Audi's next A4 to get edgy
Wheels24 has produced a sketch of what it believes the next Audi A4 will look like based on insider info and analysis of recent Audi design trends. The A4's face appears much more aggressive the the current model's, with headlights angled down towards the large grille and similar LED light bars to those currently found on the S6. As we mentioned in the first part of our In the Autoblog Garage review of the Audi A3 and VW GTI (the final two are on their way!), the A3's front fascia benefits greatly from the "angry eyes" look, and it also looks good on the A4 in this conceptual sketch.
The website is also postulating the A4 will move further upmarket to give the A3 some more breathing room in its own segment. This means that build quality will be improving, as well as road manners, in an effort to meet the standards set by the BMW 3-Series. On account of this, the the next A4 probably won't be offered with the 1.8T engine as its base motor, but rather the new 200-hp, 2.0L FSI units.
[Source: Wheels24 via Winding Road]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ryan 12:11PM (6/26/2006)
John, the current A4 model how has the 2.0TFSI and 3.2FSI as options, the 1.8T was discontinued in 2005.
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Paul 12:13PM (6/26/2006)
Very attractive car... now lets hope it turns out to look anything like this.
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Tim UF 12:25PM (6/26/2006)
The same goes for the A3, regarding he 2.0T, versus the 1.8T.
I hope they are able to produce this iteration of the A4, if for no other reason than its good looking, and would serve as a nice departure from its platform mates in the veedub lineup.
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James Sonne 12:39PM (6/26/2006)
Why is it that every mid-size luxury family sedan has to look like it wants to eat small children these days? Why can't we have cars that look normal and classy. Not everyone wants to stand out on the road, but yet I still want the luxury accoutrements that an upscale brand can give me. The best looking cars out there currently are Subarus because they offer many luxuries while maintain a pleasant appearance, unoffensive appearance. Even Volvo is beginning to try to appeal to the 20-something hip-hop crowd! I want a car that looks like it's cruising peacefully and effortlessly even when it's doing 100mph, instead of a car that looks like its wheels are screeching while it's parked in my driveway.
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Ames Tiedeman 12:41PM (6/26/2006)
Excellent blog. I learned something here. This looks like a 3 Series killer.
Thanks!
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Gardiner Westbound 12:43PM (6/26/2006)
Audi needs to devote itself to improving reliability and durability.
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Steve 12:44PM (6/26/2006)
Looks pretty good. I don't know if I like that Bangle crease in the side, but it would probably look better in person. Definitely a more distinctive design, though.
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MattS 12:45PM (6/26/2006)
Bangled!
-m
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Geoff 12:46PM (6/26/2006)
If the A3 has "angry eyes," then this new A4 has "Uncle Leo" eyes.
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Mr. Plow, that's my name it's Mr. Plow 12:49PM (6/26/2006)
Uncle Leo's dead. Long live Uncle Leo.
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Corey W. 12:53PM (6/26/2006)
Replace the word "edgy" with "ugly".... A8 and the current 7-Series are among my favorite cars but if Audi and BMW keep heading in this "edgy" direction, my 540i will definitly be my last German product.
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PJ 12:57PM (6/26/2006)
I dunno, James Sonne... I'm twenty-something (-four, specifically), and I think this looks like something off the set of a Terminator film. Are those supposed to be missile tubes just above the foglights?
I realize this is just a third-party sketch, but the trend toward cartoonishly aggressive vehicle design says something about how paranoid we're all becoming...
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Finished.Law.School 1:10PM (6/26/2006)
Is there any particular reason that Audi wants the A4 to be very ugly?
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Supercujo 1:11PM (6/26/2006)
Last model Subaru Impreza?
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Jim in Tampa 1:13PM (6/26/2006)
Put an American license plate on the front and the car is going to look like an angry woodchuck. American license plates look so bad on the front of the current crop of Audi's and VW's.
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Aki 1:18PM (6/26/2006)
"Why is it that every mid-size luxury family sedan has to look like it wants to eat small children these days? "
I loled out loud when reading that.
So true--why do all 3-series segment cars have to look angry? G35, 3-series and now the Audi. Frankly I think Bangle's designs suck too--even if people like them now in a couple years they'll look old. I like more timeless designs. Thank goodness these are only predictions, cus' that's not a purty car.
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Source1 1:23PM (6/26/2006)
It's quite interesting (and sad) to still observe the term 'Bangled' used with such a negative tone. It's amazing however that so many designers have incorporated his controversial styling into their own offerings. Pioneers are initially bashed by the ignorant who refuse to accept change. Bangle has changed the landscape of automotive design. Oh and he works for the one of the most respected automotive manufacturer on the planet.
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Ed Kapuscinski 1:26PM (6/26/2006)
EXACTLY!!!!
Why must all cars now look like Anime characters? I could understand it coming from Honda, shoot, you've GOT to make the car look agressive when it can't get out of it's own way, but Audi (and BMW) should be catering to customers with somewhat more refined tastes.
I'm just glad that at least Volvo has eschewed this foolishness.
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SEM Pro 1:35PM (6/26/2006)
Did you say angry eyes? Looks more like someone suffering from depression and decayed teeth.
As much as it's good for cars to have aggressive looks and character, why are they making theirs more and more like someone who hates the people driving them. Don't get me wrong, I like Audis, but these styling is definitely becoming unattractive.
Lexus got better with their new triad designs of the IS, GS and LS; look at the subtle designs of Mercedes and even BMW recently moved away from the "ugly bum" of the 7 series and made it sexy. But this angry, depressive and "black teeth" ideas are off-putting :), or a boring joke. Probably good in the new TT, but in the A4, that's different.
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tr 1:37PM (6/26/2006)
"The best looking cars out there currently are Subarus because they offer many luxuries while maintain a pleasant appearance, unoffensive appearance."
you're kidding, right? i take it you're referring only to the legacy, and not the B9 tribeca, impreza, forester, and baja.
i'd have to say if you're looking for luxury and unoffensive [read: totally vanilla] appearance, don't go with audi or bmw, or really any european makes. lexus/toyota and honda are there for you. actually, even lexus is trying to go a little edgier. just stick with a maxed out accord. as unoffensive as they come.
i like current audis, and their design direction, but this sketch just looks bad. and if this is based on an analysis of recent audi design trends, i think they need to analyze just a bit more.
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