The Audi A4 nameplate arrived in 1994, when Audi renamed the long-running Audi 80 as the new A4 and launched the first B5-generation model. That change marked a broader shift in Audi’s model naming and design direction, with the A4 becoming the company’s core midsize passenger car. From the start, it was offered as a refined everyday sedan/limousine and later as the Avant wagon, a body style that became especially important to the model’s identity in Europe.
Across its life, the A4 went through several distinct generations, evolving from the original B5 into later B6, B7, B8, and B9 iterations. It became one of Audi’s most important global nameplates, known for combining understated styling, premium positioning, and a strong focus on road manners and all-wheel-drive technology. The model also served as the basis for a number of enthusiast-oriented variants, most notably the S4 and RS 4, which helped define the A4 family’s sporting reputation.
The A4 also broadened over time into related versions such as the allroad quattro, which gave the nameplate a more rugged, crossover-like role within the lineup. In motorsport, A4-based touring cars were highly successful in the mid-1990s, adding to the model’s enthusiast credibility. Audi kept the A4 in production for three decades, and in 2024 the A4 model family was replaced by the Audi A5, bringing the original A4-era nameplate to a close.