Spring launch for Audi A4 allroad quattro

Audi is targeting SUV buyers with its all-new A4 allroad Quattro which is set to launch locally in September.

And when the ships carrying the B9 series allroad quattro dock at Australian ports, they’ll be a choice of two four-cylinder models of the tall(er) wagon: the 2.0 TDI with 140kW/400Nm; and, for the first time in the A4 allroad quattro, a 2.0 TFSI petrol engine with 185kW/370Nm.

There’s also a 3.0 TDI with 200kW/600Nm that Audi Australia’s Shaun Cleary said is “on our radar”. At this stage the potential range-topper has only a 50-50 chance of making it here.

motoring.com.au drove both the 2.0 TFSI and 3.0 TDI in Europe in April.

The four-cylinder petrol and diesel cars confirmed for us will both be priced at under the Luxury Car Tax fuel-efficient vehicles $75,375 threshold.

The TFSI engine wasn’t offered on the outgoing B8 A4 allroad quattro because it would have breached the LCT fuel-efficient vehicles 7.0L/100km limit and so would’ve been taxed under the regular $63,184 LCT threshold.

At first glance, the allroad is just a A4 Avant with 34mm higher ground clearance, grey plastic wheelarch surrounds, more pronounced side sills and front and rear bumpers. You might also notice the allroad’s unique, single-frame grille with vertical chrome slats and satin silver roof rails.

What really sets the allroad apart, however, is its new quattro all-wheel drive system. The allroad is the first Audi to use Audi’s ‘ultra’ all-wheel drive.

In the new system clutches de-couple the centre and rear differentials during normal (front-drive) running. Audi claims that this set-up provides a significant reduction of drag and is almost 4kg lighter than the conventional centre-diff system.

Audi also says that the system has the electronic supervision that not only reacts to wheelslip but in some circumstances also predicts it, and gets into all-wheel drive mode in preparation for it.

The system’s control is fed data such as steering angle, lateral and longitudinal acceleration and engine torque every ten milliseconds. With this data, the control unit can predict loss of traction 0.5sec ahead of the event and engage drive accordingly.

The system is reactive only in cases of sudden loss of traction, such as when crossing from dry paved surfaces to slippery gravel or ice. Up to 100 per cent of torque can be channelled front or rear.

Drive is also apportioned differently with each drive select mode. In dynamic mode, for example, power is redistributed to the rear axle sooner and to a larger degree, improving handling, particularly when it’s slippery. A new mode is the offroad setting, where all-wheel drive is always engaged.

The allroad also has an S-Tronic transmission with free-wheeling mode like the A4 sedan and Avant for further efficiency benefits.

Audi has delayed the introduction of the ultra technology system in the diesel-powered cars, which continue with the Torsen centre-diff quattro system.

Aussie A4 allroad quattro specifications will closely follow those of the just-released A4 Avant. Key features include Audi pre-sense city with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Audi parking system plus front and rear with rear view camera, blind spot warning system, active cruise control and LED headlights and the MMI 8.3in high-res infotainment display with satnav.

The 2.0 TFSI will also be likely to have CDC suspension, a 180-Watt 10-speaker sound system with subwoofer, driver’s seat memory and folding side mirrors with heating, dimming and memory functions.

Both models have an inflatable space-saver spare wheel, due to the space restrictions imposed by the ultra technology AWD system.

On the options list you can expect to see some of the A4’s high-tech goodies such as the Matrix LED headlights and Virtual Cockpit.

B8 A4 allroad quattro sales have averaged 150 per year since the model was introduced in Australia in 2012. Last year 180 examples were sold.

Cleary said that Audi Australia was “looking for similar numbers next year” from the new model.