Nonetheless, hooking the stalwart 3.2-litre pumphouse up to Audi's world famous quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) technology
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| Audi's world famous quattro all-wheel drive technologyreceives power through a 6-speed Tiptronic autobox. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
through the Tiptronic autobox unites the three units into a fully connected drivetrain capable of launching the Avant on wet roads with nary a spinning wheel and out of tight turns with unearthly traction. Much of my time in the Avant's cockpit was spent negotiating rain-soaked, darkened streets, so I quickly developed affection for the tenacious grip generated by the 17-inch diameter rubber glued to each corner of the pavement. Capitalizing on the grip is a fully independent set of underpinnings attached to a very rigid chassis structure - something difficult to achieve in wagon layouts. The resulting handling dynamics speak the language of "sports car" rather than the less expressive dialect of "wagon." The resistance offered by the Avant's Servotronic speed-sensitive power steering is nicely calibrated to be joyfully light during parking duties but substantively resistive at cruising speeds.
Dipping slightly into the throttle during a turn will usher the Avant around with mind-warping stability, due in part to the torque headed to all four wheels and the car's well-balanced chassis setup. Should things take a turn for the worse,
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| ABS-equipped 4-wheel discs are enhanced by Electronic Brake-PressureDistribution (EBD) and hydraulic Brake Assist (BA) to maximize stoppingpotential. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
Audi's Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) will intercede with wheel specific braking and engine mitigation to urge the car back in line; and are those brakes ever powerful. I swear they operate more by thought process than actual foot action. It takes very little pressure to instantly pull the wind from the Avant's sails. The 4-wheel antilock disc brake arrangement is buttressed with Electronic Brake-Pressure Distribution (EBD) and hydraulic Brake Assist (BA) to maximize stopping potential. I was very impressed with the Avant's wet road, emergency-braking ability. Full-force grinds from 100 km/h to zero were precise, free of de-stabilizing nosedive and drastically short given the undesirable road conditions beneath the Avant's Michelin all-seasons.
Should the Avant's Herculean brakes and ESP fail to side-step a collision, its host of standard airbags - which consist of driver and front passenger frontal airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags plus head protection airbags for front and rear occupants - are sure to
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| The A6 Avant's collection of airbags is discreetly hidden in one of the most attractive, well-constructed cabins available in any wagon. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
cushion the blow. Rear side airbags are optional. This collection of inflatable protection is discreetly hidden in one of the most attractive, well-constructed cabins available in any wagon. Interior quality has long been an Audi strength, and the Avant is a true example of this fortitude. My long-legged frame fit nicely into the heated, 12-way power operated primary seat, however given my druthers, I would like to see adjustable pedals in place of the fixed set. Rear seat legroom remained commendable behind the driver's perch regardless of how far rearward I powered it back, which would have not been as far if adjustable pedals were present.
