[Auto] New 2023 Audi A4 to stick with petrol and diesel power

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Audi has stated that it will become an all-electric manufacturer by the end of this decade – but in the meantime the company is planning a last hurrah for combustion engines on a new, potentially final version of its A4 compact executive. Expected to arrive in 2023, the next Audi A4 will stay on the same MLB platform as the current generation. But while it will feature increased electrification, including mild and plug-in hybrids, it will still be based on a new generation of petrol and diesel engines, described by Audi’s head of technical development, Oliver Hoffman, as “the best we have ever launched”. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Hoffman said the A4, which makes up around a fifth of Audi’s global sales, is a “super-important” model for the firm. “The development of the next generation of A4 is under way,” he told us. “We’ll offer that car, and the A6, for a lot of years. Production of the last new combustion-engined model will begin in 2025 and end with a normal lifecycle in 2033. But we will launch some models a lot earlier.” The A4 is expected to fit that timeline by arriving in 2023, and while a diesel version will be available, the bulk of the line-up will use a further development of the VW Group’s ubiquitous EA888 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. VW is said to have been working on variable-section turbines within the turbocharger, designed to improve throttle response at low speeds while delivering higher overall power outputs. We should expect a higher pressure of fuel injection, too, not least because right now the 2.0-litre motor is beaten on that score by the more modest 1.5-litre TSI unit that features in many SEATs, Skodas and VWs. Hoffman said that the new petrol engines will feature “more electrification, for sure, to meet the regs”, and this is likely to include beefed-up 48-volt tech for the mild-hybrid versions and a larger battery, mounted on the rear axle, for plug-in hybrid versions. We can expect the A4 PHEVs to match other MLB models, notably the Q5, with a usable capacity of 14.4kWh; this should allow Audi’s engineers to take aim at the 62 miles of electric range offered by the latest Mercedes C 300 e.
The A4’s chassis set-up will remain largely unchanged, although the 48-volt electrics will offer greater scope for technology such as active anti-roll bars to be offered as options, or standard on higher-performance variants. Our exclusive image shows how the A4 will evolve, taking cues from Audi’s electric production cars and concepts, while staying true to its existing proportions. It’s expected to be only a few millimetres longer, while the wheelbase will be largely the same. Inside, the step up to 48v will bring greater connectivity, as part of a pared-back dashboard that will feature even fewer physical controls. Audi’s engineers will be able to shrink the centre console around toggle gear selectors, because the car is likely to be offered with only dual-clutch and torque-converter automatic gearboxes.

Link: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/audi/a4/356239/new-2023-audi-a4-stick-petrol-and-diesel-power