In the years leading up to World War Two, the British made a big push to develop radar. This new technology gave the outnumbered Royal Air Force the advantage they needed to defeat the German Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. As it was, the "Chain Home" early warning radar system built around the British Isles kept the Germans at bay.
For the past 25 years, Audi has had their own "Chain Home" in the form of their Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Quattro has given Audi traction and performance advantages that other front- and rear-drive makes simply did not possess.
However, Audi has recognized that its one time advantage is being threatened by brands from Acura to Volvo; all offering AWD cars of their own. To regain its advantage, and despite being all-new in 2002, Audi has just launched a new A4 improving in areas that car zealots should appreciate.
Despite a substantial exterior restyling that incorporates the new corporate shnoz, the 2006 A4, really isn't "all-new". In fact Audi says 60% can be considered different from the previous model.
Internally, dimensions are unchanged and the only noticeable differences are the horse collar trim on the steering wheel pad that mimics the new front grille and there are now real, honest-to-gawd cupholders in the front console.
My biggest complaint with the last gen A4 was a lack of immediacy to the driving controls. It always felt that the front weight bias and the AWD were conspiring real drivers out of having some fun. The first drive in my A4 2.0 T Avant test car, even with the Tiptronic box and no sports package, had me updating my previous A4 database. The new car can definitely now be filed under "Fun to Drive."
Why? For starters, dissimilar to the old 1.8 four banger, which needed revs to make the turbocharger do its job, the new 2.0-litre mill is there--all the time. The trio of direct injection of gasoline into the combustion chamber, the turbo, and a relatively high 10.5:1 compression ratio all are to credit. The 207 pound-feet of torque is available at your toes from 1,800 rpm to 5,000 rpm.
As with the last A4, there's a six available. This time it's a new 255 horsepower 3.1-litre ($50,230), but Tiptronic is mandatory making the $8,000 premium questionable. If power and money are not a concern, but you still need the utility of a wagon, there's also the new A4-based 340 horsepower 4.2-litre vee-eight S4 Avant ($71,100) that is in a totally different league.
But you don't need to step up the uber-S4 to enjoy the driving improvements that Audi has applied to all 2006 A4s. Audi has retuned the shocks and mounted them with large rubber bushings to better isolate suspension noise from the cockpit. And to improve stability steering responses when you're out for a Sunday morning cobweb dusting, the A4 has added several mounts as well as the stiffer track rods from the front suspension of said S4.
The previous A4's lack of immediacy has disappeared. The front end turns in more readily and the steering has more feel, almost as much as a rear-drive car like BMW's 325 xi Touring ($44,400). No doubt, understeer is still prevalent, but not as obtrusive. And Audi has dialled back its Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) so experienced driver's can play at the edges. Or if you really know what you're doing, it can be shut down completely, not something Mercedes-Benz will allow in its C 240 4MATIC Wagon ($47,610).
For the past 25 years, Audi has had their own "Chain Home" in the form of their Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Quattro has given Audi traction and performance advantages that other front- and rear-drive makes simply did not possess.
However, Audi has recognized that its one time advantage is being threatened by brands from Acura to Volvo; all offering AWD cars of their own. To regain its advantage, and despite being all-new in 2002, Audi has just launched a new A4 improving in areas that car zealots should appreciate.
 |
| 2006 Audi A4 2.0 T Avant (photo: John Cooke - www.straight-six.com) |
Internally, dimensions are unchanged and the only noticeable differences are the horse collar trim on the steering wheel pad that mimics the new front grille and there are now real, honest-to-gawd cupholders in the front console.
My biggest complaint with the last gen A4 was a lack of immediacy to the driving controls. It always felt that the front weight bias and the AWD were conspiring real drivers out of having some fun. The first drive in my A4 2.0 T Avant test car, even with the Tiptronic box and no sports package, had me updating my previous A4 database. The new car can definitely now be filed under "Fun to Drive."
Why? For starters, dissimilar to the old 1.8 four banger, which needed revs to make the turbocharger do its job, the new 2.0-litre mill is there--all the time. The trio of direct injection of gasoline into the combustion chamber, the turbo, and a relatively high 10.5:1 compression ratio all are to credit. The 207 pound-feet of torque is available at your toes from 1,800 rpm to 5,000 rpm.
As with the last A4, there's a six available. This time it's a new 255 horsepower 3.1-litre ($50,230), but Tiptronic is mandatory making the $8,000 premium questionable. If power and money are not a concern, but you still need the utility of a wagon, there's also the new A4-based 340 horsepower 4.2-litre vee-eight S4 Avant ($71,100) that is in a totally different league.
 |
| 2006 Audi A4 2.0 T Avant (photo: John Cooke - www.straight-six.com) |
The previous A4's lack of immediacy has disappeared. The front end turns in more readily and the steering has more feel, almost as much as a rear-drive car like BMW's 325 xi Touring ($44,400). No doubt, understeer is still prevalent, but not as obtrusive. And Audi has dialled back its Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) so experienced driver's can play at the edges. Or if you really know what you're doing, it can be shut down completely, not something Mercedes-Benz will allow in its C 240 4MATIC Wagon ($47,610).