When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Not fussed with the exterior look - too similar to the last model. I've always loved the Audi headlight designs though and this again is very very good. I had a look at the all digital dash in the recent TT and it's pretty nice. Wouldn't be surprised to see MB follow that trend fairly soon as well.
Looks like the bottom of the steering wheel shares some familiar design queues..
I was considering an S5/RS5/M3 before I got the C63 because they all looked more sculpted and sleeker than Mercedes. Now it seems like BMW and Audi are both going towards the bulky route while Mercedes is going for the sleek curvy look. Anyone else feel the same?
DBOC205, haha I forgot to say that exact same thing.
I do like the all screen driver dashboard though. Looking at the pics a bit more, it just looks like they merged the interior of BMW, Mercedes, and Tesla. Not a bad thing in any way but nowhere near as exciting as when I first saw the W205 interior.
I've owned Audi's and thought they were great. The exterior design is really disappointing for 2016 though. I expected something much more eye catching .... this looks pretty plain. Audi always has a knack for stylish interiors, and this one looks good. I think the C-Class is nicer though.
They'll sell a ton of these, but it won't be based on looks.
Very disappointed in the exterior and was really hoping for more. I was a fan of the current S4, but this looks more like a refresh than a new model (appearance-wise). Not sure how I feel about the interior.. I really don't like how they make the air vent look like it extends across the dash. Looks cheap. If that was simply removed, I think that alone would make the interior look much nicer. Just my .02.
Instinctive reaction was i prefer the exterior to my s205.........but the interior of the s205 looks much more attractive. As commented previously it seems the fixed screen may be in fashion though the audi one is a better design than my audio 20 standard screen.
I am an audi design fan and i still stop to admire 3 door a3s my favourite car i once owned ( i actually had 2 ) the interior and exterior build on those cars and the 2 a4 we had concurrently was excellent, just a shame that mechanical refinement let them down. In the photos the quality does not seem quite as top notch and the a4 model after our 2008 model was not quite as excellent as what had gone before. Whereas the s205 is a huge improvement on the 203 and 204 plus it has the better mechanical refinement.
This will attract a lot of buyers, externally it just looks sharper and dare i say it more young and modern than the 205 even though it is still unmistakenably an a4........but i suspect the mercedes still outclasses it to drive in terms of mechanical refinement. In the uk it will mainly sell in 2wd which means fwd......as much as i like the looks over my s205 it will be mercedes i will look too first when i change.
Interestingly in france where i now live mercedes are very popular, the car you hope to be able to buy, followed by audi, bmw are the noticeable third. Big cities have more bmw than in the country but mercedes are everywhere, mind you some are pretty old and ropey!
I really like the strong angular design of the exterior, and the interior is quite clean and refined. With all the problems I'm having with my C-Class, I'm starting to really regret getting it and not waiting. :/ I think I'll go Audi or Lexus in a couple years when the car is paid off. First Mercedes Benz will be my last Mercedes Benz. At least Audi USA doesn't seem to be combatant against its customers.
i know it is a B9, but the exterior to me is a B8.9? lol not quite there.
I do agree with most, the interior is nicer, definitely like it over BMW but not over my C.
I bought an A4 over the C300. The main reason was because I required airmatic and there were no dealers in Texas with a C300 and airmatic.
The A4 is the best bland Audi you can buy. I think the new design has a fixed screen because people are buying the C-class and 3-series and 4-series, so Audi can get away with a fixed design too.
At least, current A4 owners won’t be disturbed by the new model in comparison to the previous C class model/current owners.
I guess Audi won’t change that bland trend until the Prologue segment becomes more brand dominant (they're starting with the A6 next year).
Air vents design is similar in VW Passat/Phaton - some think it's cool (complete matter of taste).
Audi A4 though, in my opinion, is better than MB C class/BMW 3 series, with respect to cabin quality & isolation (especially crosswind noise), DSG/QUATTRO, suspension options in the S-line vs AMG/M-line (I'm not talking about the proper AMG/RS/M).
In this car segment, Audi is even the preferred choice over MB for many people, BMW comes last (only enthusiasts-wannabe drive them now).
I got the C class as it was brand new batch, available immediately with a promo & fully equipped. My second choice would have been either the new E class (if released at the time), an Audi (A4 or A6, the new models were already available for order, in Belgium, during Q1/2015). After driving the C for a few months though, I think next time I’m going to get an E or even an S.
Not sure how I feel about the interior.. I really don't like how they make the air vent look like it extends across the dash. Looks cheap. If that was simply removed, I think that alone would make the interior look much nicer. Just my .02.
Just thought I'd share - the center air vent is a throwback to 70s design, Audi 100:
Yeah, I had a 100LS, back in the '70's. At 65K miles the car was pretty much just worn out. A lot of $$ spent replacing seats, transmission, running gear, etc. What a giant POS.
Then there was the 5000. How many people got completely screwed over with those cars?
I had a VW Dasher Diesel, new in 1980. $12K was a LOT of money for a car in that vintage. Decent car, but I will never own another VW product either. $85 for an alternator that went out at 23K, a comparable US product might cost $35. It did get good mileage, but 0-60 took a bit over 19 seconds. LOL.
My boss has a A8L and loves it. bought it after the lease was up. His past cars were MB and Lexus. Apparently he really likes the Audi.
Wifey likes the convertible. I just cannot bring myself to even consider one. I'm sure they are good cars now. We have had six Mercedes Benz's. The '01 BMW 3-series 'vert was a nice car, but it ate parts for lunch, would have been prohibitively expensive to maintain over the years had I not been able to do everything myself. At 75K miles it needed $500 worth of parts for a cooling system rebuild, otherwise risk breaking down in the middle of south-central LA. LOL. It ate tires and brakes too, a grand worth about every 15K miles. After 8 years we were REALLY glad to replace it with a new Benzo.
I still prefer the interior of the C-class but I'd have to prefer the exterior design of the A4 over the C-class.
I really like the aggressive lines of the Audi's when Mercedes are definitely more reserved and curved in design. The Audi headlights are definitely the best/
People always manage to complain about Audi designs because "they look the same". Quite frankly, their headlights provide distinction. Take a look at BMW, they all look the same!!! Same LED design across all models.
Ah, well that makes sense. However, I feel some things should be left in the past.. this being one of them.
I knew I remember seeing that same design pop up elsewhere recently, thanks for pointing out the Passat. I don't understand why Audi wants to bridge the design cues between VW and Audi even closer together than they already are though. It's a bit off-putting. Usually, the design cues filter down from the more premium sub-brand to mainstream (e.g., Infiniti to Nissan), but this most recent incarnation of the vent design first reappeared on VW and now to Audi. Weird. Anyways, probably enough rambling about one part of the interior..
Originally Posted by CorradoJr
Just thought I'd share - the center air vent is a throwback to 70s design, Audi 100:
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
%20Variant/Volkswagen-Passat-Variant-VIII-MQB-632.jpg)
