Like nearly every other automotive outlet on the planet, we’ve become increasingly enamored with Audi’s recent product portfolio. From the A3 to the S8, the Audi Q7 to the Audi R8, with all the accolades Audi’s received you’d think the crew from Ingolstadt simultaneously cured cancer, rid the world of nuclear weapons and deflected a meteor destined to bring about the next ice-age.
But as the praise flowed, Audi’s volume model – the A4 – grew tusks that would rival a walrus. The original Audi A4 (B5) debuted when Boys II Men was near the top of the charts and its duo of follow-ups (the Audi B6 and B7, not the trio from Philly) were more technical reworks than thorough overhauls. But a funny thing happened in the process. As the sheet-metal evolved and the interior became a benchmark, underneath, the A4 turned into a credible sports sedan. With the engine migrating closer to the firewall, the all-wheel drive system nearing perfection and the available drivetrains offering a combination of tractability and fuel efficiency, the A4 could be all things to all people – enthusiasts included. So when developing the “all-new” A4, Audi knew it had to hit every note in pitch-perfect harmony. Our First Drive proved that many of the A4’s foibles had been left in the past, but until we lived with one for a week, the jury was still sequestered in a hotel, living off an $11 per diem. Now, deliberations are over and we’re prepared to deem the 2009 Audi A4 one of the best sports sedans on the market. In fact, the A4 is so good, it’s almost boring. Almost…
0 comments:
Post a Comment