Seven-seat Audi SUV reigns supreme in highly respected industry awards category

Seven-seat Audi SUV reigns supreme in highly respected industry awards category

• Audi Q7 in SE specification announced as the 2016 judges’ Luxury SUV choice
• Available to order now with a 218PS or 272PS V6 TDI engine
• quattro all-wheel drive fitted as standard on all Q7 variants
• Comprehensive SE specification includes Audi parking system plus, pre-sense city, smartphone interface, Audi drive select, MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch, dual-zone electronic climate control and heated, electrically adjustable front seats
• Further enhancements for S line include all-weather LED headlights and dynamic rear indicators, 20-inch alloys, privacy glass and bespoke detailing inside and out
• Priced from £48,455 to £54,540 OTR

The eminently capable Audi Q7 and its blend of exemplary refinement, technological sophistication and comfort have earned it the seal of approval from the judges at Professional Driver magazine, who have crowned it this year’s Luxury SUV. 

The ringing endorsement was presented at the publication’s Car of the Year Awards, held last night in London. 

Mark Bursa, editor of Professional Driver Magazine, said: “The new Q7 is a neater, lower car than the original version, and our judges were full of praise for its car-like ride and handling, and excellent driving dynamics. 

The sat-nav system drew praise too, allowing multiple map displays on nav screen and instrument panel.”

A panel comprising over 80 members representing multiple disciplines, from private hire firms and chauffeurs to experienced motoring journalists, singled out the entry-level SE specification as their preference, which features a host of technology that is ideally suited to the chauffeur car role.

Making life easier for both driver and passengers is the raised ride height, Audi smartphone interface and MMI Navigation Plus with the MMI Touch handwriting facility for quick and intuitive navigation entries.

Other particularly suitable elements that single the Q7 out as an ideal candidate include the option of adaptive air suspension for a cosseting ride on every occasion, regardless of road condition, and various driver assistance systems that can take the strain out of travelling congestion and even save operators money in the long term. Two such examples are the adaptive cruise control with the integrated traffic jam assist function that can brake, accelerate and steer the car in traffic at up to 37mph, and the predictive efficiency assistant, which uses the route data not only to advise the driver of where they can lift off the accelerator, but is also capable of actively ‘freewheeling’ the transmission where possible to reduce consumption and enhance ride comfort.  

For even greater levels of refinement, power door closure is available and the windscreen and front side windows can be upgraded with heat and sound insulating glass in addition to privacy glass which is already fitted as standard on S line models.

In terms of infotainment, the Audi entertainment mobile provides an immersive experience for rear-seat passengers through two detachable 10.1-inch touchscreens that are capable of streaming content from a range of source including iOS or Android and Bluetooth, while the Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system provides a rich cinematic audio experience that is on a par with a concert hall.

Extensive testing over a full day is undertaken by the Professional Driver panel and involves a circular road route, taking in urban roads and motorway-standard dual-carriageways. The cars are then given a full walk-around scrutiny and on-board systems are comprehensively trialled.

Naturally, boot space tests are an important part of the process and the Q7 comfortably excels with a 770-litre luggage capacity that increases to 1955 litres with the third row of seats folded.

A power-operated tailgate adds to the convenience, and the third row of seats can also be raised or lowered in seconds electrically via buttons in the boot or the second seat row.

RHD versions of the Audi A4 Allroad Avant quattro will soon be available in the UK.

RHD versions of the first Audi to incorporate the brand’s latest advancement in all-wheel drive will soon be available in the UK

• Ordering expected to open in late April – pricing and specification to be confirmed at the same timewith first deliveries in June
• 2.0 TFSI with 252 PS will be the first engine to adopt quattro with ultra technology – more manual and S tronic Audi models will benefit in the future
• Permanently available all-wheel drive anticipates optimal power distribution
• Three stages of activation ensure no perceptible change from FWD to AWD
• quattro drivetrain with ultra technology saves 4 kg in weight

The same composure, controllability and reassurance with major efficiency gains – that was the goal during the development of an entirely new version of the legendary Audi quattro all-wheel drive system, and the all-new A4 allroad quattro is the first in line to reap its benefits.

The newly developed, permanently available quattro system with ultra technology will soon become available to order in the UK, initially in conjunction with the 252PS version of the 2.0-litre TFSI engine powering the latest A4 allroad. Three other TDI engine variants in the A4 allroad range will also open for order at the end of April, with first deliveries scheduled to begin in June.

Designed for Audi models with longitudinally installed engines, the revolutionary new technology delivers tangible benefits in terms of both fuel efficiency and CO2 output during every journey. Fundamentally, the system deactivates all-wheel drive when it is not needed, but ensures that it is also permanently and instantaneously available, significantly reducing the potential fuel consumption difference between the two drive configurations.

By using a highly intelligent networked sensor system that communicates with a multi-plate clutch and integrated decoupler on the rear axle, the A4 allroad can switch between front- or all-wheel drive in a split-second depending on the driving conditions.

Predictive all-wheel drive

The all-wheel drive system’s intelligent control works predictively, always looking ahead by means of a comprehensive array of sensors and the continuous analysis of the driving dynamics, road condition and driver behaviour. Consequently, the quattro all-wheel drive system is always ready when needed.

During standard operation at low loads without the risk of wheel slip, the new quattro technology taps into all the advantages of front-wheel-drive. Every ten milliseconds, the system acquires and analyses a wide variety of data, such as steering angle, lateral and longitudinal acceleration and engine torque to name just a few. If it determines that quattro assistance would be beneficial, activation of the all-wheel drive system follows a three-stage strategy: proactive, predictive, i.e. forward-looking, and reactive. 

On the proactive level, the focus is on the data delivered by the networked systems in the car. The control unit uses this data to, for example, compute the point when the inside front tyre will reach the limit of grip during fast cornering. The calculation is completed roughly 0.5 seconds in advance. If the wheel approaches the limit of grip to within a defined threshold, the all-wheel drive system is activated.

With predictive activation, the quattro control unit orients primarily on the driver’s style, the status of the ESC and the mode selected in drive select, and on the trailer detection system.

With reactive activation, which rarely occurs in practice, the system reacts to sudden changes in the coefficient of friction. These occur, for example, when the wheels go from dry asphalt to a sheet of ice.

Greater control with Audi drive select                                        

By hardwiring quattro with the Audi drive select adaptive driving system fitted as standard to all A4 allroad models, the driver can adjust the all-wheel-drive properties to suit his or her individual requirements. The auto mode in drive select provides the best possible traction and balanced driving dynamics. In dynamic mode, power is sent to the rear axle sooner and to a larger degree, improving the driving dynamics particularly at low coefficients of friction. Wheel-selective torque control – a software function of the ESC – smooths out the handling as needed by minimally braking the inside wheels.

Self-locking centre differential – zero lag                                      

The rest of the A4 allroad quattro engine line-up, comprising the 2.0 TDI with 190 PS and the 3.0 TDI with 218 PS or 272 PS, employs the acclaimed quattro drivetrain with a self-locking centre differential. It is configured as a purely mechanical planetary gear with zero lag. Oblique splines produce axial forces immediately when torque is transferred by the differential. These forces act on friction discs to produce a locking torque that diverts the torque to the wheels with the better traction.

During normal driving operation, the self-locking centre differential distributes the power asymmetrically, with 60 percent flowing to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front axle. This increases to a maximum of 70 per cent up front and 85 per cent to the rear when required. The high locking values enable a clearly defined distribution of torque and highly precise interaction with the control systems, such as the ESC and wheel-selective torque control.

34mm of extra ground clearance                                              

The Audi A4 allroad quattro has a long-established reputation as an outstanding cross-country performer, and facilitating its impressive on- or off-road ability is an increased ground clearance of 34 mm over the standard A4 Avant. An offroad mode can be selected using Audi drive select to make the most of this feature. Also available for when the going gets tough is optional adaptive suspension with damper control. As is customary for Audi allroad models, robust underbody guards and contrasting wheel arches create a rugged look in combination with a unique single frame grille design and model-specific air intakes and roof bars.

True to form, all A4 allroad models will come equipped with the same home comforts and up-to-the-minute technological features that already mark out the A4 Saloon and Avant. Highlights include xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, the Audi smartphone interface, rear parking sensors and electrically powered tailgate operation, plus protective equipment such as the Audi pre-sense collision avoidance system and multi-collision brake assist.

Standout options include the Audi Virtual Cockpit with its pin-sharp fully digital display, MMI Navigation plus with MMI Touch, a head-up display and Matrix LED headlights. A folding tow bar with electric release can also be specified, further adding to the impressive utility.  

The Audi A4 allroad quattro can also be ordered with one of the latest developments in driver asssistance: adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist. At speeds of up to 37 mph, the vehicle will accelerate, brake and steer independently, relieving stress on the driver in slow-moving traffic. As part of the driver assistance pack – tour, customers can also take advantage of the predictive efficiency assistant, which helps drivers to reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent by using navigation route data to adapt the cruise control system’s preselected speed to the route and the speed limits for the most fuel efficient and comfortable journey.  

AUDI 1 - First UK deliveries of the best-selling A4 Audi Avant are now underway.

First UK deliveries of the best-selling Audi Avant are now underway, bringing more space, more technology and more versatility

• New A4 Avant models available to order now priced from £27,300 OTR
• UK deliveries began in January - 1.4 TFSI examples expected from April 2016
• Class-leading 505 litres of seats-up luggage capacity, with a power operated tailgate and electrically retracting luggage cover as standard on all models
• Standard equipment highlights include 17-inch alloy wheels, Xenon or LED headlights with LED DRLs, Audi smartphone interface, Audi drive select, three-zone climate control and 7-inch colour MMI monitor
• Technology options include the Audi virtual cockpit, Matrix LED headlights and numerous new driver assistance systems
• Wide four and six-cylinder engine range with outputs from 150PS to 272PS
• Line-up includes new 2.0 TFSI with revolutionary combustion system and 2.0 TDI ultra efficiency champion with CO₂ from 104g/km in SE and Sport models
• All-new platform and redeveloped six-speed manual, seven-speed S tronic and eight-speed tiptronic transmissions

Space may be the final frontier, but for customers exploring the all-new, and newly available, Audi A4 Avant it is likely to be one of the first and foremost considerations. 

Fortunately the five-door version of What Car? Magazine’s 2016 Car of the Year proves to be a star in this respect, offering the most expansive seats-up luggage capacity in the premium compact executive sector to complement the quality, technological ingenuity and optimal efficiency for which the A4 is already renowned.

The even more versatile A4 can now be ordered at prices ranging from £27,300 OTR to £40,350 OTR, and retention of these original values is likely to be another important consideration for prospective purchasers. Here, too, the A4 Avant doesn’t disappoint, with leading trade guide CAP Monitor predicting that the majority of versions will achieve residual values that are either strongest in the premium compact estate class or unbeaten in the class.

As an example the A4 Avant 2.0 TDI ultra Sport 190PS – the expected best-seller in the range – is predicted to retain 40 per cent of its value after three years or 60,000 miles, ahead of its key premium sector rivals.

Class-leading luggage capacity

The all-new A4 Avant intelligently integrates a class-leading 505 litres of luggage capacity – extending to 1,510 litres with the seats folded – into a capacious interior that now affords even more head and shoulder room for front seat occupants and offers an increase in overall rear leg room compared to its predecessor.

All this can be enjoyed in remarkably hushed tones thanks to numerous aerodynamic and aeroacoustic advances, and in surroundings that exude a degree of quality and technological sophistication that far exceeds even the outgoing car, which was renowned in its own right for its outstanding fit and finish. 

All-digital Audi virtual cockpit

Among the technological highlights are the optional Audi virtual cockpit with its fully digital, absolutely flicker-free display, and optional Matrix LED headlamps capable of establishing and tracking multiple road users and illuminating the appropriate corridors of lights either side of them to maintain maximum visibility without dazzling other drivers.

Highlights of the options list also include a 19-speaker, 755-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system with 3D sound, Audi Entertainment mobile incorporating two detachable touch-screen tablet computers built into the rear seats, the Audi phone box bringing two separate Bluetooth connections and wireless smartphone charging* and MMI Navigation plus with a larger 8.3-inch monitor complemented by the MMI Touch fingertip-responsive touchpad built into the rotary controller.

These can be added to the three ‘core’ specification levels SE, Sport and S line, each of which offers either Xenon or LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights, along with features including three-zone climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors and the Audi smartphone interface, which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto platforms and displays smartphone contact and information such as navigation mapping on the A4’s seven-inch colour MMI screen.

There are also plenty of premium features that greatly enhance everyday use, particularly in the Avant which offers powered tailgate operation and an electrically operated luggage cover as standard.

Helped by outstanding drag coefficients of as little as 0.26 and a weight advantage of as much as 120kg compared with its predecessor, the all-new A4 Avant is appreciably more refined and up to 21 per cent more fuel efficient than its predecessor.

The Avant engine line-up will initially include a wide choice of 2.0 litre and 3.0-litre TDI engines with outputs starting from 150PS and rising to 272PS. The refined and responsive 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine at the entry point to the A4 Saloon range will also become available to Avant customers slightly behind the first phase in April 2016.

Twelve ultra variants

As in the Saloon, two versions of the 2.0-litre TDI engine with 150PS and 190PS power a total of 12 front-wheel-driven ‘ultra’ variants offering up to 70.6mpg with CO₂ output of as little as 104g/km – their frugality can be enjoyed in conjunction with both SE and Sport specification incorporating 17-inch alloy wheel designs.

The V6 TDI contingent starts with the 218PS version which played such a key role in securing What Car? Magazine’s Car of the Year Award for the saloon – here it returns up to 64.2mpg with a 114g/km CO₂ output when combined with Sport specification and front-wheel-drive.

To fully exploit the economy potential of this absolutely up-to-the minute engine technology, the powertrain and chassis of the A4 Avant have also been completely redeveloped. The six-speed manual transmission, the seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch (now also available for front-wheel drive) and the eight-speed tiptronic have been reworked, and in the process the automatic transmissions have incorporated a fuel-saving freewheeling function.

The inherent agility of the A4 Avant with its completely new platform incorporating sophisticated five-link fully independent front and rear suspension can be amplified further by adding a more intelligent and faster-reacting evolution of quattro all-wheel-drive as an option for 2.0 TDI 190 and 3.0 TDI 218 engines. The purely mechanical system with its self-locking centre differential is also a standard feature of the 2.0 TFSI 252PS and 3.0 TDI 272PS versions.

All models are available with suspension in either a comfort-focused state of tune or with a tauter and more sporting set-up – the latter is standard for S line versions but can be ‘deselected’ in favour of comfort suspension at no extra cost. For even greater emphasis on dynamic ability it is also possible to specify a dynamic steering system which varies its ratio according to speed and steering angle and adaptive damper control with a ‘sport’ bias for all versions. Adaptive damper control with a ‘comfort’ set-up favouring suppleness can also be specified for all versions bar the ultra models, which are exclusively equipped with sports suspension.

Where these options are fitted, their operating characteristics are configurable via the Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system, which is a standard feature across the range. Its Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Efficiency and Individual modes also have a bearing on the response of the throttle, the shift points of the automatic transmissions if specified and the weighting of the steering.  

Driver aids

The high quota of standard fit onboard technology can also be complemented by an array of the most advanced driver aids which can take the strain out of everything from reversing out of a parking space into fast-moving crossing traffic to enduring stop-start city driving. 

Drivers looking to maximise economy will also appreciate the predictive efficiency assistant, which helps drivers to reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent by using navigation route data to alert them to situations in which it would make sense to reduce speed, such as before bends, towns or speed limit signs that are not yet visible. 

The system can adapt the preselected speed to the route and the speed limits and also take over predictive control of the free-wheeling function of the automatic transmissions.

*Subject to phone compatibility

Model	Transmission	Specification	OTR pricing
A4 Avant 1.4 TFSI 150 PS	6-speed manual	SE Sport	£27,300 £28,250
A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI 190 PS	6-speed manual	SE Sport S line	£29,100 £30,050 £31,550
A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI 190 PS	7-speed S tronic	SE Sport S line	£30,630 £31,580 £33,080
A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI quattro 252 PS	7-speed S tronic	Sport S line	£36,930 £38,430
A4 Avant 2.0 TDI ultra 150 PS	6-speed manual	SE Sport	£30,550 £31,500
A4 Avant 2.0 TDI 150 PS	7-speed S tronic	SE Sport	£32,080 £33,030
A4 Avant 2.0 TDI ultra 190 PS	6-speed manual	Sport	£32,400
A4 Avant 2.0 TDI ultra 190 PS	7-speed S tronic	Sport	£33,930
A4 Avant 2.0 TDI  190 PS	6-speed manual	S line	£33,900
A4 Avant 2.0 TDI  190 PS	7-speed S tronic	S line	£35,430
A4 Avant 3.0 V6 TDI 218 PS	7-speed S tronic	Sport S line	£35,650 £37,150
A4 Avant 3.0 V6 TDI quattro 218 PS	7-speed S tronic	Sport S line	£37,080 £38,580
A4 Avant 3.0 V6 TDI quattro 272 PS	8-speed tiptronic	S line	£40,350