By RICHARD WILLIAMSON
Scripps Howard News Service Look into the eyes of the Audi A4 and you get a sense of its soul.
Little waves of light-emitting diodes beneath the headlamp lenses suggest that this sweet little sedan might be trying to seduce you.
Not content to simply beam daytime running lamps at oncoming drivers, the A4 beguiles them with subtle LED mascara.
The luminous jewelry is among the few cosmetic flourishes in the 2009 redesign that advances Audi's reputation for subtly sculpted sheet metal and outstanding performance.
As a compact sedan, the A4 competes with European models such as the BMW 3-Series, the Saab 9-3 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
To challenge those rivals, the eighth-generation A4 offers two powerful engines to choose from, as well as front-drive or quattro all-wheel-drive format in a price range from about $30,000 to $40,000. The A4 is also sold in convertible and Avant wagon formats, but the sedan hits the sweet spot in the luxury market, which is not so sweet these days.
Compared to other brands, Audi had a much less horrible 2008, with sales down just 9.3 percent in December and off 6.1 percent for the year. A4 sales were down just 4.6 percent for the year, which is not bad, considering that the 2009 model did not begin arriving in showrooms until September.
The key achievement for Audi was making inroads against other luxury brands.
"Our goal this past year was to grow our market share and grow awareness of the brand," said Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi of America. "We accomplished this with an aggressive product offensive that continues into 2009 and beyond."
Audi's ad campaign for its 2009 models shifts from "Truth in engineering" to the tagline "Progress is beautiful" under the direction of Venables Bell & Partners.
A4 shoppers who still have jobs and money can browse the new turbocharged 2-liter TFSI 4-cylinder engine or the 3.2 liter FSI V6. The review car came with the 3.2 FSI with quattro all-wheel-drive system and a six-speed Tiptronic transmission.
The 2.0 TFSI increases horsepower to 211 and boosts torque to 258 foot-pounds, enabling a 0-to-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds with the automatic transmission and fuel economy of 21 miles per gallon in the city and 27 on the highway.
The 265-horsepower V6 sends the sedan to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, burning fuel at the rate of 17 city mpg and 26 highway for an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250, based on $3 per gallon gas. Remember when gas used to cost that much? When was that? About three or four months ago?
With the big engine, the compact A4 feels very fast and very athletic in turns. The taut suspension is comparable to Europe's best, and the brakes qualify for Nurburgring status.
In the redesign, the A4's front overhang was shortened, and the hood and the wheelbase were stretched for an overall length of 15.42 feet, about 4.6 inches longer than the previous model's. Engineers also managed to stiffen the body while reducing its weight by 10 percent. The new A4 also boasts a larger trunk than any of its closest competitors.
The exterior dimensions translate to a roomier interior, with more head and legroom. The interior design is classically European, with the center console angled toward the driver by eight degrees.
Instrumentation is sophisticated and fairly intuitive. With the satellite radio, you can flip through the scores of stations fairly easily to find what you're looking for. The rearview camera that comes with the $2,500 Navigation package displays the view on the center dash to add an element of safety.
Audi has replaced the mechanical parking brake with an electronic version, freeing up space and improving ease of use.
The climate control system was completely redesigned for the 2009 model, supplying 10 percent more cooling capacity with 20 percent better efficiency.
The new remote key for the A4 does not have to be inserted into the ignition to start the car. You just have to have it with you when you push the "start" button. This can lead to some odd situations, like when one turns the car over to another driver with the engine running and walks away with the key. The next driver can stop the car by pushing the start button but cannot start it again. Believe me, this has happened. That's why cell phones were invented.
The key also automatically unlocks the car as soon as the driver touches a door handle and locks again if the sensor in one of the four door handles is pressed.
WHAT'S NEW: Redesign for 2009, lighter, larger, stronger.
PLUSES: Performance, comfort, safety.
MINUSES: Modest exterior styling.
BOTTOM LINE: Strong rival to BMW.
Specifics for the 2009 Audi A4 QuattroTYPE: All-wheel-drive, five-passenger compact sedan.
PRICE: $40,000 base; $38,025 invoice; $825 destination charge; $49,975 as tested.
WHERE BUILT: Neckarsulm, Germany.
KEY RIVALS: BMW 3-Series; Mercedes-Benz C-Class; Lexus IS; Infiniti G37; Cadillac CTS.
POWER: 3.2-liter, DOHC, 265-horsepower, TFSI V6; six-speed Tiptronic automatic with sport-shift program.
FUEL ECONOMY: 17 mpg city, 26 highway; estimated annual fuel cost $2,250.
PERFORMANCE: 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds; top speed electronically limited 130 mph.
CHASSIS: Unibody; five-link front suspension, upper and lower wishbones; independent rear suspension with trapezoidal link, mounted subframe, anti-roll bar; power rack-and-pinion steering; power disc brakes with ABS, Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution, Electronic Stabilization Program; electronic parking brake; 18-inch alloy wheels; all-season tires.
LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 185.2 x 71.9 x 56.2 inches.
WHEELBASE X TRACK: 110.6 x 61.6/61.1 inches.
CURB WEIGHT: 3,827 pounds.
STANDARD: Center console with two cup holders, two power outlets; auto climate control; 60/40 split folding rear seat; power central locking system; leather-wrapped steering wheel with multifunction controls; leather upholstery; AM/FM/CD stereo; front/side/head-curtain air bags; anti-theft alarm system; tire-pressure monitor; power windows/mirrors.
OPTIONS: Prestige package includes Audi parking system, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless start-stop, Xenon plus headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, Bluetooth hands-free phone interface, three-zone climate control, heated front seats, Homelink garage door opener, chrome window trim, auto-dimming mirrors with compass, Audi Symphony six-CD stereo, Audi music interface, memory for driver's seat and mirrors, trip computer, rain/light sensor ($3,300); Audi drive select ($2,950); Navigation package includes DVD-based navigation system, voice control, color driver information system, rearview camera ($2,500).
Richard Williamson writes about automobiles for Scripps Howard News Service.
E-mail Richard Williamson at motorfriend@sbcglobal.net
