[Tj2k]

Steering – So, make your own mind up as to where you think this should be – on the Good or Bad list!! It’s on the Good list because overall, it’s an improvement though, I’m not fully “sold” on the changes to the steering just yet. The D3’s steering did sometimes feel a little heavier than it might otherwise do – given it’s a high spec luxury car but, I think Audi had it just right. Sufficient feeling for the road and yet, not too much work for the driver. In fact, a friend of mine, occasionally complains that the steering is too heavy for her – in her husbands 59 plate 3.0Tdi D3. Well, she’d have no issue in the D4, it’d definitely lighter – no doubt on that. My concern is that Audi have reengineered the steering to be more adaptive and also more configurable. So whats my problem? Progressing around a corner, releasing pressure on the wheel as the road straightens up – would, in the D3, bring the wheel back to the forward / straight / neural position – right? Well, as per an new A4 I drove a few weeks earlier, this is not so with the new steering on that vehicle and also alas, the 8. I found myself, having been a lazy driver, having to ensure I brought the wheel back – so that “return to straight” feel-back is almost a thing of the past. Now, that said, this can be rectified as Audi have provided manipulation of the steering in connection with the Drive Select programs – but there I can’t help but think there’s some loss of feeling right to the road! To be updated, it's early days!

It's more comfortable – I do have the comfort seats option but the seats are pretty good in the D3, but these are more comfortable and I don’t necessarily think because of that option. The design leaves me to wonder if they’ll be as hardwearing as the D3’s…

It's quieter – There can be no doubt this car is quieter – it is – BUT there’s also a subtle change in the sound that you can hear; that lovely deep noise you associate with a lovely V8 – that I didn’t really get with my D3 (4.2tdi) is there – it’s a lovely noise – but is very controlled, very subtle. Audi have done a trick here, in getting that noise audible but yet not at all disturbing – this is difficult to describe until you hear it yourself.
Wing mirrors can be set in MMI to fold-up when the car I locked

Seat-belt warnings are nicer, multi-toned and less annoying.

Auto-Lights on time tweaking – the auto-light’s on time can be tweaked to come on earlier or later – 3 settings.

Electronic gear selection from gear lever – the gear lever actuates an electronic switch, rather than, in the D3, a large lever travel distance – a little weird at first and down to personal preference.

iPod / iPhone Connectivity - Via Bluetooth (as a Bluetooth media device) or direct Cable (cable sold separately but I got dealer to throw it in)

BOSE Audio upgrade – sounds significantly better – but also see the Bad on this!

Digital TV – I’ve never had the Digital TV option but the TV is sweet – reception is excellent and even on a journey from Telford to Birmingham, I didn’t loose signal – albeit – the picture muted whilst in motion (need to sort that! Come on CraigyB!)

Speech Control – additional voice training can be done to better improve voice interpretation by MMI

Interior Illumination – Interior illumination is very attractive, especially if you have a lighter interior car like this one. As with most of the lights of the D3, they’re now all LED and have customisable brightness levels (split into areas, to make it easier to adjust). The are 3 colours to choose from; Ivory, Polar and Ruby. Ivory is a warmer, filament-bulb type colour (so yellowy) Polar – is as you might expect, a very white, white light followed by Ruby. Ruby is my personal favourite in that when getting in the car, all lights are white though as you start the engine and get underway, the lights built into the door panels, gradually – but quickly evolve into a red – though leaving the remainder of lights in the car at white. This is a really nice setting and one I hadn’t initially noticed as being any different. My only complaint would be that Audi could have given us much more choice on the colours. I know that BMW Mini’s are very customisable in terms of their colours but there you go.

Seat Control - so there’s a new circular seat control wheel on the seat control panel. Touching this immediately brings up a graphic indicator on-screen on the MMI control panel – this allows full manipulation of the seat – which is very unlike the D3. The seat symmetry features that there on the D3 are also still there on the D4.

Keyless-Go & Keyless Entry – Keyless entry has improved sensitivity. There is no longer a physical button on the handle, rather, a small touch pad which literally has to be lightly touched (not pressed) to engage the door locking process – and wing-mirror auto-fold if you have that option set.

Child Seat Anchorage Points - there are now seat anchorage points for a child seat, built-in, above each rear seat now – for those of you that have smaller children or plan them!