AUDI A4 B5 (1994-2001)
The Audi 80 had helped Ingolstadt break into the compact executive market, previously dominated by the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes 190E. The 80 sold respectably well and helped showcase the advantages of diesel in the sector, but with the sharp new BMW E36 and Mercedes C-Class to contend with, the 80 was in dire need of replacement. Many of the principles were carried over to the new A4, including the longitudinal front-driven layout. The new model used the B5 platform, which would go on to underpin the 1996 Volkswagen Passat, and there were strikingly low equipment levels on base models for an attractive base price. The Imre Hasanić design was clearly evolutionary rather than revolutionary, but sharpened up the lines of its 80 predecessor and arguably peaked in the crisply-penned Avant estate version.
Noting that choice was the key to success in this sector, the A4 was offered with a range of petrol and diesel engines, including the all-new motorsport-derived 1.8-litre 20-valve turbo unit, or ‘1.8T’. A durable, torquey power plant with 148bhp in base spec, it was later offered with close to 200bhp and to this day is a darling of the
