Tuesday 3rd May 2005

Audi soups up A4 saloon

Limited DTM-inspired edition gets more power

---

Audi A4 DTM Edition

Audi is to build a limited edition A4 to commemorate its landslide championship victory in the 2004 German Touring Car Masters (DTM). Limited to 250 right-hand-drive examples, the road-going sports saloon will be developed by the Audi division responsible for the RS 4 and RS 6 quattros.

The car sports a directly fuel injected four-cylinder, 2.0-litre turbo FSI petrol engine, raising power from 197bhp to 217bhp, and torque from 206lb-ft to 221lb-ft. Performance rises, spanking from zero to 62mph in 7.1 seconds and with a top speed of 153mph.

Visually, the touring car’s influence results in new 18-inch, 15-spoke alloys sitting under lowered sports suspension with spring and damper settings unique to this version. Flanking the single frame front grille is a redesigned front bumper with additional air intakes and a motorsport- derived black carbon fibre chin spoiler. You can spec the door mirrors in contrasting Phantom Black at no extra cost.

The car also gets quattro permanent four-wheel-drive, S line sports suspension and powerful ventilated cross-drilled disc brakes upgraded exclusively for this version, along with unique sill strips inlaid with the DTM logo and, at the rear, larger diameter 100mm exhaust tailpipes sprout from a new look bumper incorporating extra air intakes and a racing-inspired diffuser.

Inside, embossed sill strips and silver-piped floor mats help to single out the Audi A4 DTM Edition, as do Recaro sports seats with silver side stitching upholstered in a special Nardia microfibre fabric with leather side sections. Leather and Nardia microfibre also cover the three-spoke sports steering wheel, and Nardia is used for the handbrake lever and gear knob. Final touches include carbon fibre inlays from the Audi S4 for the instrument panel and door trims.

The 2004 DTM season was a resounding success for Audi. In its first year of participation with a works team, the brand scooped all three titles with a new car in one fell swoop. Mattias Ekström won the drivers' trophy in the A4, the Abt Team triumphed in the team trophy and Audi secured the manufacturers' trophy.

The Audi A4 DTM Edition is now available to order at an OTR price of £29,980, for first deliveries in September.

[sublimatica]

The article said:

You can spec the door mirrors in contrasting Phantom Black at no extra cost.

Interesting how it took years for 'premium-level' accoutrements such as body-coloured wing mirrors and bumpers to appear as standard on every model in the manufacturers' ranges and Audi are now offering black mirrors as an option.

"Black-to-basics"

[will_t]

I'm a fan of Audi design but the face of this new A3

[PISTNBROKE]

I'll stick with the Evo thanks.

[robdickinson]

£30k for that? Well if BMW can sell a 1 series....

[targarama]

Silver or black mirrors look naff on sorting Audis IMO (unless they match the car body colour of course).

A4s with bodykits look fat and slabsided like Saabs. Not a good thing.

[Rob_F]

Sad that a special edition to commemorate a touring car victory is so crap. Looks crap and has pathetic performance.

Cheers,
Rob.

[toppstuff]

THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS !!!!!

Lordy.

Surely only a lobotomised half-wit cleaning equipment salesman in the thames valley, would pick this for his company car allowance following his appointment as "employee of the month"..

[htsd]

I think we've found Rover's recovery package money- get them to sue Audi for making such a blatant rip off of the Rover 75. The Rover looks better too! Especially in MG livery.

[Elfboy]

To be completly honest I think the Audi A4 DS157 or whatever looks relly cool.

An dont e mean to the new grill

[up-the-dubs]

"DTM" inspired??? No it's not, it's a crap attempt at a special edition. The Audi A4 "Summer Surf". The Merc CLK DTM anyone? Now THATS a DTM special edition.

Audi.... You wimped out.

[JohnnySB]

have to agree, looks okay but needs alot more grunt.

[Marki]

Noticed in this months Car mag that the next S6 will have the Lambo V10 fitted detuned to 450 bhp and they speculate the next RS6 will have 550Bhp