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By
EWAN KENNEDY
30 April 2007
Audi allroad quattro is back after an absence of several months.
Now in an all-new model based on the latest generation A6 Avant wagon.
It has been missing partly because the local importers were waiting for
the new model, but chiefly to give the new Audi Q7 the chance to
establish a name for itself with the Australian public.
The Q7 is, of course, a large, reasonably serious 4WD with some
genuine off-road ability. Because the Audi Q7 is a dedicated 4WD,
Audi has taken the opportunity to back off slightly on the A6
allroad concept from a 4WD point of view. Thus the allroad quattro
now sits about midway between prestige station wagons and full-on
off-roaders. The new model is also a little larger than the old,
with special attention having been paid to back seat space.
The good news is that the A6 allroad has superb refinement and
classy style that’s almost wagon like. The bad news is that the
allroad quattro is no longer classified as a truck under
Australian import regulations, this time around it’s a car. Thus
pushing its price up, to the extent that, at $106,000, it actually
costs more than its bigger brother Q7.
Audi Australia doesn’t see this as a problem, feeling the two
vehicles operate in different market segments.
In a very interesting move, Audi is only bringing diesel
engined versions of the A6 allroad quattro to Australia. At this
stage there's only the V6 3.0-litre turbo that we have already
admired in several other Audis.
Producing a hefty 450 Newton metres of torque all the way from
1400 rpm to 3250 rpm, this engine has plenty of urge for safe
overtaking and lazy hillclimbing. It’s also clean and
economical, with an ADR tested fuel consumption of just 8.9 litres
per hundred kilometres on the combined cycle.
Power goes to all four wheels by way of Audi's renowned quattro
all-wheel drive system. Normally the A6 allroad runs a 50/50 split
between the front and rear wheels, but this can vary between 25/75
and 75/25 depending on running conditions and the driver’s
demand by way of their right foot.
Air suspension not only gives a good ride over a variety of
surfaces, but also lets the driver choose from a variety of
settings that range from sporting, through all-road to
comfortable.
Additionally, ride height can be varied to suit surface
harshness, as well as to improve stability in high-speed running.
Maximum ground clearance is 185 millimetres so the allroad quattro
can be used on reasonably rough roads. Minimum clearance is 125 mm
and intended mainly for use on motorways.
The new Audi A6 allroad quattro comes with quality CD stereo
(though you have to pay more to make it MP3 compatible),
climate-controlled air conditioning, leather trim, as well as
automatic windscreen wipers and parking brake.
A DVD based satellite navigation is optional, as are an
upmarket Bose sound system, larger alloy wheels, dynamic
headlights and a rear-view camera for safer reversing.
Quality of finish is typically Audi. Meaning it’s close to
immaculate in all areas. The style both inside and out carries a
lovely blend of high-tech and ultra-modern. We love the cabin with
its simple, yet elegant, layout and have praised the ease of
driving. And the ease of use of the many facilities offered by the
car should be a lesson to some other makers.
Audi allroad is a pleasure to drive, or simply to travel in. It’s
refined and is able to eat up the miles with supreme ease.
Dirt roads were a major part of our test route in the far west
of NSW. Unfortunately, these surfaces again highlighted a problem
we have struck in the previous Audi allroad – flat tyres.
Ours was the second of four cars to get a flat, yet knowing how
delicate the road tyres could be we had been deliberately running
at speeds of only 80 to 100 km/h on the well-maintained dirt roads
to reduce the chances of stones cutting the sidewalls.
Tyres aimed at high-speed comfort on European motorways just
can’t hack it on Australian dirt roads, and the Audi allroad is
not the first alleged all-road machine with which we have had tyre
trouble.
Audi does sell accessory all-terrain tyres and we would suggest
these are mandatory if you want to explore the great Australian
outback. Note that there isn’t room for a full-sized tyre in a
spare-wheel well that’s designed for a space saver.
All of which is a crying shame, because the Audi A6 allroad
quattro’s dynamic ability on dirt roads is otherwise
staggeringly good. The car remains composed, comfortable and
immensely safe. Indeed, other than some additional noise you would
almost swear the Audi was being driven on bitumen.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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