Audi’s new 2017 A4 is for nerds, by nerds

(credit: Jonathan Gitlin)

The A4 is an important car for Audi. Last year more people took home a new A4 than bought any kind of Audi just five years ago—it was literally the company's bread and butter, even if the bread was getting a little stale. Enter the 2017 A4, packed full of clever electronics and driver assists that inspired the tag line "intelligence is king." Make no mistake, Audi wants you—dear Ars reader—to buy this car.

The new A4 is a little wider and longer than the outgoing model, shedding some unwanted weight in the process. There's an entirely new five-link suspension front and rear, and it's available as front- or all-wheel drive. For now the entire line gets the same 4-cylinder 2.0L turbocharged direct injection gasoline engine and seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, which means 252hp (185kW), 273lb-ft (370Nm) and 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds. And it's priced aggressively to take on rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, starting at $37,900—although expect your invoice to start with a four if you want some bells and whistles.

Design

Read 16 remaining paragraphs | Comments