Segment: Lower Premium
Production years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
The fourth generation of the Audi A4 B8 was a completely new car, compared to its previous generation B7, which was more of a facelift for the B6.
In 2007 Audi launched a new generation for its compact-executive car, the A4. It was built on a new platform that allowed the engine to be re-positioned to balance the mass distribution. That was the most important change.
The exterior design was different than on the B7, but not really that much. There were a different grille and different headlights design, but the overall shape was easy to recognize as an Audi A4. It had a 2.8-meter (110.6”) wheelbase and that made room for a longer greenhouse and a spacious interior. The beltline was high to improve the occupant's protection in the event of a side crash.
Inside, the driver had a lot of room and a lot of adjustments for the seating position. The instrument cluster featured a central red display for the on-board computer and a new infotainment unit was placed in the dashboard. It was accessible via a rotary knob on the center console. The rear seats had enough leg-room even for tall passengers.
From the technical point of view, the new MLB platform was designed to be used for the all-wheel-drive versions and also for the cross-over vehicles. It even allowed a longer wheelbase, required by the Chinese market. On top of that, there was a big variety of engines available and three transmissions: 6-speed manual, 6-speed Tiptronic (automatic) and a CVT. The latter was available only for specific engines and only on front-wheel-drive versions.