New manual gearbox, attractive equipment, "Full Colour" paint finish
The progress that has been made can be seen and felt: new manual gearbox with outstanding shifting comfort and the standard full-colour look of the fully painted body are the characteristic features of the 2004 model year of the Audi A4 series.

The A4, A4 Avant and A4 Cabriolet (exception: 1.8 T/140 kW) are now fitted with the new ML generation of gearboxes (1.9 TDI/96 kW: from end of June 2003). The abbreviation "ML" stands for the design features "manual" and "longitudinal installation". The four versions ML 285 (5-speed), ML 310, ML 350 and ML 450 (6-speed) are matched to the engines' respective maximum torque.

The new generation of manual gearboxes is fitted as standard and at no extra cost in combination with both front-wheel drive and quattro permanent four-wheel drive. It has already made its debut in the top sports model, the Audi S4, impressing the trade press with its precise shifts.
Gear-shifting dynamics benefit from equally short shift travel; thanks to effective mechanical decoupling, there are no vibrations to be felt at the gear lever. At the same time, low weight and better efficiency in normal operating conditions help to cut fuel consumption.

As another standard feature for which there is no extra charge, the lower sections of the bumpers, the sill trims and the strip on the bottom of the doors on the A4 and A4 Avant will also be painted the same colour as the body in future. There are a total of 15 colours to choose from, seven of which are new to the range.
Another characteristic feature of the new model year are the 16-inch cast wheels of 7-hole design with size 205/55 R16 tyres which are standard on all models from the 96 kW engine version up. These enhance the car's dynamic performance and sporty appearance equally.

The 2.0 FSI version with multitronic is a new addition to the A4 range in the 2004 model year. As in combination with other engine versions, the continuously variable transmission is equipped with the sport program S which uses the higher engine-speed range for longer for even greater dynamism.

A new equipment package now available combines particularly sporty optional equipment at an attractive price: the "Ambition" package offers 17-inch wheels in two versions, sports seats, sports suspension and a leather sports steering wheel for all A4 versions at prices between € 1,350 and € 2,300. This means a saving of up to 33 percent compared with individually ordered options.