Audi Drops the A4’s Power and Increases MPG With New Ultra Model

2017 Audi A4 Ultra (Credit: © Audi)

Audi is known for releasing more fuel-friendly versions of its cars and it tags these with the “Ultra” badge. Today, the German automaker has revealed the newest addition to the Ultra lineup, and that’s the all-new 2017 A4 Ultra.

This new version of the redesigned A4 looks the part of its standard siblings. Even its standard features, which include a panoramic sunroof, xenon plus headlights, LED daytime running lights, dynamic LED taillights, 17-inch wheels, leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, Audi Pre-Sense, and more match those of the standard 2017 A4.

The big difference in the Ultra is its more efficient 2.0-liter TFSI engine and S tronic seven-speed transmission that pair up to deliver 27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined. These estimates will make it the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its class and exceed the current A4’s number by 2 mpg in city and highway mileage, and 3 mpg combined.

To hit this level of efficiency, Audi tweaked the 2.0-liter engine’s compression, boosting it from 9.6-to1 to 11.7-to-1, and adjusted its stroke to have shorter compression and longer expansion phases. A side-effect of efficiency is reduced power, resulting in this engine producing just 190 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, making it less powerful than the standard A4 by 62 horsepower and 37 pound-feet of torque.

The A4 Ultra will be the most affordable model in its lineup with a base price of $34,900 for the Premium trim and a starting price of $38,700 for its premium Plus trim. These prices are $2,400 cheaper than the current A4.

There is no mention of when the 2017 Audi A4 Ultra will hit showroom floors.