RE: Audi A4 revealed
Discussion
smithyithy said:
I really can't like those new displays that look like a tablet mounted to the dash, much prefer ones that are either fully integrated or that flip up/out.
All part of EU legislation. Some manufacturers are a little better at it than others, but having a more visible, less distracting screen is now EU legislation. Having driven a 5 yr old XKR with a low down screen recently, I'm reminded how much more dangerous that position is that the high up, non-enclosed screen like in my 640.Edited by smithyithy on Monday 29th June 12:32
Personally I think these weight savings are impressive.
It's quite exciting to see manufacturers gaining ground in an area that will benefit every single aspect of an owners experience (dynamics, fuel economy, acceleration, deceleration, tyre wear, component wear etc etc etc).
This is a far more interesting battle ground than the BHP wars of the last few generations and should lead to innovations in process and materials that I look forward to seeing.
So far from zzzzzzzzzzzzzz really.
It's quite exciting to see manufacturers gaining ground in an area that will benefit every single aspect of an owners experience (dynamics, fuel economy, acceleration, deceleration, tyre wear, component wear etc etc etc).
This is a far more interesting battle ground than the BHP wars of the last few generations and should lead to innovations in process and materials that I look forward to seeing.
So far from zzzzzzzzzzzzzz really.
Limpet said:
The interior was far and away the best bit of the old A4. Much more attractive and better put together than the one in the F30 3-Series which has some alarmingly cheap materials in some quite visible places.
A slight modernisation was all that was needed. Audi know their market.
Slight ?? the old A4 interior is dated and certainly wasn't perfect in it's choosen materials and the strange positioning of the front seats (behind the B pillar). The new in itself looks very nice in it's fit and finish. Shame though most design cues are waterfall'ed from or through other VAG products as well. And Audi may know their market; but I certainly hope their too far implemented photocoping arrogance makes it into a shrinking market.A slight modernisation was all that was needed. Audi know their market.
Jaguar and Alfa are bringing some much needed fresh air to this segment.
Ares said:
All part of EU legislation. Some manufacturers are a little better at it than others, but having a more visible, less distracting screen is now EU legislation. Having driven a 5 yr old XKR with a low down screen recently, I'm reminded how much more dangerous that position is that the high up, non-enclosed screen like in my 640.
Just Google'd the 640 - that looks fine IMO.It's not so much the height of the screen, it's that in the 640 for example, it looks like part of the dash, like it was designed all together.
This A4 and other cars on the market look like someone has stuck their iPad onto the dash with an eBay-special universal cradle, just looks so out of place..
DeltonaS said:
Slight ?? the old A4 interior is dated and certainly wasn't perfect in it's choosen materials and the strange positioning of the front seats (behind the B pillar). The new in itself looks very nice in it's fit and finish. Shame though most design cues are waterfall'ed from or through other VAG products as well. And Audi may know their market; but I certainly hope their too far implemented photocoping arrogance makes it into a shrinking market.
Jaguar and Alfa are bringing some much needed fresh air to this segment.
I did 3000 miles in 10 days an A4 last summer and got on very well with the interior, although this was a Multitronic which disguised the offset pedals quite considerably. I agree the pedal positioning in the manual versions is completely unacceptable.Jaguar and Alfa are bringing some much needed fresh air to this segment.
Can't say I noticed the seat positioning. I'm 6ft 2 and the Mrs is 5ft 4 and we both got perfectly comfy in it.
Stodgy to drive compared to the F30, but I think it was nicer to be in. Especially in a decent spec which this one was (SE Technik)
smithyithy said:
On the subject of Jag.. Am I going crazy, or have they also restyled the XF to look more like the XE??
Yes, looking for family resemblance, just like the Audi/BMW/Merc - Jaguars problem was that all it's cars looked completely different, so nobody (i.e. normal people who don't care for cars normally) could easily recognise what a jag was. Just look at the old X-type vs the S-type. Completely different styling, and it just confused most people.The whole idea now is to get back to a brand identity. A brand look.
Having seen it in the flesh though, whilst it does look similar, it is definitely not the same. Looks more like the XE's classier big brother.
Edited by Slinky1989 on Monday 29th June 14:22
I assume the comment on panel gaps is taken from a press release or regurgitated from some marketing material? I guess if Audi have made the engineering effort to build that bonnet with decent shut lines they are justified in taking a swipe at that tragic 0.5" gap right across the nose of every 3 and 4 series BMW!
Fetchez la vache said:
I can't see what you're all moaning about.
From the outside, it's blatantly obvious that they've upped the blandness a little bit.
But it's all about the lights. Some funky new DRL style and Xenon, sorry LED, sorry Laser, er photonic antiparticle LHC beams.From the outside, it's blatantly obvious that they've upped the blandness a little bit.
Oh and make the grill a bit bigger and more hexagonal ... job done.
smithyithy said:
I really can't like those new displays that look like a tablet mounted to the dash, much prefer ones that are either fully integrated or that flip up/out.
Completely agree, looks like they stuck on a Tablet as an afterthought.Edited by smithyithy on Monday 29th June 12:32
Have to agree about the stuck on ipad, looks absolutely amateurish. Mercedes started the trend and it now looks like it's catching. EU regulations my ar*e, that is the excuse they'll use no doubt but the real reason is cost cutting. Some bean counter has worked out it'll cost £1.87 less per car if they build them this way rather then integrating them properly into the dash like they used to.
I like Audi and VW products in general. A lot of us do. These will sell like hot cakes. Especially in Asia, which is now their biggest market. I liked all the previous A4 models and the Audi 80 that went before. They've all been pretty good.
Just like BMW and Mercedes these guys know that the recognisable design "DNA" helps resale values, which helps reduce the need for discounts to move the metal. Bigger margins means more money to develop the next generation. "Nothing succeeds like success" as they say. Sometimes boring is good, and interesting is bad (and I'm old enough to remember the Lancia Beta).
Just like BMW and Mercedes these guys know that the recognisable design "DNA" helps resale values, which helps reduce the need for discounts to move the metal. Bigger margins means more money to develop the next generation. "Nothing succeeds like success" as they say. Sometimes boring is good, and interesting is bad (and I'm old enough to remember the Lancia Beta).
Article said:
Panel gaps are fetishistically tight - at the front the bonnet is a single clamshell, one of the biggest and most complicated metal stampings ever fitted to a production car
And yet it goes almost unnoticed, as it's attached to a car that we're already very familiar with, and wouldn't look twice at if I walked past one in the street.I drive an A5 Sportback 3 litre Quattro which is a great car and faster than it looks.
Trouble with all Audis is they are so boring to look at ! You can barely tell one from another either.
Worst of the lot is the A3 ( Yawn ).
Why can't they go to Pininfarina and ask them to design a really exciting looking range of cars - maybe something like the new Alfa Giulia ?
It would add hardly anything to the already premium pricing.
Jaguar should follow suit after the snoozefest that is the XE
Trouble with all Audis is they are so boring to look at ! You can barely tell one from another either.
Worst of the lot is the A3 ( Yawn ).
Why can't they go to Pininfarina and ask them to design a really exciting looking range of cars - maybe something like the new Alfa Giulia ?
It would add hardly anything to the already premium pricing.
Jaguar should follow suit after the snoozefest that is the XE
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