The Audi A4 is celebrating: the German saloon turns 25 years old

The saloon segment has been heavily challenged by the massive arrival of SUVs, yet there are still brands that have found a way for both types of vehicle to coexist peacefully and in harmony. The Audi A6, A8 and A4 demonstrate this, with the latter being our undisputed protagonist. The entry-level saloon from the four-rings brand is celebrating, as it turns 25 years old and has managed to build more than 7.5 million units, a figure that catapults the Audi A4 to the top of the mid-size saloons, positioning it as one of the best-selling.

It was in 1994 when the German firm decided to end the life of the acclaimed 80 and give rise to the successor that would enjoy such success, the A4. Exactly 25 years ago, the first unit left the gates of the Audi factory in Ingolstadt, marking a before and after not only within the tough segment in which it competed, but also within the brand itself.

Today the Audi A4 remains in production in its latest generation, and it was throughout 2018 that the brand recorded sales of 344,586 units. With this figure, the German firm made its entry-level saloon the most popular model of the brand worldwide, since one out of every five models Audi sold belongs to the A4 family.

But this production volume was already evident in the A4’s early years, since it was in 1995 when Audi closed the first cycle of its saloon with more than 272,052 units produced, a clear sign of success. Since then, the four-rings brand decided to press on with its A4, a model that now boasts five generations behind it.

The B9 generation of the German saloon has now been around for four years and, although it remains faithful to the latest technology from Audi, it would not be far-fetched to expect it to show us its sixth generation soon. With this premise, the A4 would be updated to keep up with its more modern siblings, with the aim of maintaining its undeniable success.

This is how the Audi A4 has managed to make history within the automotive industry, becoming a true benchmark within its segment. This success is backed by the more than 7.5 million units built of the German saloon, a clear indication that this warm reception will continue to be seen in future generations.