Audi Ireland has opened the order book on the freshly facelifted A4 range ahead of expected deliveries in mid-February. While carrying broadly similar price tags to the current range the new cars feature styling enhancements, equipment upgrades and efficiency gains of up to 21 per cent over the outgoing range.
The big news for the 2012 line-up is the increase in standard specification with all A4s coming with a Bluetooth interface, rear parking sensors, a multifunction leather steering wheel and 17-inch alloy wheels. An extra €1,700 adds cruise control, upgraded 17-inch alloys, light and rain sensors, a colour driver information system, three-zone climate control and anti-glare interior mirror as part of the SE specification.
S Line, the sportier specification, is available for a further €3,750. Aimed at the more enthusiastic driver the new spec adds 18-inch alloy wheels, lowered sports suspension, S Line exterior and interior styling enhancements, leather/cloth sports seats and xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lamps
Audi will offer customers the choice of six TDI and four TFSI petrol engines with the 2.0 TDI 120 expected to be the most popular version. Some tinkering with the cooling system and climate control means the new model is even more efficient returning 4.5 litres/100km and emitting just 119g of CO2 - so it now sits in Band A for road tax. Standard stop-start and recuperation systems across the range see improvements of up to 21 per cent over the outgoing model.
The most obvious changes to the new model are of course the looks. Visually the 2012 car sports a redesigned front end with new bumper, a single frame grille, restyled headlights and a re-sculpted bonnet. Four new colours have been added to the paint palette meaning customers can choose from fifteen different hues.
Internally all colours - bar black - have been 're-coordinated', 'Fine Nappa' replaces Valcona leather and operation of the MMI system has been simplified - meaning the number of control buttons has dropped from eight to four.
Prices start from €33,040 on-the-road.
Click here to read our first drive of the 2012 Audi A4 2.0 TDI.