Audi A4 1.8T quattro

500,000 units in the first 20 months. On the road everywhere. At the time, the Audi A4 was as popular as Bon Jovi, Forrest Gump or Gameboys.

The 1990s got off to a sensational start for Audi. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the monetary union and the resulting upturn in sales helped Audi achieve record sales of DM 14.8 billion in 1991. Two years later, the figures collapsed. The reasons: A global economic recession and the waning of the special German economy after reunification. Audi historian Ralf Friese remembers the consequences: „This led to stagnating sales and even resulted in short-time working and job cuts in 1993 and 1994. But then came the A4.“

In 1994, Audi heralded the beginning of a new era with the new model nomenclature: The successor to the Audi V8 appeared as the A8 in March, the revised Audi 100 as the A6 in the summer and finally the new mid-range model - the Audi A4 - in November. It surprised with great demand and immediately became a bestseller.

In 1995, 120,000 vehicles were sold in Germany alone. „The Audi A4 was a lifeline for Audi back then. It kept the cash registers ringing,“ recalls Friese. But how did the Audi A4 become an absolute bestseller and much sought-after cult car?

With its sporty, elegant design, Audi was ready to attack the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class. Audi lived up to its slogan „Vorsprung durch Technik“ with the A4. A significant technical innovation was the four-link front axle, which improved steering behaviour and minimized the effects of front-wheel drive on the steering. In addition, the first units of a new five-valve engine generation were introduced. At that time, the range consisted of three new four-cylinder petrol engines and two V6 petrol engines. A special feature was the five-valve cylinder head used in both 1.8-liter engines. The „5-valve engines“ were available as naturally aspirated engines and as „1.8 T“ with turbocharger - today standard for efficient and powerful engines.

At 5.1 - 8.8 liters per 100 kilometers, the first-generation Audi A4 consumed little fuel for its time. This made the Audi A4 a reliable, affordable and at the same time sporty car. Friese explains the significance of the A4: „The model was typical of today's Audi mindset: design, quality, lasting value and precision - away from the hat-wearer image with a roll of toilet paper on the parcel shelf to a trendsetter.“

The Audi A4 appealed not only to customers„ rationality, but also to their emotions. The A4 was what we call “hip" today. These qualities made it THE car for the German middle class.

In line with this, Audi significantly improved the standard equipment compared to the Audi 80. The slogan „More car for the money“ was more than just a marketing phrase for the Audi A4. Among other things, buyers received ABS, two airbags and four full head restraints - important safety features - as standard.