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2009 Audi A4 Avant: Seduction in a Wagon
Welcome to the world of Audi by way of one of the sportiest wagons you’ll find on this side of town. Yet, it accomplishes all the traditional duties that wagons are geared for. Hauling sporting equipment, small furniture, groceries, pets and more. And it does it in a way where you feel more like a beach baller than a soccer parent. So we traveled to the seductive island of Ibiza off the coast of Spain to experience the key attributes of the all-new Audi A4 Avant in its truest form.
Audi’s Avant clan consists of the A6 and the A4 which both inherit style and DNA from the A6 and A4 sedans. From the passenger and driver positions you will not notice a thing. And even when driving you won’t notice you’re in an Avant. Its structural rigidity is parallel to the sedan while quattro AWD and an exorbitant amount of performance and safety technologies enhance the Avant’s ride quality. And attention to detail has always been an Audi prerequisite when it comes to interior and exterior design. The A4 Avant’s style is a combination of dynamics and power. The vehicle’s lines are more coupe like than wagon like, while its frontal view identifies its sleek “Egyptian eye” Xenon headlamps with adaptive cornering and LED daytime running lights. It also features the massive grille which first debuted on the A8. The electric opening and closing tailgate has a spoiler which not only adds a taste of class but functions to provide downforce on the rear of the Avant. Even the tailamps which are narrow from the middle of the tailgate and widen towards the outside feature a thin spoiler for airforce along the side of the vehicle. Dimensions have been increased from previous model by 4.72” (length) while weight has been reduced by 10% using “intelligent” lightweight steel and aluminum in places like the suspension.
Ibiza, with its striking landscapes, adventurous roads and centuries-old towns was well suited for evaluating the A4’s key functionalities whether it was the need for quattro for the sandy beaches, “Servotronic” steering for tight city turns, or “Parking Assist” for tight maneuvering in parking spaces. The latest generation quattro permanent AWD normally operates with 60% of its torque powering the rear wheels while 40% is distributed to the front. When called for, most of the torque is distributed to wheels with most traction. A perfect example was my venture deep onto one of the beaches along the Mediterranean. The sand was soft so the traction kept jumping from wheel to wheel. Quattro figured it out and made sure to pull the vehicle to the main road after my meditational inquiries with the sea.
Back on the roads, the vehicle showed off its athletic inheritance with a cadre of features via Audi’s “Drive Select,” which influences the engine, transmission, suspension, and steering for better performance depending on road conditions. The driver can choose Comfort, Auto or Dynamic mode for specific comfort ability. In town, the streets were narrow and cornering was tight. This is where the Avant’s new steering system (Audi Dynamic Steering) came into play. It varies steering ratios depending on the speed of vehicle, inevitably affecting the driver’s input. Less steering effort is needed for city driving while more precision is offered on winding roads. With Audi’s MMI (Multimedia Interface) drivers can compile their own profile from 24 options including Audi Lane Assist, Audi Side Assist, Audi Drive Assist (4th “individual” mode) etc. MMI and its 6.5” display also houses and controls the DVD and voice operated navigation, audio systems, Audi Parking System with rearview camera, and much more. Audio is powered by the Danish home and entertainment company Bang & Olufsen. And though I respect their product the sound quality is not on the top of my charts. The system doesn’t have the power and range I expected.
Inside, the A4 Avant is as delectable as the rest of the Audi lineup. Seductive leathers and finishes mix with futuristic controls, lighting and unique touches. Audi further enhances the interior with Bluetooth, iPod connectivity, a reversible load liner in the rear, a load securing kit and railing system (keep objects from sliding around), large cup holders in the doors, multifunction steering wheel, a 115 volt power outlet for laptops and more, and a neat sunglass holder.
For the U.S., the Avant will be available with two FSI direct injection gasoline engines. The first being the 2.0 TFSI four-cylinder turbo producing 211-horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The second and more playful engine is the 3.2-liter V6 with 265-horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. Transmissions include a six-speed manual transmission, “Multitronic” and six-speed “Tiptronic.” I enjoyed perusing the town while listening to conversations in Catalan about my Misano Red Avant which drew lots of attention.
Available this fall, expect pricing to compete with the outgoing model which ranges from $28,000 to $38,000.
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