1994 AUDI A4 2.8L 5AT (174 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Unlike its bigger brother, the A6, the first generation of the A4 was not a facelift and re-badged Audi 80. It was a true first generation of the new trend in Audi’s cars lineup.

With the new model, Audi put a firm step into the premium-segment territory. To succeed against established brands such as the Mercedes-Benz and BMW, it had to come with a different approach. It was a different approach than the one used for the Audi 80.

The 1994 Audi A4 used the newly developed Volkswagen PL45 (B5) platform, which allowed longitudinal-mounted engines, front or all-wheel-drive. The engine was installed over the front axle, helping with the weight balance. The clear-lenses headlights were new for the compact-sedan built by Audi. A raked A-pillar and rounded greenhouse made the car look sleek. In the back, unlike the last 80 model, the trunk was ended with a sharp line.

Inside, the modern interior design greeted its owners with appealing shapes, rich textures, and polished walnut trim for specific trim levels. The bucket-seats with ample bolstering were designed for good support while hard cornering. Between the rear seats, a pass-through door was made for skis to be stored inside.

On the engineering side, the 1994 A4 featured the newest engines available in Audi’s warehouse. The 1.8-liter unit with 5-valves per cylinder was installed and offered a good balance between fuel-efficiency and performance. More diesel and gasoline units were available. The 5- or 6-speed manual transmission was standard depending on the engine, while the new Tiptronic automatic transmission developed by Porsche was available. Most of the versions were available with all-wheel-drive system.