When we saw the first Audi A4, the 1996 model, it was clear that Audi had not only retreated from the abyss but had shouldered its way to the top of the mountain. It was a sparkling jewel of German engineering, and a paragon of style eventually revealed to be just the beginning of an Audi parade of gorgeous shapes and haute couture interiors. We rewarded its brilliance by naming it a 1996 Automobile Magazine All-Star.But we didn't say, "Don't ever change."
Thank heaven it finally has. For some, the change from the current A4 to this more wedge-shaped 2005 model hasn't been enough, keeping as it does the same basic platform, the same upper structure above the windowsills, and, in the case of the S4, almost everything under the skin. (Not that anyone here is complaining about the explosive 339-hp S4.)
For others, the remodel is a little too extensive, especially when it comes to the controversial, massive grille. It's hard to miss that chrome snout barreling toward you. In fact, not a single hot-blooded young male on the mean streets of Palermo failed to stare and point as we passed. The A4's going-away presence is equally buzz-worthy, with jigsaw-puzzle-piece taillamps taken from the Nuvolari concept.
The A4's interior (with optional wood trim) is more traditional, so form-fitting it looks as if it were blown in. Audi's superior radio-navigation system is a snap to decipher with no drama and no owner's manual help, the way it should be. Each major function has its own push button, fine-tuned by a rotary knob surrounded by four buttons, each with a single task related to the chosen function. A six-disc CD changer is standard, as is a multifunction steering wheel, a center console with an extra power outlet, and cup holders redesigned so as not to spill coffee on the radio.... Read full article