Is the German firms flagship A4 diesel strong enough to take on the BMW 3-Series?
Only 10 years ago, Audi’s UK range consisted of 12 models. Today, its line-up is 25-strong and includes a supercar, while a new supermini will soon boost those numbers even further. In spite of these signs of soaring growth, it’s the A4 compact executive that remains at the core of the firm’s operations – and as the new version hits UK roads this week, we drove it first to deliver our verdict. We have already been impressed by the 1.8T FSI and 2.0 TDI variants in left-hand-drive form. Now, it’s the turn of the top-spec 3.0-litre diesel to be put through its paces. And with 237bhp and 500Nm of torque, it’s a strong performer – a 0-60mph time of 6.1 seconds means acceleration is nearly as fast as a Porsche Cayman. But it’s the smooth nature of the V6 powerplant that really stands out, along with the effortless way it performs. Maximum torque is available from 1,500rpm and there’s virtually no turbo lag, so the A4 feels tractable from low speeds. As you’d expect, in-gear acceleration is
