New Saloon, Avant and Coupe variants employ latest Audi ultra efficiency technology to boost economy and trim CO2 to as little as 109g/km
- New ultra versions of A4, A4 Avant and A5 Coupe now available to order priced from £28,320 OTR, £29,620 OTR and £31,120 OTR respectively – first UK deliveries in late April
- New ultra engine linked exclusively to six-speed manual gearbox delivers more torque, EU6 compliance, up to 56.5mpg and CO2 of as little as 109g/km
- Significant BIK benefits for business users, reduced VED rates
- A5 available exclusively in SE form, A4 and A4 Avant also offered with cost-effective SE Technik specification
- A5 Sportback ultra models to follow during 2014
At the pinnacle in terms of efficiency, the range of Audi ultra models which launched in the UK with the A6 last month is quickly expanding to include A4 Saloon and Avant and A5 Coupe variants. With CO2 outputs of as little as 109g/km the three new A4 and A5 TDI ultra models undercut the already impressively low emissions figures achieved by the familiar TDIe versions in each range. They are available to order now priced from £28,320 OTR and will reach their first UK customers in late April.
Although it shares its 163PS output with the more powerful of the two TDIe engines, which until now was reserved for the A5 Coupé, the unit powering the latest ultra models is a completely new development engineered for even leaner burning with no impact on performance. It works with a highly efficient Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system that removes nitrogen oxides from the exhaust and ensures that the new models meet the stringent new Euro 6 emission standards.
Peak power arrives 1,200rpm earlier at 3,000rpm in the new ultra engine, and maximum torque increases from 380Nm to 400Nm and is available over a wider spread from 1,750rpm to 2,750rpm. Acceleration from rest to 62mph in the exclusively six-speed manual-equipped A5 TDI ultra is very slightly improved at 8.3 seconds (previously 8.4), and top speed holds firm at 140mph.
The same performance data also applies to the new A4 2.0 TDI ultra, and both also share identical, and exceptional, economy and emissions figures, with up to 56.5mpg possible according to the combined cycle test, delivered with CO2 emissions of just 109g/km. The A4 Avant is only just behind, with a 0-62mph time of 8.6 seconds, a top speed of 134mph, the potential for up to 55.4mpg and CO2 output of 114g/km.
BIK and VED benefits
The outstanding emissions performance delivered by the three new models has a bearing on their CO2-related Vehicle Excise Duty categorisation, which in the A4 Saloon and A5 Coupe is band B (A5 Coupe TDIe previously band C), and in the A4 Avant is band C. Ultra technology also facilitates exceptionally competitive running costs for business users, with benefit-in-kind liabilities of 16 per cent, 17 per cent and 16 per cent for the A4, A4 Avant and A5 Coupe respectively. If the A5 Coupé 2.0 TDI ultra SE is compared with the outgoing A5 Coupe 2.0 TDIe 163PS SE, the annual liability for a 40 per cent tax payer falls from £2,236 to £1,988.
Ultra badging at the rear discreetly marks out these extraordinarily focused models, which in all other respects closely resemble SE versions of the A4 and A5. A5 ultra Coupe models are available exclusively in SE form, while A4 and A4 Avant versions can also be upgraded to SE Technik specification.
A4 SE equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, an Audi Concert CD audio system incorporating DAB digital radio and linked to a 6.5-inch colour monitor, light and rain sensors, rear parking sensors and electronic climate control. A5 SE models also feature Milano leather upholstery.
SE Technik specification for the A4 adds Milano leather upholstery, along with additional features such as hard disk-based MMI Navigation plus, Audi Music Interface (AMI) iPod connection and the Audi Parking System Plus with front and rear sensors.
All A4 and A5 ultra models are equipped as standard with lowered sports suspension to reduce drag and maximise economy, and for the same reason the 18-inch alloy wheels normally included as part of the SE Technik upgrade for A4 models are omitted.
During this year ultra specification will become available for more models in the Audi range, starting with the five-door A5 Sportback.
Notes
In 2013 Audi achieved best ever worldwide sales of 1,575,500 cars, an 8.3 per cent improvement over 2012. Sales in the UK increased by 14.9 per cent year-on-year to 142,020 cars, establishing another record and elevating the brand to the lead position in sales terms in the premium sector for the first time. To maintain this strong performance the brand plans to invest around €22 billion – mainly in new products and sustainable technologies – between now and 2018. Audi lives up to its corporate responsibility and has strategically established the principle of sustainability for its products and processes. The long-term goal is CO2-neutral mobility. This philosophy also applies to the brand’s sports car racing activities, in which Audi made history in 2012 by winning the Le Mans 24-hour race using pioneering hybrid diesel technology in the R18 e-tron quattro. It went on to repeat the performance in the 2013 race, taking the total number of Audi victories there to 12. This year’s all-new 2014 R18 e-tron quattro will aim to continue this incredible run of success.
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