The Audi A4 has been steadily rising in the minds and esteem of buyers since it was introduced to America as a 1996 model. Before the A4 made its appearance, Audi was a niche luxury brand: something to buy if you really didn't want to be seen driving the usual suspects. And settling for an Audi meant you had made compromises. The Audi A4 changed that.
The first Audi A4 started off strong because it was beautiful. Tautly drawn over a chassis that put the longitudinally mounted engine way up front, there wasn't a superfluous millimeter on the A4's sheet metal. And that chassis was simply excellent, with an all-independent suspension and surprisingly sweet steering. Of course, all that got even better when Audi's optional Quattro all-wheel-drive system was ordered. The Audi A4 was the first smaller Audi that could take on its Bavarian rival point-for-point and sensation-for-sensation.
Initially available only as a four-door sedan powered by either a turbocharged 1.8-liter four or a 2.8-liter V6, an "Avant" wagon was soon added to flesh out the Audi A4 lineup. A high-performance S4 sedan joined those in 1998, powered by a twin-turbocharged V6. Finally, the first-generation Audi A4 line was completed with the introduction of the hard-charging RS4 Avant, which amped up the S4's drivetrain even further.
The second-generation Audi A4 sedan arrived in time for the 2002 model year, with the Avant wagon coming a few months later. Audi brought back the S4 a few months after that with a new 339-horsepower V8 replacing the twin-turbo V6. Finally, a third Audi A4 body style was added in the form of a new two-door convertible Cabriolet model.
A third-generation Audi A4 showed up for the 2006 model year and was again available as a sedan, Avant wagon or two-door Cabriolet convertible. The S4 also made a return and the RS4 was offered as a sedan and Cabriolet. A solid lineup for the Audi A4.
The Audi A4 led a revitalization of the entire Audi line. And when the fourth Audi A4 generation appeared for 2009, it was as a mature, fully realized and fully competitive product.
