Audi A4

Audi A4

 The Audi A4 is a line of compact executive cars produced since late 1994 by the German car manufacturer Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Audi A4

Lisbon, Portugal • It appears that this is going to turn into a dog fight. Like two rutting canines, BMW and Audi are circling each other, sniffing each other’s bona fides, trying to determine who will be the top dog in the upper echelon of the near-luxury segment. Both are unveiling their new mainstream entries — 3 Series for BMW, the A4 range for Audi — in the Canadian market at almost the same time. Both will be putting an enormous amount of time and effort, not to mention dollars, to woo the newly and/or almost rich into their baby luxury barges. Both are considered to be big news; both are each company’s biggest sellers and are, for BMW particularly, the spiritual leaders of their respective lineups.
It would seem, at first glance at least, that Audi is at a disadvantage in this conflagration. BMW’s 3 Series is all new this year, its styling completely revised, the chassis updated and the introduction of a new(ish) engine in the 328’s N20 2.0-litre turbocharged four. By comparison, the “new” 2013 edition of the A4 is barely changed. Like most mid-model-cycle refreshes, the front and rear fascias have been redone and there are some detail interior alterations, but the engines remain identical and chassis modifications are minimal.