16" and even the 17" wheel as part of a sports package. The tire sizes are 215/65/15 (I think), 215/55/16 and 235/45/17. Note that these are all wider than previous tires available on the B5 platform A4. The sports package will get performance tires and the other 15 and 16" tires will be all season tires.
Other Options - A new Motorola "digital" phone will be offered..yes folks..you heard it here first and this phone will be tied into Onstar service. Navigation will be offered on the 3.0 but you must have the Onstar set-up to get the NAV package. Navigation will "not" be offered on the 1.8T. Xenon lights will be offered on both the 1.8T and 3.0, as well as the Bose 200 Watt system. The sunroof will now be a "separate" option...not part of a group. The convenience package is slightly different in the 1.8T and 3.0 but mainly consists of the Homelink system, and the auto dimming side and rearview mirrors. Rear airbags will be offered as an option...like on the B5 platform S4. One really cool thing is the offering of a 6 disc CD Changer "in dash" as standard equipment...yes, you heard me correctly..that is standard equipment now on the new A4 radio..pretty cool huh? A rear sunshade is also now offered.
A4 Avant Info - The Avant will not be offered initially...and the look of it is still a secret. It will have a fullsized spare...or at least have an option to have a full-sized spare. The rear storage compartments will be increased...similar to that of the A6 Avant. It will have an integrate cargo cover and mesh divider (for dogs, cats, and unruly kids) like the A6 Avant and Allroad. The new Avant will have special wheels only available for it. And, they look pretty damn nice, if you ask me. They will be 17X7.5" 5 or 6 spoke wheels. The Avant should be out in approximately the December or January 2002 timeframe.
Launch Info and Dates - The new A4s will be starting to be delivered to the US ports in early October...in limited colors and options....and are intended to be delivered to the dealers by late October. However, delays can happen...so don't go selling your car until you see a new A4 at your local dealer...it potentially could be early November. The initial launch will be approximately 2,700 cars. The initial colors will be silver, black, blue, gray, and one other color. As of right now..Audi of America is still discussing Exchange pricing with Audi AG...so the base price of this car...and its various options are not available at this time.
Lastly, some of this information could be slightly incorrect...why? Because I may have written it down incorrectly...or Audi of America could change their minds on anything discussed above. Don't come after me if any of this changes...
BTW, if anyone at AoA wants to clarify anything regarding this post...let me know...I will fix it.
The new B6 platform A4 is coming...and I think you will be very pleased at many things Audi has done to entice you to consider buying one. To be honest, tons of things were changed to respond to competition, focus group feedback, and just to keep ahead of the Joneses; BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Jaguar, and Volvo.
Here are some of the highlights:
Competitors to the new Audi A4 - What does Audi think the competitors to the Audi A4 are? Well, they are the BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-Class, Lexus IS300, Jaguar X-type, and the Volvo S60.
Goals of the new exterior - were to keep the Audi trademark high beltline, minimizing cutoff lines...and increasing the flowing nature of the existing design. The radio antenna..and that of cellular and new Global Positioning Service (GPS) are tastefully hidden in the headliner at the rear portion of the roof right before the rear window...increasing the flowing design by not cluttering up the look with an antennae. Colors? Yes, they have totally changed this year. What is now offered is; Denim Blue, Goodwood Green, Light Aluminum Silver, Black, Amulet Red, Polar White, Ming Blue..and two special colors of Pearl White and Ebony Pearl (I might be missing one).
Interior Changes - The atmospheres are out. The three interiors are unchanged with leatherette, cloth, and leather being offered. Sorry folks...no Terra Cotta option offered. A new blue leather is now offered. Much to the dismay of the ergonomics specialists back in Germany, the cupholders on the new A4 are greatly improved in size, number, and location. First off, the cupholder in the dash will be able to accommodate a larger cup size...and it has a drip tray...so it doesn't allow for drips on the shifter assembly or shift boot. Second, there is now a cupholder "in" the armrest, when you open it up. Third, there is now cupholders in the rear compartment...in the fold-down armrest. Rear footroom has increased 1.69 inches...actually quite a bit. The car now has three headrests in back...like the Avants.
Chassis and Suspension refinements - Lets see...the chassis has been improved and now is 45% stiffer than the B5 platform car of old. Many of you will be happy to hear that the uprights in the front suspension will be solely aluminum. The use of aluminum in this new platform is intended to decrease the overall weight of the car. The new rear suspension is a welcome change. It consists of a new trapezoidal multi-link suspension that is found on both the quattro and frontrak cars....This means that aftermarket coilovers can fit on frontrak cars now. The wheelbase of the car is about 2.0 inches more that the previous car...and it has a wider track (I think they are copying Pontiac...yeah right). The new sports package is definitely stiff and has less roll than the previous sports packages that have been offered on the B5 platform A4. The stock set up on the new A4 is about equivalent to the old sports package. The new sports package is even more stiff....showing that Audi may actually be actually listening to their sports minded owners and putting a bit more bite into the sport package.
Engine Changes - The 1.8T 4 cylinder engine will continue in 170 bhp trim. The all new, 33 lbs lighter, V6 30V engine will have increased output at 220 bhp. The new engine weighs 33 lbs lighter than the predecessor 2.8 liter engine.
Other Technical Advances - Several other technical changes have also been made to make the car safer, more easy to assemble, and service. The airbag sensors have been moved forward of the front wheels so they can react faster to collisions. Some new enhancements have been made to how the car is wired. The car now has a new CAN Network which allows a typical wiring harness to be reduced from 45 wires...to only 17 wires. There is essentially a network in the car now that eliminates the need for many of the wires that once traveled throughout the car.
Transmission Options - The car will be offered with four transmission choices. The 1.8T will get the manual 5-speed and Tiptronic in quattro trim...and the new Continuously Variable Transmission on the Frontrak cars. The 3.0 will get a manual 6-speed and a Tiptronic in quattro trim...and also get the CVT transmission for the Frontrak cars. The CVT will not be offered, at least initially, on the quattro driveline cars. The goals of the CVT transmission were as follows; 1) to handle 240 ft lbs of torque, 2) be lighter than the automatic (Tiptronic), 3) get better gas mileage than the manual, and 4) have the same or better performance than the manual. Audi apparently met their goals. The new CVT transmission is a new Audi exclusive...just like the quattro driveline that has been for the past 18 years.
Wheel Options - The wheel program on the new A4 will be to offer the 15" wheels standard on the 1.8T, and to offer the 16" and even the 17" wheel as part of a sports package. The tire sizes are 215/65/15 (I think), 215/55/16 and 235/45/17. Note that these are all wider than previous tires available on the B5 platform A4. The sports package will get performance tires and the other 15 and 16" tires will be all season tires.
Other Options - A new Motorola "digital" phone will be offered..yes folks..you heard it here first and this phone will be tied into Onstar service. Navigation will be offered on the 3.0 but you must have the Onstar set-up to get the NAV package. Navigation will "not" be offered on the 1.8T. Xenon lights will be offered on both the 1.8T and 3.0, as well as the Bose 200 Watt system. The sunroof will now be a "separate" option...not part of a group. The convenience package is slightly different in the 1.8T and 3.0 but mainly consists of the Homelink system, and the auto dimming side and rearview mirrors. Rear airbags will be offered as an option...like on the B5 platform S4. One really cool thing is the offering of a 6 disc CD Changer "in dash" as standard equipment...yes, you heard me correctly..that is standard equipment now on the new A4 radio..pretty cool huh? A rear sunshade is also now offered.
A4 Avant Info - The Avant will not be offered initially...and the look of it is still a secret. It will have a fullsized spare...or at least have an option to have a full-sized spare. The rear storage compartments will be increased...similar to that of the A6 Avant. It will have an integrate cargo cover and mesh divider (for dogs, cats, and unruly kids) like the A6 Avant and Allroad. The new Avant will have special wheels only available for it. And, they look pretty damn nice, if you ask me. They will be 17X7.5" 5 or 6 spoke wheels. The Avant should be out in approximately the December or January 2002 timeframe.
Launch Info and Dates - The new A4s will be starting to be delivered to the US ports in early October...in limited colors and options....and are intended to be delivered to the dealers by late October. However, delays can happen...so don't go selling your car until you see a new A4 at your local dealer...it potentially could be early November. The initial launch will be approximately 2,700 cars. The initial colors will be silver, black, blue, gray, and one other color. As of right now..Audi of America is still discussing Exchange pricing with Audi AG...so the base price of this car...and its various options are not available at this time.
Lastly, some of this information could be slightly incorrect...why? Because I may have written it down incorrectly...or Audi of America could change their minds on anything discussed above. Don't come after me if any of this changes...
BTW, if anyone at AoA wants to clarify anything regarding this post...let me know...I will fix it.
04-22-2001, 08:59 PM
#2
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,716
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sweeet!! I wanted to hold onto my car until it died... I wonder if it'll die in 5 years...
I assume the B6 S4 will be coming out about then... hrrrm
Thanks for the boat-load-and-a-barrelful of info steve!
Thanks for the boat-load-and-a-barrelful of info steve!
04-22-2001, 09:13 PM
#3
AudiWorld Expert
Thread Starter
You want the good news or the bad news? (re: B6 Platform S4)
I recently attended a meeting for Audi Brand Specialists...at that meeting the subject of the S4 came up. Well, here is some information you may or may not want to hear. But ...here goes...
1) The current production S4 (B5 platform) will cease at the end of July 2001. That means the last B5 platform S4s will be hitting our shores...somewhere around September of this year. This will be the end of this platform.
2) The other news? How about a question like..."So Steve, when is the B6 platform S4 hitting the US shores?"...and I would respond with "IN TWO YEARS". How about them apples!! And the engine has not been decided on...it might be a bi-turbo...it might be a 8 cylinder...it is probably not going to be a W8...and it probably is not gonna be a choice of two engines.
So, you all can think about this one for a year or so...until the next S4 is available. For all you folks that haven't got an S4 yet...you know the folks stuck on the wall...well, you better get off your butts and buy one soon...or youre gonna have to wait ANOTHER two years for the next one (unless you buy a used one). One thing to consider though...the deals that have been happening on the S4 in the past months...should pretty much die out rather quickly. I think the dealers that currently have S4s in stock will be holding onto them for awhile...probably going back up to MSRP in many places. The old supply and demand model is definitely coming back into play.
BTW, this is real info...not just speculation on my part. I heard this from a pretty high up individual at AoA (not from a dealer). My source will not be disclosed...cause I wanna stay friends with this individual.
Thats it...glad I got an S4 right now.
1) The current production S4 (B5 platform) will cease at the end of July 2001. That means the last B5 platform S4s will be hitting our shores...somewhere around September of this year. This will be the end of this platform.
2) The other news? How about a question like..."So Steve, when is the B6 platform S4 hitting the US shores?"...and I would respond with "IN TWO YEARS". How about them apples!! And the engine has not been decided on...it might be a bi-turbo...it might be a 8 cylinder...it is probably not going to be a W8...and it probably is not gonna be a choice of two engines.
So, you all can think about this one for a year or so...until the next S4 is available. For all you folks that haven't got an S4 yet...you know the folks stuck on the wall...well, you better get off your butts and buy one soon...or youre gonna have to wait ANOTHER two years for the next one (unless you buy a used one). One thing to consider though...the deals that have been happening on the S4 in the past months...should pretty much die out rather quickly. I think the dealers that currently have S4s in stock will be holding onto them for awhile...probably going back up to MSRP in many places. The old supply and demand model is definitely coming back into play.
BTW, this is real info...not just speculation on my part. I heard this from a pretty high up individual at AoA (not from a dealer). My source will not be disclosed...cause I wanna stay friends with this individual.
Thats it...glad I got an S4 right now.
04-22-2001, 09:33 PM
#5
AudiWorld Expert
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 32,550
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Steve, there is no rear airbag option for the B5 S4...
In your article, you mention...
"Rear airbags will be offered as an option...like on the B5 platform S4"
Do you mean Side Head Curtain? I know rear airbags are option on the Allroads, but not on the S4's.
"Rear airbags will be offered as an option...like on the B5 platform S4"
Do you mean Side Head Curtain? I know rear airbags are option on the Allroads, but not on the S4's.
04-22-2001, 09:35 PM
#6
AudiWorld Expert
Thread Starter
The new A4 will have an option for the rear curtain airbag
It is standard in the B5 platform S4...it will be an option in the B6 platform A4.
Trending Topics
04-22-2001, 09:41 PM
#8
AudiWorld Super User
oh ok... I thought you were talking about rear side airbags...
which are an option on the A6 in addition to full side curtain airbags.
so the B6 A4's will not have rear side airbags but will retain the option of full side curtains.
so the B6 A4's will not have rear side airbags but will retain the option of full side curtains.
