Following the lead of the stellar new BMW 3-series and the latest Lexus IS, the next A4 and its two-door A5 sibling surely will be more aggressively styled, with taut, slab-sided sheetmetal, broad shoulders, and a more prominent version of the new grille. A stiffer platform with more accurate steering, better weight distribution, and a more rear-biased torque split will spearhead Audi's attempt to put the heat on the 3-series. The A5 coupe and cabrio should go a long way toward stealing some of Munich's thunder.
The A5 cabrio will sport a cloth top, which Audi chief Martin Winterkorn maintains is better suited to the brand's image than a retractable metal roof. It is scheduled to debut in 2008.
See our artist renderings of the next A4 in the October issue of Automobile Magazine