2002-2008 Audi A4: Year-to-Year Changes

2003 Audi A4: Audi added a Cabriolet (convertible) body style to its A4 lineup for 2003. Cabriolets got their own exterior styling and interior trim, with a power folding top that contained a heated glass rear window. Convertibles included front side airbags that provided head and torso protection. Small support bars behind the convertible's rear seats pop up automatically to protect occupants in an impending rollover. Sedans and convertibles came with standard front-wheel drive. Wagons had quattro all-wheel drive as standard equipment. Audi's CVT was standard on convertibles and the 3.0 front-drive sedan, and available for the 1.8T front-drive sedan. All models could have GM's OnStar assistance system with extra-cost e-mail service. New options included 17-inch all-season tires to replace the usual 16s, a power driver's seat for 1.8T models, and steering-wheel audio/climate controls for the 3.0 series. Leather seats were now standard in 3.0 models, and optional for 1.8T versions. Full leather upholstery was available for V6 models.

2004 Audi A4: High-performance S4 models returned for 2004, using the new A4 design. Initially offered in sedan and Avant wagon body styles, the S4 used a 340-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8 engine and a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The sport suspension included 18-inch wheels. An S4 Cabriolet joined the group in midseason. Availability of all-wheel drive expanded this year. Quattro was standard on Avants, optional for sedans, and newly available for the 3.0 Cabriolet. For quattro models, a new six-speed manual transmission replaced the previous five-speed unit. CVT was standard on convertibles and front-drive 3.0 sedans, and available for the front-drive 1.8T sedan.

2005 Audi A4: Early '05 models carried over unchanged. A4 was redesigned in midyear as a 2005.5 model.

2006 Audi A4: No significant changes were made to the A4/S4 in 2006.

2007 Audi A4: S4s got revised front and rear styling for 2007.

2008 Audi A4: The 2008 Audi A4 was largely unchanged, pending a redesign due in calendar 2008 as a 2009 model. New for 2008 was an RS 4 Cabriolet.