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Off -road Audi A4. What for?

When in the middle of last year the first espionage photos of the A4 off -road version appeared on the Internet, I must admit that many had doubts that the Germans really would really make such a car? But they took and did. What for? Why? What is the meaning of this model? For answers to these questions, we went to the homeland of Audi in German Ingolstadt.
Audi had no off -road models and nothing. Ingolstads lived calmly and sweet. They looked like off -road segments and not at all. But in 2000, it was then broken down on the basis of A6 Avant the first Allroad appeared. In 2005, a huge Q7 was picked up the baton, last year the average size Q5 was born in the world and this spring in Geneva Audi showed A4 Allroad QUATTRO (the words AllloD and Quattro in Audi are written with a small letter).
Why did Audi make it? After all, the company has a wonderful Q5. Why off -road A4? And in order to more strongly seal the gaps between segments. But did the Audi have a stick? Will cars take customers from each other?
The power structure from the A4 offhrow went unchanged, but the filling and shell of mutations were subjected to fairly. On the perimeter of AlloD, received a body kit made of unpainted plastic, protecting the lower part of the body from aggressive gravel abrasive, and roof rails. The engine and the bottom gained additional protection. The suspension characteristics are revised, and the dynamic stabilization system is complemented by the ORD (Offroad Detection) mode, which at low speeds determines the type of road surface and selects the corresponding algorithm for ABS and ESP. The clearance is increased by 37 mm and is 180 mm.
A4 Allroad Quattro became noticeably higher than the usual station wagon. Accordingly, the center of gravity has also changed. To maintain the previous level of controllability, engineers had to expand the track by 20 mm. Also, to improve handling on the A4 ALLROD QUATTRO, it was already decided to put wheels with large 17-inch disks in the basic configuration.

A4 Allroad Quattro is controlled like an ordinary passenger car. There are no rolls at all. The steering wheel lists perfectly, demonstrating almost neutral rotation. Although under the gas, the all -wheel drive communicates with a driver with a light rear -wheel drive accent.
Yes, Audi, which has always been famous for an honest constant all-wheel drive (the thrust was traditionally shared between the axes equally) with the Torsen Interssex differential, has recently been given to its cars in-wheel drive habits. In the rear axle, 60% of the moment is transmitted to the rear axle by default (as soon as the differential begins to be blocked, this ratio instantly changes, and when completely blocking it becomes 50% by 50%). With this arrangement, the behavior of the car on slippery coatings becomes more predictable and safe. Under the craving in sliding under the influence of lateral force (in a bend or on a slippery transverse slope), the rear axle is first sent, it is known that the skidding will cope much more easily than with the demolition of the front axle.
I will not argue. An ordinary all -wheel drive station wagon probably behaves better on a serpentine, but we did not have the opportunity to compare two models on the same highway. However, the impressions of the civilian version, which had signed up somewhere on the subcortex, made it possible to think A4 Allroad Quattro is controlled no worse. So, Audi engineers, when creating a new Alleroud, completed the main task by improving off -road qualities, they retained excellent handling. Well, great. But what about inside?
It is not customary to save on the premium on materials. For its off -road models, audii makes no exceptions. The quality of the finish, as in the civil version of the fourth, is at the highest level. There are no complaints about ergonomics. Does it surprise you? We are not there either. From Audi you do not expect. In the basic configuration, A4 Allroad Quattro has the so -called ordinary chairs. And there are also sports that can be equipped in addition to the entire ventilation system, but ordinary seats perfectly hold the body in corners.

So far, cars with the only two -liter turbocharged gasoline TFSI, which produces 211 hp, will still be sold in Russia. (in the interval of 43006000 rpm) and 350 nm (in the range of 15004200 rpm). It will aggregate it with an automatic transmission S Tronic (analogue of the Volkswagen DSG) with two clutches. Cocktail what you need. You can’t say anything. 6.9 seconds to hundreds, maximum speed at a level of 230 km/h
Diesel A4 Allroad Quattro will not be supplied to us yet. It's a pity. The diesel engine is like good. Even the basic 2.0-liter TDI produces 170 hp. and 350 nm. A4 Allroad rides with him very decently. There are enough motors in the city and on the highway, although some lack of moment on the bottom is still felt. Hard environmental norms are affected, which have managed to ruin more than one engine.
And the three -liter diesel is completely a fairy tale. Judge for yourself: 240 hp. and the maximum torque of 500 Nm, which is issued by the engine in the interval of 1,5003,000 rpm. 500 Newtons are very cool, especially if the engine is paired with a seven -speed S Tronic. With this box, the car accelerates faster than with mechanics (0100 km/h for 6.4 s versus 6.6 s). Moreover, in the city of S Tronic it is also more economical, and almost a whole liter from every hundred kilometers.
In general, the economy in Audi paid a lot of attention. For machines with mechanical gearboxes and two -liter engines, two systems have provided that will help reduce fuel consumption. The Start-Stop system automatically turns off the engine even with short-term stops (at traffic lights in traffic jams) and starts it when clutching the clutch pedal. In urban mode, the system made it possible to play 0.2 liters from hundreds of kilometers. Well, not bad. However, not only nature will receive benefits from this system. Especially at the time she will have to be newcomers. If the driver, casually abandoning the clutch, suddenly drowned out the engine, he will not have to frantically look for and press the treasured launch button. In order for the engine to start again, you just need to re -squeeze the clutch. And that's it. Great?
The second eco -assistant, an on -board computer that issues a hint, what speed it is better to turn on at the moment. The hint intelligence does not dry out on this, if necessary, the electronic brain gives the driver and other recommendations, for example, to close the windows with a climate control of the new system not only helps the driver, but also reminds of responsibility, because about 30% of the fuel consumption depends on the control style of the car ,-rightly said in the press release on the occasion of the first test drive A4 AlloDa Quattro. However, we repeat once again, in Russia such environmental systems will be unavailable. At least for now.

Well? Down with asphalt? I did not demonstrate anything extraordinary A4 ALLROD on the ground. Of course, we tasted the off -road swallowed dust and bathed in the mud baths on a specially prepared highway next to Ingolstadt but but but but but but
The track, I admit, was not too non-road. The Germans only made it possible to feel that in Allownum you can overcome small leales and not even be afraid of diagonal hanging (interlocks of interprete differentials here, of course, does not help electronics, which, with the help of ABS, slows down the skid wheels). But at the same time, it was clear that with large overhangs and an 180-mm clearance outside the asphalt you need to be very neat. Although did someone plan to arrange Camel Trophy on this car? It is not created for this. His lot is a rural path to a country house. The heavy off -road four is not on the shoulder.
Without a doubt, the car of Audi turned out to be damn good. However, after all the enthusiastic words about the quality of assembly of the salon, rich configuration and powerful engines, it is time to return to the main issue. For whom is the car? For those who do not have enough money for Q5? The answer is negative! In Germany, Q5 is even less than the A4 Allroad Quattro. But those buyers who wanted to have A4 AVANT station wagon with all -wheel drive can easily be crossed towards A4 Allroad QUATTRO. After all, this is essentially the same station wagon with almost the same controllability, but only with great opportunities. And there is a lot of road clearance, as you know. Especially in Russia.
Competitors? And A4 Avant has them, in general, the class is ideologically closest except perhaps the Subaru Outback. But he is not from the premium.
There are no exact prices for Russia yet. But in Germany, A4 Allroad Quattro costs only 2000 euros more than a full-wheel drive station wagon with a similar power unit (the cheapest car with a 2.0-liter diesel engine will be the cheapest). And 2000 euros for increased road clearance and a more interesting appearance is a reasonable investment.