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THE Audi
A4 has always been tagged as a direct rival to the BMW
3-Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but rarely made
a top-of-mind dent on motorists for one reason or
another, despite major technological advances.
To make sure that the A4 will become THE
choice in the premium compact-sedan class, PGA Cars took
a select number of journalists to Subic (including the
Subic International Raceway, or SIR) and back to Manila
using the current iteration of its volume seller.
A
prominent aspect highlighted by PGA Cars of the B8
(chassis code for the new A4) is its fuel-sipping
ability, manifested on the drive from PGA Cars to the
Petron station in Subic and back. Journalists drove the
A4’s two variants—a 1.8L four-cylinder turbocharged
fuel-injection (TFI) version, and a 2.0L four-cylinder
turbodiesel injection (TDI) model—using their normal
highway driving methods, with the air con’s blower speed
subject to occupants’ discretion (and comfort
requirements) and rarely going over 140 kph. The results
posted were impressive—the tandem of BusinessMirror
motoring columnist Andy Sevilla and Philippine Daily
Inquirer motoring columnist Andre Palma achieved 24.16
km/liter in the 2.0L TDI, while Philippine motorsports
legend Pocholo Ramirez bested all in the 1.8 TFI variant
with a 19.92 km/l consumption rate.
This can
be attributed to the technical progress done with the
A4’s new modular longitudinal platform. PGA Cars claims
that the car is more rigid and safer than the previous
A4, totes a drag coefficient of 0.27 and carries a
480-liter trunk-loading ability that is arguably bigger
than that of others in its class.
Upon
reaching the SIR, scribes then put the A4 (specifically,
the 141 hp/320 Nm 2.0L TDI) through its paces on the
track’s weekday setup, plus a slalom section installed
by head marshal Kookie Ramirez. On the straights, the A4
effortlessly reaches 120 kph without one knowing it,
thanks to the vastly reduced noise, vibration and
harshness levels that are significantly better than the
previous model. Toss in an eight-speed automatic with
Multitronic manual mode and the A4 gets a
close-to-perfect balance between outright power and fuel
efficiency.
On SIR’s
left-hand hairpins and slalom course, the A4 provides
Ginsu knife-sharp handling despite the use of
electric-power assist. Quick science lesson: Normally,
electric power-assisted steering (EPS) reduces feedback.
On hydraulic power-assisted steering, when you hit a rut
or bump, the power-steering fluid inside the steering
column gets in flux. The result is a magnification of
the force sent to the wheel, then to the steering
column/steering wheel and to your fingertips.
On the
current A4, the Audi Dynamic Steering with EPS features
a rack that is now mounted low in the engine bay’s front
AND close to the front wheels, providing more
direct-steering action. The steering wheel goes from
lock to lock in just 2.2 turns, so it responds to inputs
quickly and relays information back from the ECU
(electronic control unit) with added clarity. Less
corrections on steering-wheel movement on hairpins and
medium sweepers are more evident than in the previous
model, helped immensely by the Continental SportContact
2 225/50R17, which provided better road feedback than
the Dunlop tires commonly shod on the
B7.
In
creating the interior, Audi has not overlooked what was
arguably one of the B7 A4’s key selling points—supreme
quality that makes more expensive cars look cheap in
comparison. Few interiors seem as well conceived and
constructed. The detailing is highly impressive,
especially the controls for the MMIS (Multi Media
Interface System), which has a wide range of functions,
including toggles for the sound and lighting systems.
Increases in dimensions, major attention to interior
(and exterior) detail, plus noise, vibration and
harshness reduction make the new Audi A4 a major forward
advancement. On second thought, make that a major
(A4)ward advancement. |
