this is an excellent question. i am kinda surprised that someone noticed this.
the new style (on A5) is more expensive to make. It is safer especially after crash. However, the handle is part of the overall door design. they can't just change the handle without changing the whole door structure.
the current A4, A6, A8 are still the old model. (the last change on A4 and A6 were only front end style, but the body structure is the same)
In my opinion, Audi start seriously making cars after 2003, before that, audi was quite a few years behind BMW and Mercedes in overall design and technologies.
you will see in the future that eventually all cars will change to "pulling handle style" in the next few years when car manufactures introduce all new models. although it is more expensive to make, it is safer (door can open easier after crash. in some design, the door will even unlock after crash, so the rescue team can just pull the door open. On the other hand, the old design often break after crash, the rescue team sometimes need to use tools to open the door)
Q7, new TT and new A5 are using the new design.
new A4, A6 should be introduced next year. (both based on the new A5)
Thanks Antus the detailed explanation and let everybody understand the safe definition. Another curious question 衛星導航 system when may apply on the windshield , I thought in the future several years will be able to develop,Who can first AUDI BMW BENZ or others.期待中
maybe it's a small amount of money, but i believe car manufactures count every dollars.
i didn't know it would be more expensive that way. I read it somewhere from a car designer couple years ago.
although Audi is quite expensive in Taiwan, it's just few thousands more than Toyota Camry in the US. (and just 10 thousands more than Yaris for A3 model) I am sure they need to carefully value every parts in designing and building the car.