Date:21/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/21/stories/2008072160330400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Audi A4 launched in city

Staff Reporter

It comes with the choice of two variants

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Sporty and stylish: Martin Birkner, vice-president-Marketing, Audi India, at the launch of the Audi A4 Sedan in Bangalore on Sunday.

BANGALORE: Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, launched its new Audi A4 Sedan in Bangalore on Sunday amidst a well-attended high-profile audience.

Based on an entirely new technical concept that offers considerable advantage over its predecessors, the A4 combines powerfully dynamic design with outstanding handling characteristics, the company said.

The sporty and stylish model is available in exclusive Audi dealerships — Audi Bangalore, and its ex-showroom price in Mumbai starts from Rs. 29 lakh (without CST and transportation).

Martin Birkner, vice-president-Marketing, Audi India, said: “The Audi philosophy of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik,’ the consistent innovation has showed the way for the new generation Audi A4.

It is a new car with globally unique technologies in this segment and highest level of emotion. As we target sales of 1,000 cars in India by the end of this year, the new Audi A4 will be a crucial product to help us to achieve this goal.”

A4 comes with the choice of two variants — the 2.0 TDI multtronic with a power output of 143 bhp displacement and the 3.2 FSI tiptronic Quattro with 265 bhp displacement.

Both the variants use the direct fuel injection principle — FSI technology for the petrol engine and the common-rail system for the TDI unit.

At an overall length of 4.7 metres, A4 is a large saloon and boasts of a substantial, powerful road presence. Its 48-litre boot and the legroom for rear passengers are larger than of any of its direct competitors, claimed the company.

While the car will be imported initially as a completely built unit, Audi plans to build it locally on a completely knocked down unit by the end of this year.