Handling is one of the areas Audi focused on when designing the 2009 A4, and the car's performance is enhanced by a new lightweight suspension and variable-ratio steering. There are two default sport settings for the car, and the new Audi drive select system allows the driver to select one of three preset modes -- comfort, auto, or dynamic -- or manually change individual settings like accelerator response, shift points for the automatic transmission, amount of power steering assistance, steering ratio, the electronically adjustable shock absorbers, and a number of other chassis settings using the "individual" mode.
Safety systems include six airbags, with the front airbags linked to sensors in the front seats that record the exact position of the seat to limit the force of the airbag and seatbelt tensioners. An additional pair of side airbags for the rear seats are available as an option. The A4 also will be offered with Audi's lane-departure-warning system and a rear backup sensor. Stability control is standard as well.
Luxury options are plentiful. For instance, the optional "climatic comfort" seats are equipped with small cooling fans in the seatback and seat cushion in addition to heating elements. Wrapped in perforated leather upholstery, the seats are available in one of four colors. Standard and sport seats are offered in leather as well, with Alcantara and leather upholstery available with the sport seats. Other equipment includes a 14-speaker 505-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system, navigation with a seven-inch color touch screen, and the electric-mechanical parking brake seen on the Audi A8, which assists the driver when the car is moving from a stop, a handy feature for manual-transmission cars driven in hilly areas and adaptive cruise control. The Bang & Olufsen and standard audio systems can be equipped with the Audi Music Interface that provides iPod compatibility.
Audi will introduce the 2009 A4 at the Frankfurt motor show, and the car will arrive in U.S. dealer showrooms next September.