Create an A4 that would drive BMW out of business

[Goldrings]

In this thread, create your dream car/ultimate A4 that will put BMW out of business. Of course something like this could never happen, but if it could, what would this car require in terms of:

1. Performance and handling (What engines/other tech would it have to have?)

2. Standard features and options

3. Interior materials and interior quality

*2 things*

1. This car MUST put BMW out of business.

2. Everything must be cost-effective and Audi MUST make a good-sized profit per car sold.

REMEMBER: This is only a design/engineering exercise.

[gaede]

Gentlemen,

I have a sneaky suspicion there is a spy among us. I'm not sure who it is yet, but lets keep our eyes and ears open ok?

over and out

[Goldrings]

Gentlemen,

I have a sneaky suspicion there is a spy among us. I'm not sure who it is yet, but lets keep our eyes and ears open ok?

over and out

Naw, just a simple question.

[dannyj777]

3 words...
zero maintenance cost

[Kievskiy]

to change all fwd models to Rwd?

[JackalS4]

(From a performance standpoint)

New A4's should make the V6 version a bi-turbo with a bullet-proof block...

Fast stock, very moddable. No more concern of the V6 version not being fast enough..

Lower stock stance on lightweight 17-19" wheels of which there is should be much selection.

Manual transmission should have no-lift shift and rev-match downshift programs available to use if desired, and some proper aluminum pedals. Should also be butter smooth for daily driving and not get sticky in cold climates.

Also agreeing with the other suggestions.

In general, Audi's got the right idea though!

[Nexus1155]

V6 with single accessible turbo for quick swaps, Brushed Aluminum interior trims, all leather to clean quickly, embroidered headrests, funky exterior colors to choose from. Stock it needs all the essentials, sat nav, xenons, LED Interior lights, RS4 Reps.

What i think would be cool to have but not super essential would be a differential controller like STis have.

Maybe a 3.2 with a single BT(not super huge, but big enough for low spool)? Forged internals

[CARTEL]

All the suggestions so far would put Audi out of business. "Very Modifiable" cars are never a good idea for the warranty department of a car manufacturer.

[vacsimile]

This is retarded. How's the weather in fantasy land?

[belinko]

I see rainbows.

AoA can suck a fat one.

[audiracer4life]

I'm with you.

[Charlescrs6]

Hate to break it to you guys but I'd say about 5% of people purchasing A4's are actually concerned with the modability aspect of the motor. The perfect A4 would have RS4 reps, a good rear sway bar, GOOD and LOW suspension, 18" rims and bigger ONLY, 80,000k warranty, perforated seats, a nice 3 spoke steering wheel, carbon fiber available as interior trim, xenons and LEDs standard, S-line package only, suede headliner, GOOD CUPHOLDERS! It's the little things that make me pick one car over another, like steering wheel, cupholders, buttons, nav options, gauge cluster simplicity.

[dsq]

to change all fwd models to Rwd?

what i was thinking.

plus balance the car so that it's 60/40 or ideally 50/50.

[MacDaddy]

what i was thinking.

plus balance the car so that it's 60/40 or ideally 50/50.

totally, stop putting the engine well ahead of the front wheels

[Monizzle]

Along with the weight distribution, make all cars rear-biased AWD. Yes FWD is faster, lighter and with the CVT gets better gas mileage, but FWD is really unnecessary for a company that boasts their AWD system as the greatest thing to happen to automobiles.
VW exists for FWD, Audi shouldn't even bother offering it.
Now get in there GoldRings and make it happen!

[ThirdStrike]

ditch all n/a motors, bring the 2.7(v6 turbo) back, and stop making the suspension so soft

[Trv06kviper]

Team up with Porsche on the RS models. I'd make the A4 lower and try at least pushing the engine as close to the firewall as possible. Along with making the chassis more stiff all around. Probably shrink the trunk a tad to allow for more leg room in the backseat.

[[email protected]]

Make the model RWD, automatic, alpine white, angel eye headlights, decent cup holders, a huge dash to hold stuffed animals, start the badge with a 3 and brainwash the asian market that it is the shiznat and VOILA!

[djwimbo]

Make the model RWD, automatic, alpine white, angel eye headlights, decent cup holders, a huge dash to hold stuffed animals, start the badge with a 3 and brainwash the asian market that it is the shiznat and VOILA!

bolded portion = WTF?

Sorry duders, at this point in my life I'll take an E36(328is) over my B5 A4 in a heartbeat, or at least for a 3 season car.

I don't think it's possible without serious reconfiguration of Audi drivelines and engineering. I'd love to see a OEM VR-T in a RWD A4/A6/S6/S4/RS4 etc, but it isn't going to happen. The overall design of the Audi hasn't changed that much over the years. The engine is still completely in front of the front axle.

Unless Audi starts using a T-case on the back or the trans, we're not going to see an AWD Audi put BMW under.
Audi can't let down the Quattro, even if they tried. It's race inspired, and a major sales pitch, that keeps customers coming back. Quattro is probably the biggest reason why I still have the car I'm driving now.

I'll be 100% honest here, the new body style BMW's are more appealing to me right now too. Granted each model has it's ups and downs, but the B8 chassis A4/S4 doesn't do anything for me. The S5/A5 is nice, obviously the R8 is great, and I like the A3. Everything is getting too expensive and losing it's quality. All the new BMW's I've worked on or driven don't get the cheap feeling like a B7/B8/C6+/etc have.

If BMW goes under, the automotive industry will never be the same. There have been too many benchmarks set by BMW, I don't see any company living up to to that legacy.

[[email protected]]

I guess my sarcastic description of the typical BMW 3-series that dominates the streets failed.

[djwimbo]

I guess my sarcastic description of the typical BMW 3-series that dominates the streets failed.

Oh, well, it was a good effort.

I don't think that BMW is king of the streets, or undefeatable, ... or anything like that. It's all preference. I <3 E36/E39's. I love my Audi too, but I can't contain my passion to one vehicle. One is soo much better than the other for some reasons, and vice versa.

... I really need to just ante up and buy an E36 so I can have both

[Affinitive]

Of all things, you want an E36 chassis??? pssshhh, E36's are turds, even the M3's
You start talking E46 and you're on to something (just have to put some decent front control arm bushings on). The E46 and that S54 motor are just amazing.
Though, I fell in love with BMTroubleyou's all over again the first time I drove an E90 chassis. THAT'S a down right stunning car and I can't even imagine that with a V8 in for the M version. Best thing they ever did was adapting the E38/E39 front suspension for the 3 series.

The Quattro drivetrain could very easily be adapted to channel most of the power to the rear, it would just be worthless since all the weight is ahead of the front wheels..............but they're working on it and slowly improving with the B8 chassis layout.............but still have a long ways to go. The B8 chassis layout should have come a looooong loooong time ago.

BMTroubleyou pretty much always has and likely will always be the king of inline 6 engines.........but I'd still buy an Audi first

Damn, I sound like one of those yuts' off one of them toolshed bimmer sites.....don't I???

C

[AElucky83]

I cant say what audi should do to put them out of business..but lets see what they could do to the A4 in order to make it over all a better car.

1. Better materials over all..meaning, the 2.0t motor should be re-designed..if nissan can make a 2.0 turbo motor in early 90's thats damn nearly bulletproof and just about flawless (SR20DET), then why cant Audi simplify things on the 2.0T 20 years later??, first, TIMING CHAIN. Then better and ligther internals and work out all the kinks in the electrical and vacum system.

2. Lighter and sturdier chassy and suspention materials with higher quality suspention parts.

3. full leather interrior with perf. leather seat and back rest. kind of like the Mercury Milan has as an option in the Premier model.

4. Better gear box with no lift shift (chevy cobalt SS has it and it works damn well)

5. Light weight wheels.

[cerfus]

They should make better cars that are faster cheaper and not a vw oh and don't cost me anything.

Does that help?..

[Mooseimage]

It does seem they are working on the front heavy end. When I looked under the hood of the new A4, it did look like it was farther back compared to the front axle than before, but they did make the car much longer, so that is what caused it probably. Who knows, maybe they are just transferring the engine behind the front axle through chassis changes over the years. Afterall, if you just up and transfer the engine behind the axle, people would say "Oh, they are just trying to copy BMW." It must be a smooth transition.

This is just my 2 cents, and writing what comes to mind, no real backup except my own experience and assumptions.

[andyrew]

I agree with the trunk needs to be slightly smaller for more leg room.

[imola_Jon]

Weight reduction (while at maintaining power, build quality, and interior fit & finish). This will increase all around performance & fuel economy.

[A4A4A4]

Put the 335i's engine in the new A4.