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From YourSITE.com Reviews & Road Tests Take something pedestrian and make it white hot… scalding even. That’s the theory behind DC-10, one of the wildest clubs on the Spanish Island of Ibiza - a small mass of land off the Spanish coast that’s synonymous with rave clubs and 24 hour partying. You see, DC-10 is, or rather was, simply an old hangar on the edge of the Ibizan aeropuerto. As is probably uncommon anywhere but Ibiza, something as boring as an old hangar begat an after hours rave location, begat an permanent club that’s attained legendary status amongst the throngs of partiers that flock to the white island every season. DC-10 is where the hardest of the hardcore go. Where a serious club might not close until early morning, DC-10 doesn’t even open until 6AM… the after-party of the after-party’s after-party. Yes, ‘day thay dieth’ as the locals call it, is merely an old hangar… and yet so much more.
Still, like that old Ibizan hangar, the wagon represents opportunity. It’ll haul four adults and plenty of gear, while handling and swigging fuel like a sports sedan. Like the locos who dreamed up DC-10, Audi helps reset the idea of what something simply useful should be and turns up the heat. Audi’s intent – make the A4 Avant a credible mode of transportation for the hip and nubile who might be found gyrating to the pulsing music any given Monday morning at this Ibizan dance club. Of course, wagons based on European sedans haven’t totally suffered from the cliché stigma of the Griswold Family Truckster. They’ve been more stylish than that, but entrants like the new A4 take this style to another level. Audi’s latest B8-generation Avant benefits from shared design elements with more overtly sensuous S5 coupe. Many cues from the low-slung two-door carry over such as the signature ‘tornado line’ crease in the sheetmetal. This trick bodily fold stretches from the edge of the car’s squinting LED daytime running lights, across the length of the car and carries over part of the taillight. Here, the disappearing crease functions also as rear spoiler for air as it slides down the skin of the Avant.
Inside the lavishness of previous larger offerings from Ingolstadt carries over into the new A4. Audi’s latest level of interior design has been applied to the A4 and material quality continues to impress. The nautical-feel center console bedecked with MMI controls was once only for executive class Audis. An expansive two-paneled glass sunroof with sliding fore panel and power closing rear gate were both first seen in the Q7, now making the options list for the new Avant. There are the aluminum-tracked trunk storage accessories carried over from the latest A6, while the optional Bang & Olufsen audio system uses much of the same components as the S5. Useful equipment such as an optional plug-in socket for adapterless electrical supply, a trunk cargo blind that raises without retracting and a reversible luggage compartment floor with recessed easy-to-clean plastic surface on one side offer a new level of functionality. The first generation A4 to make use of Audi’s modular longitudinal platform (MLP), the A4 Avant grows significantly in size. It’s both longer (4.6 inches) and wider (2.1 inches) than the outgoing A4 it replaces, but it’s also lower (.7 inches) and lighter, which helps to make it more fuel-efficient. The Audi is also larger than key competitors like the BMW 3 series Touring model (7 inches longer, .4 inches wider and .7 inches taller).
Sleeker and faster it may be, but only one in ten A4s sold today are wagons and that’s the deciding factor for American drivetrain selection of ‘anything you want’ so long as it’s a 2.0T quattro with Tiptronic. Audi points to streamlining drivetrain offerings in order to help American profitability and lower complexity to dealerships. We’re guessing the making of budgetary room for the new Q5 may have played a part in the car’s slim offerings as well. One sole drivetrain leaves something to be desired when competitors such as BMW offer four drivetrain choices in the equivalent 3-series Touring – one engine, rear or all-wheel drive and manual or automatic transmission in either form. Elbowing Audi over engine choice and manuals aside, the sole setup is still very impressive. Though the ‘2.0T’ name may be familiar, the engine under the hood is an all-new mill. Part of the Volkswagen Group’s EA 888 engine family, the new series is the brainchild of ex-Audi board member in charge of powertrain and now overseeing the same post for the whole Volkswagen Group. This particular 2.0T benefits from lower frictional loss and implementation of Audi’s Valvelift system – a variable valve control that allows for 5% better fuel consumption. This next-generation 2.0T is also good for added power, up 11hp and an impressive 51.6 ft-lbs of torque over the former.
Though Audi recently announced and a new 7-speed dual clutch DSG transmission, America will instead get an all-new and faster-shifting automatic. Audi of America officials say this is preferred by the American market in general, if not by the most ardent enthusiasts, and the new 6-speed will be the sole shifting option for the 2009 A4 Avant. On the island of Ibiza, we were able to test several drivetrain options in the A4 Avant, but none exactly the same as the American offering. Among the mix were a front-wheel drive 2.0T S-line with manual transmission and a quattro version equipped with Audi’s 3.2-liter V6 mated to a 6-speed manual and fitted with the variable Audi Drive Select system. Between the two, we were able to get an accurate enough read to set expectations for what we’ll get in Stateside in just a few months.
Beginning in the 2.0T, the considerable torque upgrade of the EA 888 series engine is obvious. With a front-wheel drive setup like our tester, spinning the two driven tires was no problem and almost a nuisance. Not as linear in delivery as a V6, the new 2.0T still pulls with as much authority once the wheels hook up with the road. Comparably, the 3.2 quattro we sampled was all poise. Permanent all-wheel drive systems like the A4’s quattro take the raucousness out of a launch short of a sidestepped clutch at redline, and even that’ll only net you a chirp. We weren’t driving the 3.2 for hard launches though, rather to see how a quattro with Audi Drive select handled.
On narrow winding roads above the Mediterranean, it’s apparent that the new A4 is markedly more dexterous than the old car. Even with the weightier V6 in the nose, the new A4 is clearly better balanced with the engine now lower and further back in the chassis. This more opulently kitted 3.2 may not have had the more sporting S-line package as our 2.0T specimen, but it did have the Audi Drive Select (ADS) system. ADS enables the driver to adjust engine and throttle mapping, suspension dampening and steering weight to predetermined Comfort and Sport calibrations or a custom driver-tailored configuration. On Tiptronic models like the ones we’ll see in the States, ADS also controls shifting patterns and this replaces the S for ‘Sport’ position on the shift gate.
As a whole the ADS system is a great, albeit likely expensive, option for driving enthusiasts. Comfort mode is smooth without being vague, and the Sport setting tightens things up without being obnoxiously harsh. Fast into some coastal mountain passes, we set the ADS on Sport and preceded to stretch the system’s legs. Push hard into a turn while staying on-throttle and the resulting understeer is expected, though lift off and the tail swings around with distinctive and controllable throttle-off oversteer… even with ESP still active. Deactivate the stability program and oversteer becomes even more pronounced. The A4 isn’t as nimble as the low-slung and inherently rear-wheel drive Audi R8, nor is it even as willing to rotate as a rear drive BMW 3-series, but it’s much improved over the outgoing A4 and it makes driving the car easier and the driver more of a hero.
Yes, the A4’s quattro system is split 40 front: 60 rear, but there was little chance to use this for steering the car on the hot dry pavement of Ibiza. On wet or snowy roads, this sure-footed system can be used by an experienced driver to make the car dance, but on dry public roads we recommend you think twice. The new A4 Avant arrives this fall with its sole 2.0T quattro Tiptronic 6-speed automatic drivetrain offering for now. Equipment configurations similar to what you see here are expected, with specific kit like Europe’s optional MMI setup as standard for America. Hopefully too we’ll also see the great-looking white perforated cloth sport seats of the S-line or the partial Alcantara surfaces of the 3.2 we sampled as well - handsome chairs all-round.
While Audi will admit that S4 and RS 4 versions of the Avant are being readied for Europe, the US will likely see see neither as a wagon. More plausible, Audi of America admits they’re considering an allroad version of the A4 Avant. Much less expensive to federalize if they stick to current drivetrains, a more rugged allroad version is expected to be a winner since similar cars like the Volvo XC70 outsell equivalent Volvo V70 models by a wide margin. If the A4 allroad is competitively priced, one would expect a similar dominant sales ratio over the A4. Diesel is another card Audi has yet to play with the A4 Avant. The German manufacturer has been surprisingly stingy with American drivetrain options this time around, begging the question of whether they’re saving their budget to federalize the upcoming 3.0 V6 TDI that’ll see duty in the Q7 early next year. Such a scenario would help justify the currently limited offering. Even better, 3.0 TDI versions that we’ve sampled are nearly as entertaining as the outgoing S4 while capable of turning MPG figures in the upper 30s.
Like the climate at DC-10, the new A4 Avant takes an old-but-functional space and turns it something infinitely cooler. There’s much to love about this new wagon even though the abridged drivetrain selection for America is somewhat disappointing. As I ponder the thought over a Hendrick’s and Tonic, I come to the realization that there’s a little bit of irony in this limited offering for America. Most in our group of Yanks visiting Ibiza in order to drive the A4 who might find ourselves at DC-10 are also likely a little limited ourselves shifting to the palpitating bass of local mix artist bootlegs. Hey, look! I can do the robot. Thump, thump, thump.
PHOTO GALLERY: 2009 A4 Avant 3.2 quattro MT6
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