This competitor to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class was introduced in 1994 and is based on VW’s MLB platform. Although initially it could not compete with the performance and appearance of the 3 Series, or even the C-Class, time began to turn in Audi’s favor from 2001, when the B6, or the second generation, A4 was introduced. A4 still maintained its distinctive Audi look, but the style, finish and performance were on another level, since 2001 Audi is incorporating a similar sporty design in all its vehicles. The completely redesigned exterior and interior made the A4 an instant hit. From a compact executive car that struggles with mediocre brands, A4 instantly entered the elite group and was compared favorably to icons such as BMW and Mercedes.
The second generation A4 garnered massive press and media support mainly due to its V6s, both diesel and gasoline. The 2.5-liter Audi A4 diesel engine was one of the most talked about diesel engines, it was capable of producing 178 hp, while the equivalent 2.4-liter petrol engine produced 168 hp. The third-generation B7 or A4 incorporated similar design features and continued the sporty theme. Audi increased more engine variants in both the gasoline and diesel categories to better capture the market in the compact executive sedan category. On this occasion, Audi included three 1.8-liter (20v), 1.8-liter (16v) and 2.0-liter (16v) turbocharged petrol engines, while the entire diesel line was based on TDI technology.
Traditionally, the Audi A4 is a front-wheel drive, rear-gearbox, in the third generation Audi also introduced the “Quattro” or AWD models, to better compete with the rear-wheel drive BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C . The inclusion of AWD became an instant hit, as now the larger Audi A4 diesel engine, 3.0-liter V6 with 233 bhp, could cover 0-60 miles in less than 7 seconds, while the larger gasoline engine, 3.6-liter V6 with 256 bhp, achieved the same. feat in less than 6.4 seconds.
Previously, A4 competed mainly in appearance, from the third generation it began to compete with BMW and Mercedes also in terms of performance. This generation continued from 2006 to 2008. The B8, the fourth and current generation of the A4, produced from 2008, is designed on similar notes to the Audi R8, with nearly identical LED daytime running lights. The fourth-generation A4 instantly became a best-seller in the US, due to its sportier styling and similar high-performance gasoline and diesel engines.