New wagon completes A4 line-up while TDI power war erupts

"The sportiest, best-looking mid-sized station wagon on the market..." They're Audi's words, but who are we to argue -- the new A4 Avant is a cracker!

Released at Geneva, the new five-door essentially completes the line-up of the latest generation mass market A4 range. It is based on the just-released A4 sedan (obviously) but offers the added dimension of up to 1430 litres of luggage space and in typical Germanic style a whole swag of storage and utility options.

The new 'six-lite' A4 Avant measures around 12cm longer than the previous model -- matching the sedan's growth over the last generation. Audi says the car has shed about 10 per cent of its weight but is both safer and more refined than the model it replaces.

Wagon-specific features include an easy-tumble 60:40 second row with skiport and a reversible cargo floor. Options include a panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, and load area storage systems as well as the myriad comfort, styling and convenience options Audi normally offers on its sedan models.

Three TDI and two petrol engines will be offered initially matched to a choice of six-speed manual or tiptronic transmissions plus Audi's excellent multitronic CVT unit.

The new A4's platform was debuted in the A5/S5 coupes. It promises more balanced handling thanks to a change in weight distribution brought about by improvements in the relationship of the engine to front axle (essentially the engine's been moved rearwards and the front axle forwards). We're yet to drive the new A4 but can vouch for the A5/S5's better manners and steering precision in both front-wheel drive and Quattro versions.

It's not clear whether Audi will add the Avant to its local line-up (when the new A4 eventually arrives), however, given the reception the Avant received at Geneva, we'd be very surprised if the five-door doesn't make its way Down Under pretty quickly.

The other debutante that's almost certain to arrive Down Under post haste is the Ingolstadt brand's stonking uber-SUV -- the Q7 V12 TDI. Also released at Geneva, the monster boasts an amazing twin-turbo 6.0-litre V12 turbodiesel that Audi claims pumps out over 360kW and an amazing 1000Nm -- from 1750 to 3250rpm

Claimed performance is, as you'd expect, staggering considering the Q7's dimensions -- 0-100km/h takes 5.5sec and top speed is electronically capped at 250km/h. Unshackled, Audi insiders were talking of a top speed closer to 280km/h before aerodynamic drag stops play!

Featuring revised bodywork, including huge front under-bumper air intakes and a very neat rear bumper/diffuser that incorporates the drain-pipe twin exhausts, the Q7 V12 is no offroader. Torque is split 40:60 to give it a more rear-wheel drive feel and the behemoth rolls on 20-inch rims and low-profile rubber. If they're not big enough, 21s are optional.

As extreme as the engine are the Q7 V12's brakes. Looking like they'd be more at home on a Le Mans sports prototype, the carbon-reinforced ceramic discs barely fit under the Q7's 20-inch wheels and at the front are gripped by whopping eight-piston calipers (rears are four-piston units). They're good for 300,000km of use claims the company.

Audi says "presales" of the Q7 V12 TDI will begin in the second half of 2008. That makes it unlikely we'll see the car until mid-2009.

No news yet, however, on when presales will commence on the V12 TDI version of Audi's R8 supercar. Displayed at Geneva -- its second showing after debuting at Detroit -- and looking ever more production ready, the Euro VI compliant R8 TDI is still officially a 'Study'. Yeah, and this writer is a F1 driver...

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