2012 Audi A4

2012 A4 Photos
Audi Gives Us Its Warrior Wagon For The Holidays Despite recent sad decisions by Ingolstadt and the company's regional bosses in Herndon, Virginia not to include either the stunning new A6 Avant or the handsomely reworked A4 Avant in its U.S. lineup, Audi has crunched the numbers on another niche's business case and decided to throw us one hell of a bone. Arriving on our shores by July 2012 for the first time is this spanking refreshed A4 Allroad Quattro. As consolation presents go, it's a humdinger. We've just had a shot at driving this latest A4 Allroad – a model originally created in early 2009 – in various European trims along the Portuguese shore north of Lisbon and over the mountain roads just inland of the same. We can say right off that the discreet slice of American premium car buyers who understand the Allroad legend have much to look forward to. They make up a sympathetic (though generally separate) fan club from those who buy the Subaru Outback. Allroads are for well-to-do drivers who share a passion for this rough-roading, do-it-all niche, and they won't be palmed off with traditional SUVs or their more upright crossover substitutes. To inaugurate the second coming of the Allroad franchise to the States, Audi is holding the A4 Allroad's world premiere at January's Detroit Auto Show. Through thick and thin, Audi has always treated Motown's motor expo very seriously. Showing such a fondly admired model like the Allroad here first means a lot. There has been a lingering sense of unwilling withdrawal ever since Audi creased importing the A6-based Allroad back in 2005, and confirmation of this new model figures to be a homecoming of sorts. In Portugal, Audi had the A4 Allroad available for us to test in two configurations: one with the 208-horsepower 2.0-liter TFSI gasoline engine mated to the Euro standard six-speed manual transmission and another with the 241-hp (and 369 pound-feet of torque) 3.0-liter TDI diesel using the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox. The only trim confirmed for the U.S. and Canada is the 2.0 TFSI with the ever-present eight-speed single-clutch Tiptronic, which is too bad, since the S tronic is just a better fit for this sporting softroader. Why did Audi go this route? The basic message we got whenever we asked is that executives believe buyers in these bread-and-butter segments prefer a more casual relationship with their transmissions. Well, that and the fuel efficiencies implied in a transmission with two overdrive gears should also help keep the California Air Resource Board greenies at bay. We can only imagine what a joy it would be to have the torquey 3.0 TDI together with Audi's sweet six-speed manual. It'd be an ideal sled for devouring the American countryside, particularly in areas that get four proper seasons. The tried-and-true 208-hp turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter TFSI seen here has so far proven to be both indestructible and lively in its years of service in the Audi empire. The A4 Allroad …
Full Review
Audi Gives Us Its Warrior Wagon For The Holidays Despite recent sad decisions by Ingolstadt and the company's regional bosses in Herndon, Virginia not to include either the stunning new A6 Avant or the handsomely reworked A4 Avant in its U.S. lineup, Audi has crunched the numbers on another niche's business case and decided to throw us one hell of a bone. Arriving on our shores by July 2012 for the first time is this spanking refreshed A4 Allroad Quattro. As consolation presents go, it's a humdinger. We've just had a shot at driving this latest A4 Allroad – a model originally created in early 2009 – in various European trims along the Portuguese shore north of Lisbon and over the mountain roads just inland of the same. We can say right off that the discreet slice of American premium car buyers who understand the Allroad legend have much to look forward to. They make up a sympathetic (though generally separate) fan club from those who buy the Subaru Outback. Allroads are for well-to-do drivers who share a passion for this rough-roading, do-it-all niche, and they won't be palmed off with traditional SUVs or their more upright crossover substitutes. To inaugurate the second coming of the Allroad franchise to the States, Audi is holding the A4 Allroad's world premiere at January's Detroit Auto Show. Through thick and thin, Audi has always treated Motown's motor expo very seriously. Showing such a fondly admired model like the Allroad here first means a lot. There has been a lingering sense of unwilling withdrawal ever since Audi creased importing the A6-based Allroad back in 2005, and confirmation of this new model figures to be a homecoming of sorts. In Portugal, Audi had the A4 Allroad available for us to test in two configurations: one with the 208-horsepower 2.0-liter TFSI gasoline engine mated to the Euro standard six-speed manual transmission and another with the 241-hp (and 369 pound-feet of torque) 3.0-liter TDI diesel using the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox. The only trim confirmed for the U.S. and Canada is the 2.0 TFSI with the ever-present eight-speed single-clutch Tiptronic, which is too bad, since the S tronic is just a better fit for this sporting softroader. Why did Audi go this route? The basic message we got whenever we asked is that executives believe buyers in these bread-and-butter segments prefer a more casual relationship with their transmissions. Well, that and the fuel efficiencies implied in a transmission with two overdrive gears should also help keep the California Air Resource Board greenies at bay. We can only imagine what a joy it would be to have the torquey 3.0 TDI together with Audi's sweet six-speed manual. It'd be an ideal sled for devouring the American countryside, particularly in areas that get four proper seasons. The tried-and-true 208-hp turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter TFSI seen here has so far proven to be both indestructible and lively in its years of service in the Audi empire. The A4 Allroad …
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Retail Price

$32,500 - $36,400 MSRP / Window Sticker Price
Engine 2.0L I-4
MPG Up to 22 city / 31 highway
Seating 5 Passengers
Transmission 6-spd man w/OD, 8-spd w/OD, multitronic 8-spd CVT w/OD
Power 211 @ 4300 rpm
Drivetrain front-wheel, quattro all wheel
Curb Weight 3,505 - 3,814 lbs
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