The Audi A4 was always an able car, but trust Audi to improve upon perfection. The best thing about the newly-launched 2012 Audi A4 is that it incorporates some of the finest technologies of its superior siblings?the A6 and the A8?making it such an irresistible option that the competition has to really work hard to beat it. And why not? The A4 is comfortable, sporty, has superb interiors and refreshing looks, boasts of a best-in-class fuel consumption, is gadget-loaded, and is arguably among the safest cars on Indian roads. It is even priced at a competitive R28 lakh.
But as is the case with Audi cars, there is just one thing that truly defines them?the engine. Unfortunately, on our roads, with plenty of stop lights and traffic jams, it gets really difficult to test an engine to its limits. Now what better place to learn what a car like this can do than on a race track, a Formula One at that! Where any car?s true potential can be utilised. I was among the few journalists who were taken to the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida near Delhi to have a feel of what this German car do. But before that, a few tech specs.
Among the various reasons the A4 has been able to win hearts in India?making Audi beat Mercedes as far as Indian sales go?is the engine options it offers. Audi has continued the same in the 2012 A4, which comes with three engine options?one petrol and two diesel. (The diesel option is a smart move, considering the soaring demand for diesel cars in India of late.) The A4 petrol sports the 1.8-litre TFSI engine, which is quite dynamic and robust. This one has a claimed mileage of 15.67kmpl. The A4 diesel comes with two engine options?2.0-litre TDI and 3.0-litre TDI. The 2.0 litre TDI engine produces a peak power of 143HP@4200rpm and a peak torque of 320Nm@1750-2500rpm. A claimed 16.7kmpl of fuel economy is delivered by the 2.0-litre engine. The 3.0-litre TDI engine produces an impressive 245HP@4000-4500rpm.
So coming to the actual drive, I drove the A4 petrol and it came out with flying colours, at least as far as the first driving impression goes. I sat in the car, put on my F1 helmet, belted up myself, felt the steering wheel, and floored the accelerator pedal. The auto gearbox works faster than you think and, before my body could feel the pleasant vibes coming from the suspension, the car was flying off to roughly 200kmph. As a matter of fact, I reached back to my starting position?and the track is roughly five kilometres long?in a bit more than two minutes. Do your math, the average speed comes out to be 150kmph. And I said average!
It was the famous ?straight? at the BIC where the car showed what it is capable of doing on highways. On that straight, I, not being an F1 driver but just a pretender, did a very comfortable 220kmph. And I say ?comfortable? because the car didn?t shake, didn?t steer away from the course, didn?t feel unsafe, and didn?t even make me feel I am doing one-fifth the speed of sound! If the performance is such, controls have to be better. And the A4 doesn?t fail. The brakes, again as far as the first impression goes, are quite capable, and even on hard braking, the car doesn?t skid one bit. In fact, hard braking doesn?t panic you, it actually calms you down with the realisation how easily the 1.5 tonne car comes to a stop.
If such excitement wasn?t enough, there was more in store for me in the form of a true F1 ?feel?; well, from the passenger seat though. Audi offered me a taxi drive with Karun Chandhok, India?s F1 driver and a well-known face in the F1 circuit. As soon as Chandhok took over the wheel and showed his driving abilities, I really came close to feeling what is described as a G-force, gravitational force to be precise, which acts on F1 drivers and is one of the reasons why F1 is among the most challenging sports on this earth. After doing two much quicker laps on the circuit, we were back to the pits.
Overall, Audi has once again come up with a product that the competition has to really work hard to beat. Tighten your seatbelts Mercedes! And watch out BMW!
