Audi A4 allroad quattro heads for the hills
Ingolstadt boffins conjure up a pseudo-off-roader variant of the A4 Avant family wagonAudi's Q5 compact SUV launches here next month, but the brand's relentless product proliferation will also see it unveiling the new A4 allroad quattro at the upcoming Geneva motor show.
Similar in concept to the existing A6 allroad quattro, the new rough-terrain A4 adopts its tougher stance through a 20mm-wider track front and rear and a 37mm increase in ride height to 180mm.
The makeover extends to body addenda that include a bespoke grille and bumpers, wheel-arch extensions and additional under-body protection.
Power is relayed to the tarmac (or gravel) via Audi's latest-gen quattro four-wheel-drive system, which supplies 60 per cent of torque to the rear wheels in normal driving conditions.
However, a loss of grip can result in the split being altered to deliver up to 85 per cent of torque rearwards or 65 per cent to the front.
The consistency of those surfaces is also monitored by Audi's so-called 'Offroad Detection' (ORD) technology, which has been incorporated within an allroad-specific version of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and adjusts its parameters accordingly.
Where conditions demand it, says Audi, the off-road ESP permits more wheel spin than normal so that torque can be apportioned as quickly and efficiently as possible despite the constant fluctuations in grip between the wheels on loose surfaces.
Optionally available is 'drive select', which enables the driver to fine-tune the suspension settings, transmission shift points and steering and throttle response via dashboard-mounted controls to suit the conditions.
Driver assistance options will also include Audi 'side assist', which uses sensors to warn of vehicles approaching in mirror blind spots, and Audi 'lane assist', which guards against unintentional lane changes by triggering steering wheel vibrations to alert the driver.
The Euro engine range will include a 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine with 155kW and 350Nm, while the diesel line-up comprises a 2.0-litre TDI with 125kW and 350Nm and a 3.0-litre V6 TDI with 176 and 500Nm. Both diesels feature the latest common rail piezo injection technology.
Audi quotes 0-100km/h acceleration figures of 6.9sec for the 2.0 TFSI, 8.9sec for the 2.0 TDI and 6.4sec for the 3.0 TDI.
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