Audi A4 is a line of compact executive cars produced since 1994 by the German car

manufacturer Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.

Audi A4

Overview

Manufacturer Audi AG

Production 1994–present

Assembly  Germany: Ingolstadt

 Germany: Neckarsulm
 India: Aurangabad (Audi India)
 China: Changchun (FAW-
VW)[1]
 Indonesia: Purwakarta (Garuda
Mataram; B8 only)
 Ukraine: Solomonovo (Eurocar;
B7 only)

Body and chassis

Class Compact executive car (D)

Body style 4-door saloon

5-door estate

Layout Front-engine, front-wheel-

drive or quattro permanent four-
wheel-drive

Platform Volkswagen Group B platform

 Chronology

Predecessor Audi 80

The A4 has been built in five generations and is based on the Volkswagen Group B platform.
The first generation A4 succeeded the Audi 80. The automaker's internal numbering treats the
A4 as a continuation of the Audi 80 lineage, with the initial A4 designated as the B5-series,
followed by the B6, B7, B8 and the B9. The B8 and B9 versions of the A4 are built on
the Volkswagen Group MLB platform shared with many other Audi models and potentially one
Porsche model within Volkswagen Group.[2]
The Audi A4 automobile layout consists of a front-engine design, with transaxle-
type transmissions mounted at the rear of the engine. The cars are front-wheel drive, or on some
models, "quattro" all-wheel drive.
The A4 is available as a sedan and station wagon. The second (B6) and third generations (B7) of
the A4 also had a convertible version, but the B8 version of the convertible became a variant of
the Audi A5 instead as Audi got back into the compact executive coupé segment.

Contents

B5 (Typ 8D; 1994–2001)Edit

First generation (B5/8D)

Overview

Production November 1994-2001

1,674,943 built[3]

Model years 1995–2001

Designer Imre Hasanić (1991)[4]

Jürgen Albamonte (1992)
 Body and chassis

Body style 4 door saloon/sedan,

5-door Avant (estate/wagon)

Platform Volkswagen Group B5 (PL45)

platform

Related Audi S4 (B5),

Audi RS4 (B5),
Škoda Superb,
Volkswagen Passat (B5)

Powertrain

Engine Inline-four petrol engine

 1.6 L I4
 1.8 L I4 20v
 1.8 L I4 20v Turbo
V6 petrol engine
 2.4 L V6 12v
 2.4 L V6 30v
 2.6 L V6
 2.7 L V6 Biturbo
 2.8 L V6 12v
 2.8 L V6 30v
Inline-four diesel engine
 1.9 L I4 DI
 1.9 L I4 TDI
V6 diesel engine
 2.5 L V6 24v TDI

Transmission Manual transmission

 5-speed manual
 6-speed manual
Automatic transmission
 4-speed automatic
 5-speed ZF 5HP19 automatic

Dimensions
 Wheelbase 2,615 mm (103.0 in)

Length 4,520 mm (178.0 in);

Avant: 4,488 mm (176.7 in)

Width 1,733 mm (68.2 in)

Height 1,415 mm (55.7 in);

Avant: 1,440 mm (56.7 in)

Sedan (pre-facelift)

Avant (pre-facelift)

The first generation Audi A4 (known internally as the Typ 8D) debuted in October
1994,[5][6] with production starting November 1994 and European sales commencing in January
1995 for the 1995 model year. North American sales later began in September 1995 for the 1996
model year.[7] It was built on the Volkswagen Group B5 (PL45) platform, which it shared with
the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat (B5, Typ 3B). It had a front-mounted longitudinal
engine and front-wheel drive. Many variations of the A4 were also available with
Audi's quattro four-wheel drive system. The A4 was initially introduced as a four-
door saloon/sedan; the Avant (estate/wagon) was introduced in November 1995 and went on sale
in February 1996.
Development began in 1988, with the first design sketches being created later that year. By 1991,
an exterior design by Imre Hasanic was chosen and frozen for November 1994 production by
1992. The interior design was later finalized in 1992, with pilot production commencing in the
first half of 1994. Development concluded in the third quarter of 1994, preceding November
1994 start of production.[8][9][10][11]
A wide range of engines were available in European markets, between 1.6 and 2.8 litres
for petrol engines; and a 1.9-litre diesel engine available with Volkswagen Group's VE
technology, capable of achieving a 90 PS (66 kW; 89 bhp) or 110 PS (81 kW; 108 bhp). The 2.6
and 2.8-litre V6 engines which had been carried over from the old 80/90 proved popular,
although in North America, the 2.8-litre engine was the only V6 that was available there until
1997.
The Audi A4 was the first model in the Volkswagen Group to feature the new 1.8-litre 20v
engine with five valves per cylinder, based on the unit Audi Sport had developed for
their Supertouring race car. A turbocharged 1.8T version produced 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp)
and 210 N⋅m (155 lb⋅ft) torque. Moreover, a quattro GmbH special edition of the B5 1.8T was
later available in Germany and Europe, for which the engine's power output was raised to 178 PS
(131 kW; 176 bhp) and 235 N⋅m (173 lb⋅ft). Five-valve technology was also added to a
reengineered V6 family of engines in 1997, starting with the 2.8-litre V6 30v, which now
produced 193 PS (142 kW; 190 bhp), followed by a 2.4-litre V6 which was a downsize from the
previous 2.6 litre, 150 hp engine, but with a power increase to 165 PS (121 kW; 163 bhp).
Audi also debuted their new tiptronic automatic transmission on the B5 platform, based on the
unit Porsche developed for their 964-generation 911. The transmission is a
conventional automatic gearbox with a torque converter offering the driver fully automatic
operation or manual selection of the gear ratios.
The B5 marked Audi's continued move into the midsize luxury car segment, having started this
trajectory notably with later model years of the preceding Audi 80/90 B4. Despite initial
mechanical problems, overall build and assembly quality were lauded both by the automotive
press and within Audi and Volkswagen, and at the time, parent company Volkswagen declared
the B5 the company-wide build quality benchmark for all its other models.
Facelift (1999.5–2001.5)Edit

Sedan (facelift)

Avant (facelift)
The Audi A4 B5 saw nearly constant minor changes and alterations throughout its seven-year
run. Moreover, a significant facelift was introduced for the 1998 B5 model year at the
1997 Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales beginning in Europe in early 1998. The 2.8-litre 30-
valve V6 engine replaced the 2.8-litre 12-valve. A 2.5-litre V6 Turbocharged Direct
Injection (TDI) diesel engine with 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp) was standard on the quattro. A six-
speed manual gearbox was available, as well as the new high-performance Audi S4, now part of
the A4 lineup (the previous S4 had been an Audi 100). Cosmetic updates included new rear
lights, headlights, door handles, and other minor exterior/interior changes.
In mid-1998, the 1.8 20vT engine available outside Europe had its power output raised to 170 PS
(125 kW; 168 bhp). The previous KKK K03 turbocharger, although fundamentally unchanged,
received revisions on the turbine side to prevent cracking due to heat.[citation needed] The 12-valve
V6 was replaced by the 30-valve unit which had been available in Europe for two years.
A further facelift took place across the A4 and S4 platform in February 1999 as a 1999.5 model;
changes were largely cosmetic, but affected many components, such as both front and rear
bumpers, the front and rear lights, the center console, and door handles.[12] This facelift was
known at Audi as a Grosse Produktaufwertung (Major Product Upgrade), as was also signified
by facelift cars now carrying the denomination "8D2".
In 1999 Audi also debuted an even higher performance RennSport model (rennsport literally
translates as racing sport), the RS4 Avant, like its predecessor RS2, available only in the Avant
bodystyle.
EnginesEdit
The following engines were available:
0–
100 km/
max. max. top speed h CO2 emissions[13
engine type years
power torque (saloon) (62 mph) ]

(saloon)
(manual)

petrol engines
all fuel injected

101 PS 140 N⋅m 191 km/h

1994–
1.6 I4 8v SOHC (74 kW; (103 lbf⋅ft (118.7 mph 11.9 sec 174 g/km
2001
100 bhp) ) )

102 PS 148 N⋅m 186 km/h

2000–
1.6 I4 8v SOHC (75 kW; (109 lbf⋅ft (115.6 mph 11.9 sec 192 g/km
2001
101 bhp) ) )

125 PS 173 N⋅m 205 km/h

1994–
1.8 I4 20v DOHC (92 kW; (128 lbf⋅ft (127.4 mph 10.5 sec 182 g/km
2001
123 bhp) ) )
 150 PS
210 N⋅m 222 km/h
1.8T I4 20v (110 kW 1994–
(155 lbf⋅ft (137.9 mph 8.3 sec 182 g/km
DOHC Turbo ; 2001
) )
148 bhp)

180 PS
235 N⋅m 233 km/h
1.8T I4 20v (132 kW 1997–
(173 lbf⋅ft (144.8 mph 7.9 sec 194 g/km
DOHC Turbo ; 2001
) )
178 bhp)

1996–
150 PS 1997 (Only
207 N⋅m 220 km/h
(110 kW in
2.4 V6 12v SOHC (153 lbf⋅ft (136.7 mph 9.1 sec
; Thailand,
) )
148 bhp) for tax
reasons)

165 PS
2.4 V6 30v DOHC 230 N⋅m 225 km/h
(121 kW 1997–
(170 lbf⋅ft (139.8 mph 8.4 sec 226 g/km
BDV Engine ; 2001
) )
163 bhp)

1994–
150 PS 1997,
225 N⋅m 220 km/h
(110 kW 1997–
2.6 V6 12v SOHC (166 lbf⋅ft (136.7 mph 9.1 sec
; 2000
) )
148 bhp) (Indonesia
)

265 PS
400 N⋅m 250 km/h
(195 kW 1997–
S4 2.7 V6 30v Biturbo (295 lbf⋅ft (155.3 mph 5.7 sec
; 2001
) )
261 bhp)

381 PS
440 N⋅m 262 km/h
RS4 2.7 V6 30v (280 kW 1999–
(325 lbf⋅ft (162.8 mph 4.9 sec
Biturbo ; 2001
) )
376 bhp)

174 PS
245 N⋅m 230 km/h
(128 kW 1994–
2.8 V6 16v SOHC (181 lbf⋅ft (142.9 mph 8.2 sec
; 1997
) )
172 bhp)
 193 PS
280 N⋅m 240 km/h
(142 kW 1997–
2.8 V6 30v DOHC (207 lbf⋅ft (149.1 mph 7.4 sec
; 2001
) )
190 bhp)

diesel engines
all Direct Injection (DI)

75 PS 150 N⋅m
158 km/h 1996–
1.9 DI I4 8v SOHC (55 kW; (111 lbf⋅ft
(98.2 mph) 2001
74 bhp) )

90 PS 202 N⋅m 168 km/h

1994–
1.9 TDI I4 8v SOHC (66 kW; (149 lbf⋅ft (104.4 mph 13.3 sec 125 g/km
1997
89 bhp) ) )

90 PS 210 N⋅m 168 km/h

1997–
1.9 TDI I4 8v SOHC (66 kW; (155 lbf⋅ft (104.4 mph 13.3 sec 143 g/km
2001
89 bhp) ) )

110 PS 225 N⋅m 183 km/h

1994–
1.9 TDI I4 8v SOHC (81 kW; (166 lbf⋅ft (113.7 mph 11.3 sec 114 g/km
1997
108 bhp) ) )

110 PS 235 N⋅m 183 km/h

1997–
1.9 TDI I4 8v SOHC (81 kW; (173 lbf⋅ft (113.7 mph 11.3 sec 114 g/km
2000
108 bhp) ) )

115 PS 285 N⋅m 185 km/h

1.9 TDI I4 8v SOHC 2000–
(85 kW; (210 lbf⋅ft (115.0 mph 10.5 sec 123 g/km
PD 2001
113 bhp) ) )

150 PS
310 N⋅m 210 km/h
2.5 V6 TDI 24v DOH (110 kW 1997–
(229 lbf⋅ft (130.5 mph 9.0 sec 184 g/km
C ; 2001
) )
148 bhp)

SafetyEdit
In the Euro NCAP safety and crash tests, the Audi B5 A4 received 3 stars for front- and side-
impact protection, but the last star is flagged to indicate that the driver may be subjected to a
high risk of chest injury in the side impact.[14]
 Adult occupant =
 Pedestrian = (pre 2002 rating)

Derived hybrid versionEdit

In 1997, Audi was the first European car manufacturer to put a hybrid vehicle into mass
production, the third generation Audi duo, then based on the A4 Avant.[15][16]