The Audi A4 will take the smooth with a little more of the rough at this month‘s Detroit Motor Show as it adopts the tougher stance of the A4 allroad quattro.
The all-new Avant version already famed for its limousine-like bearing and boundary-stretching technology is repurposed as an exceptional all-terrain machine with the help of allroad hallmarks such as flared arches, an increased ride height and of course quattro all-wheel-drive in its latest and most sophisticated ever form.
The highly successful “allroad” variant first appeared in the A4 model range in 2009, and this latest evolution further refines the concept courtesy of the all-new A4’s advanced TDI and TFSI engines, intelligent multi-material construction bringing weight savings of up to 90kg, more intelligent and reactive quattro drive and a portfolio of assistance systems that are some of the most advanced in the current Audi range.
Defining its individual look, the powerfully flared wheel arches and the rear bumper attract attention. They are finished in matt structure grey or painted in the body colour. The robust underbody guard and the rear diffuser are finished in selenite silver. The distinctive front end with jagged headlights, unique bumper and model-specific air intakes underscores its extroverted character. Vertical chrome slats adorn the sculpted Singleframe grille, while allroad badges decorate the front wings and the tailgate. The higher roof rails round out the typical allroad look.
Naturally, quattro all-wheel drive is standard on all models. Depending on the engine, there is a choice of the manual six-speed transmission, the seven-speed S tronic and the eight-speed tiptronic.
Audi offers the manual transmission and the new S tronic for the 2.0 TDI. The dual-clutch transmission is standard with the 2.0 TFSI and the 3.0 TDI with 218 PS. The most important improvements are further reductions in friction, the low weight, a highly efficient oil supply and dual-mass flywheel with a centrifugal force pendulum, which allows for very low idle speeds. Gear changes are performed within a few hundredths of a second and with virtually no interruption in the power flow by changing the clutches. Power flows from the drive shaft to the front-axle differential via a spur gear stage.
This also marks the first time that the eight-speed tiptronic is available in the A4 allroad quattro. It is reserved for the 3.0 TDI with 272 PS. The soft, quick and spontaneously shifting torque-converter transmission has been completely redeveloped. Its high number of gears enables the engine to operate close to the ideal load point very often.
Both automatic transmissions are state-of-the-art and feature a wide gear spread. Their lower gears feature short, dynamic ratios, while the upper gears are long to reduce revs and fuel consumption. Drivers can choose between the modes D, S and E, and change gears manually at any time using either the selector lever or the standard shift paddles on the steering wheel.
quattro all-wheel drive from Audi represents the ultimate advantage in dynamics, traction, driving safety and straight-line stability. It is purely mechanical and thus operates with zero delay. quattro drive is partnered with the updated wheel-selective torque control system, which is active on any surface.
The new Audi A4 allroad quattro is generously spacious. The interior design features a clear architecture with a consistent focus on horizontal lines. This principle is best illustrated by the low instrument panel and continuous air vent strip. Deluxe automatic air conditioning featuring capacitive controls and high-resolution displays are fitted as standard and underscore the interior’s overall premium impression. Audi offers an optional interior lighting package with ambient lighting in 30 different shades. The comprehensive range of colours and high-grade materials for the seats and inlays corresponds to that of the A4 model range.
The focal points of the innovative cockpit are the new MMI operating concept with rotary pushbutton including MMI touch, the large MMI display of up to 8.3 inches and the optional all-digital, 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit. The new voice control system can recognize input made using everyday language, such as: “I want to call Peter Miller.” A head-up display adds to the list of options.
Audi connect brings tailored online services to the car via the fast LTE standard. Services include online roadside assistance, smartphone calendar integration, remote control functions and status reports via smartphone, plus apps for streaming media. The Audi phone box connects cell phones to the on-board antenna and charges them inductively according to the Qi standard. The new Audi smartphone interface integrates iOS and Android devices. For discerning hi-fi fans, the Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System is available, tapping into the spatial dimension of height. The Audi tablet also functions as flexible Rear Seat Entertainment.
All driver assistance and safety systems for the A4 model series are available for the new A4 allroad quattro. One of the highlights is adaptive cruise control Stop&Go including traffic jam assist. At speeds of up to 40 mph, it takes over acceleration and braking and helps with steering. The driver receives additional support from the trailer maneuver assist, which is available on the A4 allroad for the first time. This makes it easier to maneuver a trailer. The driver steers via the MMI controller. Other new features include the predictive efficiency assistant, park assist, cross-traffic assist rear, exit warning, collision avoidance assist, turn assist and the Audi pre sense systems.
