Medium size, Premium luxury

Olbia, Sardania. It's hard to fully assess the all-new A4 in just a few hours. That's why I'm only giving you my first impressions. A day or two of comprehensive testing would have been necessary to appreciate everything this car has to offer. The portfolio is so stacked and complex, both in terms of features and dynamics. Don't worry, though: Doug Clark, Director of Communications and Marketing at Audi Canada, promised us a full road test of the Canadian model a few weeks prior to its arrival in dealerships.

2009 Audi A4 3.2 quattro.

Audi's leader
The A4 accounts for over 50 percent of the German automaker's global sales. Just like the C-Class at Mercedes-Benz and the 3-Series at BMW, the A4 is a desirable yet affordable premium midsize car in the eyes of buyers. Audi is therefore taking all the means necessary to get a stronghold on this market. The next-generation model is set to debut across the Atlantic in November, while North America will have to wait until the end of next summer. In Europe alone, the Ingolstadt-based company might not even be able to meet demand. Indeed, the all-new A4 has what it takes to turn the market upside down; the completely revisited and redesigned bodywork is downright sensational. But the most significant accomplishment of this Audi is probably the fact that four real-size adults can now sit comfortably inside.

Technical refinement
I've decided to write a separate review about the new A4's numerous advancements (stay tuned). So, in this article, you will mostly read about my impressions of the design and driving experience. Let me say, first of all, that the A4 is striking and spacious; it's still the same "great tourer", but with added comfort and confidence.

Our tester was a 3.2 quattro model with V6 engine. In Canada, this is the one we will be getting first. Standard features as well as available options and accessories have yet to be confirmed. Soon after the sedan, the A4 Avant wagon will hit the market.

The all-new A4 is full of technological improvements.

Beautiful and naughty
A mere glance at the front end is enough to realize the outstanding work performed by Audi's design team. While the grille remains just as prominent, the new headlights are the main focus of attention. When underway, the car makes everyone notice the wave-shaped series of LEDs at the base of the clusters.

Stylish LED headlights.

Overall, the design is pure magic: the A4 wonderfully fills your rearview mirror and makes you stare wide-eyed when it passes you by. The Snow White exterior is simply gorgeous; the A4 has the look of a great sports car without appearing overly aggressive. This is exactly what we mean by "presence".

The roomiest
I've always felt kind of squeezed inside the A4 -- or any other German rival for that matter. The new C-Class from Mercedes-Benz made significant headway, but Audi engineers went even further by widening the track and stretching the wheelbase. The interior of the 2009 A4, which is 20-mm longer and 10-mm wider, now allows four adults to find all the comfort they need. Passenger room is remarkable, while the ergonomically-optimized front seats offer good lateral support. Legroom and shoulder room will suit almost any body size. In addition, a tri-zone climate control system comes standard.

Rear passengers now enjoy a similar level of comfort. For one thing, they can slide their feet under the front seats. Meanwhile, the seatbacks are more ergonomic and supportive than ever. Once, I decided to sit in the back while a colleague took me on some pretty tortuous roads. I was expecting to get tossed around, but my body remained perfectly in check, mostly due to the marvellous shoulder-height support. Kudos to the designers! Audi made no compromises and won its bet: to offer a midsize sedan with a truly spacious interior. Believe me, the A4 has set a new standard for rivals to be judged upon.

Interior room is now much more generous.

Generous trunk
With a 480-liter capacity and a lowered threshold, it's now easier and more convenient to load items into the trunk. Cargo room can be expanded or modulated by folding the seatbacks forward. A load-through provision with ski sack is also available.

The larger opening provides an easier access.

A driver's perspective
Those lucky enough to sit behind the wheel will benefit from a good driving position and a comprehensive, driver-oriented instrument panel. The gauges are easy to locate and read, while the controls are intuitively positioned. Operating the various functions, particularly through Audi's MultiMedia Interface (MMI), is fairly simple... once you get used to it.

The information is abundant and the setup possibilities are seemingly endless. I personally don't like all these "complex" navigation and infotainment systems, but I brought myself to use it in order to find our way back to Audi's headquarters. Selecting the language, entering the destination and launching the system did not make me grind my teeth, but my patience was certainly put to the test. The nice-sounding lady asked me to make a U-turn and guided me the rest of the way like a mother holding her child by the hand. My colleague and I were busy enough scanning the landscape so as not to miss a direction.

A sophisticated vehicle management system is available with the A4 3.2 quattro.

Tailor-made driving
While the road manners of the new A4 3.2 quattro are every bit as good as those of the current model, engineers developed an optional management system worthy of a world-class car. Derived from the A8, it allows any driver to get the most out of the Audi based on his/her own preferences as well as road conditions. An extended road test will be necessary to gauge the various settings for power delivery, suspension firmness and steering responsiveness. Again, I did not have the time to go deep into the system.



Active steering
I did manage to put Audi's new Active Steering system to the test. Here's hoping Canadian buyers will be able to get this feature as a standalone option, just like in Europe. What a marvel! Usually, by placing my hands at 9 and 3 o'clock, my arms get tangled up when trying to go from lock to lock and completing a slalom course with the A4. But with the new system, I was able to cut the wheel rotation by 50 percent over the same course.

Highlighted view of Audi's Active Steering system.

Likewise, on a partially wet track, I performed an emergency braking maneuver at 80 km/h and the car was brutally pulling toward the dry section, even though traction control was turned on. However, with a second A4 equipped with Active Steering, the system automatically corrected the car's path. That's great news for Canadian drivers, who will benefit from an extraordinary driving aid on slippery surfaces caused by rain, snow or ice. Technically, the system relies on an elliptical gear mounted inside the steering column: by way of an electronic impulse, it monitors the steering wheel angle and the pressure applied by the driver in order to bring the car in the intended path by over-rotating the steering mechanism. The result is amazing: the A4 is easier to drive and also much safer. The system will only activate when the required effort exceeds a certain level.

See you next year!
Being a 2009 model, the new Canadian A4 will arrive in dealerships in September 2008. Rest assured, this new Audi is well worth the wait. Crafty and comfortable, it will deliver a huge blow to the competition -- be it German, Italian, American or Japanese.

The latest generation of the highly popular sedan will exceed all your expectations.