Audi's New A4 - Where Performance and Design Unite

NEW YORK, April 11 -- 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. For more than twenty years, Audi has been advancing the standards of all- wheel drive technology. Available on every A4, Audi's legendary quattro(R) all-wheel drive shifts up to 67% of the engine's power from front to rear or up to 33% to an individual wheel in side-to-side situations. With its pure form, the new A4 body translates discreet sportiness into consistently modern architecture. Clear-glass headlights, dual exhaust, the Audi signature dual grille and a high waistline inextricably link this new family member with Audi's design language. Building on the current model's excellent ergonomics, the new A4 is now even more refined: both the cockpit and cabin surround the driver and passengers for maximum interior comfort. There is increased legroom for both front and rear passengers, extra space for the head and shoulders plus one of the best cargo compartments in the class with 60/40 split folding rear seats. The high standard of comfort and quality features, which satisfies the demands made of the premium car class, is particularly outstanding. This impression is immediately conveyed by the high-grade materials and excellent finish of the interior. A couple of highlights of the long list of standard comfort features are: an in-dash six-disc CD changer; and dual zone automatic climate control system with a sun sensor for better temperature regulation, activated charcoal filter and smog sensor. The new Audi A4 represents another milestone in the history of the brand. Soon after its introduction in 1995, the A4 became Audi's best selling model range in North America and remains so today (34,460 sold in 2000 in the U.S. and 3,371 in Canada). True to the performance tastes of customers in this category, 87% of buyers select models equipped with the performance-enhancing quattro all-wheel drive and nearly half prefer manual transmissions. The new A4 will be built in Ingolstadt, Germany, the same site of the current A4 assembly.

quattro is a registered trademark of Audi AG. Tiptronic is a registered trademark of Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG. multitronic is a registered trademark of Audi AG.

2002 AUDI A4 HIGHLIGHTS

* Powerfully dynamic design * New aluminum 3.0 liter 30-valve engine producing 220 hp * Audi multitronic(R) continuously variable transmission available on front-wheel drive models * quattro(R) permanent all-wheel drive * New aluminum suspension * New interior and more space for occupants * Audi telematics by OnStar (option)