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News of  June 06, 2001

Dynamic, elegant, versatile: The new Audi A4 Avant

Ingolstadt - Audi presents the most attractive and modern interpretation of the Avant concept so far: the new generation of the A4 Avant is entering the market.

The new A4 Avant has a clear pledge and commitment right from the start: to set the benchmark in the upmarket estate car segment by combining design and performance, elegance and versatility more than any other car in this segment.

Beautiful estate cars are called Avant. And this name has already been acknowledged for a long time as the epitome of attractive design. Indeed, about 40 percent of the customers of the previous A4 Avant state that the design of their car was their first and foremost purchasing motive - a percentage far greater than with the competition. This success clearly gives Audi a commitment for the future in general and for the new model in particular. 

An important point is that the new Avant also offers more space and functionality. Its character is likewise borne out by cutting-edge technology such as the continuously variable transmission multitronic and the widely praised aluminium suspension of the A4 saloon. Petrol and TDI engines combining superior power with equally superior fuel economy, finally, ensure the dynamic performance so typical of the brand.

The definition of a new segment - precisely this was the successful achievement of the previous A4 Avant presented by Audi in 1996 and finding more than 300,000 customers in Western Europe alone. The name ”Avant” is acknowledged as the synonym for the compact upmarket estate. And this success is clearly borne out by hard facts and figures: the Avant’s share in the overall production of the Audi A4 so far is 44 percent, much greater than the share of other estate cars in the premium segment.

More space, greater versatility

Through its dimensions alone, the new A4 Avant confirms the quantum leap from the ”old” to the new generation. Overall exterior length of the new A4 is 4.54 metres. The wheelbase is 33 millimetres longer than on its predecessor, and particularly the passengers at the rear benefit from 43 millimetres more kneeroom. The increase in width to 1766 millimetres also means a lot more comfort for the passengers, the passengers at the front benefiting from an extra 17 millimetres and the passengers at the rear from an even more significant 29 millimetres more elbow room.

Photos: Audi

The luggage compartment of the new A4 Avant offers 52 litres more loading capacity than before, up from 390 litres on the predecessor to 442 litres. With the rear-seat backrest tilted forward, the A4 Avant even offers 1184 litres according to the ECIE standard without the rear footwells, or 1288 litres with the footwells.

Beneath the loading area the Audi A4 Avant offers an additional storage compartment with a volume of 65 litres. And the entire floor of the loading compartment can be folded together, raised up behind the rear seats or removed entirely in order to use the full capacity of the lower storage compartment, too.

Another innovation beneath the loading compartment is the plastic tray fitted firmly in the body for transporting dirty objects. With its firm and resistant surface, this tray is of course particularly easy to clean.

Technical features: dynamic performance and superior comfort all in one

The new Audi A4 Avant. As with the saloon, state-of-the-art petrol and TDI engines ensure outstanding performance on the road. All of the petrol engines undercut the emission limit of the EU IV standard, all TDI engines remain below the EU III limit.

Two newly developed engines represent the most modern, advanced highlights within the range of petrol units: the two-litre straight-four developing 96 kW (130 bhp) and the 3.0-litre V6 developing 162 kW (220 bhp). The 1.8T developing maximum output of 110 kW (150 bhp) and with qualities proven thousands of times, finally, rounds off the range of four-cylinders.

The range of TDI engines starts with the injector unit 1.9-litre four-cylinder lauded for its powerful acceleration. Maximum output is 96 kW or 130 bhp.

Two V6 TDI power units displacing 2.5 litres are also available for the A4 Avant with maximum output of either 114 or 132 kW (155 or 180 bhp). And a particularly attractive combination of outstanding technologies is also making its world debut in the new model, the 155 bhp V6 TDI being the first TDI in the world to feature the continuously variable transmission multitronic offering a very special driving experience.

Fuel tank capacity up to 70 litres (quattro models: 66 litres) gives the TDI driver a cruising range of up to 1250 km (1.9 TDI 96 kW).

The various models convey their power to the road either through front-wheel drive or with permanent quattro four-wheel drive. They are furthermore available with either five- or six-speed manual or the continuously variable transmission multitronic, Audi’s revolutionary drive technology being introduced on all front-wheel drive versions of the A4 Avant as of 96 kW or 130 bhp. The quattro models, in turn, are available with five-speed tiptronic transmission.

The A4 Avant can be ordered as of 11 June 2001, with deliveries starting in late September 2001. The prices of the new Audi A4 Avant with petrol engine start at EUR 25,800 (DM 50,460) for the 96 kW 2.0-litre model. The base price of the 1.9 TDI (96 kW) is EUR 27,200 (DM 53,200). The equipment and data specified relate to the model range available in Germany. Subject to amendment. Errors and omissions excepted.

(May 28, 2001)

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