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Flash back to the 70's, 1972 to be precise - this was the year Audi created the 80. A compact 2-door sedan which sat under the larger 100 model. Today, the 80 is better known as the A4 and the 100, the A6. The 80 was the start of Ingolstadt’s stab at creating a premium compact executive sedan. Nine generations on, Audi have now launched their all new A4. 

A very important car for the brand, as it's where Audi's bread and butter lies. This is no exaggeration, in fact, 12 million have been sold in the last 44 years around the globe. Locally, 110 000 have been purchased since the first A4 was launched back in 1994. I too was a customer! 

The A4 goes head-to-head with German rivals like BMW's 3-Series, which is arguably considered the segments benchmark and Mercedes-Benz's pretty C-Class. It's an ongoing wrestle between the three brands to maintain the proud position as 'the segment leader'.

In 2016, technology levels are hitting all time heights previously only thought possible in science fiction novels or played out in film. The truth though is, imaginable fantasies are now a reality. 

This means cars are so advanced that instrumentation dials have been replaced by virtual switches and dials that are interchangeable at the flick of a switch. You are better able to view a combination of information: speed, revs, direction and navigation and music selection etc. In addition, Audi has also introduced a new system that allows for replica visual of your cellphone screen, allowing for access to your smartphones apps. 

Through the Improved understanding of materials and manufacturing, combined with global pressure from governments to reduce nasty pollution gases - cars are getting lighter. Therefore, engines can be smaller, albeit designed to be more powerful too.  Your car’s engine is not much bigger than your grannies old sewing machine and it sips fuel as slowly as granny drank her piping hot tea all while manoeuvring like Flash Gordon through the traffic. It's win-win for everyone.

The new A4 is up to 110kg's lighter than the car it replaces. The previous base engine, the 1.8l turbo, has been replaced by an outstanding 1.4l turbo unit. This engine is lighter and more efficient than the 1.8l it replaces. Together with the 1.4 engine, the A4 will also be available in a 2.0l turbo. A 2.0l turbo diesel arrives in October. While a spirited 184kW Quattro derivative, also a 2.0l turbo petrol, lands shortly after the arrival of the diesel. Audi will continue to introduce more engines and models, like the S4 and the A5 line-up in sequence during 2017. The Usain Bolt-like RS4 and 5 dashes in sometime during 2018. 

The new A4 is angular, sharp and distinctively an Audi. It's cleanly shaven wearing a tailored suit - it's smart, non-pretentious and confident. It's friendly too. Personified it's like Huge Jackman. It can sing and dance but there's a Wolverine lying within, characteristically more prevalent in S and RS guises. 

I've heard it said, 'but it looks so similar to the previous A4' or 'it looks like a facelifted version of the old car'.  This isn't the case. 90% of the cars parts are new, the car is up to 25% more powerful and potentially with 21% better fuel consumption figures. It's been designed to be very quiet, which it is, barring the sound of road noise which does extrude the cabin a bit at higher speeds. I'll forgive them, the tyre - for they are fat and low. With every con comes a pro - the fat and low means handling and dynamics are fantastic, though not class leading. Jaguars XE is better in that regard with the 3-Series worth mentioning for driving dynamics. 

With so much effort going into the A4 it begs the question: is this the best car in its class? Does it trump its rivals? The answer is long. Why? Well, I'd consider subjective elements like design, both inside and out together with objective characteristics like technology, performance, price, quality levels and so on. 

So is it the benchmark? The newest rival tends to be the new class leader and this time, I'd have to concede - yes, the new A4 is overall an outstanding package and versus a C200, 320i or an IS200t it is slightly better. 

The new Audi A4 is priced as follows, including the standard 5 year/100 000km Audi Freeway Plan.

• 1.4 T FSI manual: R 441,000             
• 1.4 T FSI S tronic: R 459,000             
• 1.4 T FSI S tronic Sport: R 492,000
• 1.4 T FSI S tronic Design: R 488,000              
• 2.0 T FSI S tronic: R 496,000            
• 2.0 T FSI S tronic Sport: R517,000  
• 2.0 T FSI S tronic Design: R 513,000
• 2.0 TDI  Base S tronic: R 517,000
• 2.0 TDI S tronic Sport: R 538,000
• 2.0 TDI  S tronic Design: R 534,000                
• 2.0 T FSI quattro S tronic Sport: R616,000

www.audi.co.za