All-New Audi A4 Preview
10/2/2007 – 10/5/2007
All-Wheel Drive in a Swanky Package
Fall is finally here: Crisp cool mornings, sugar maples glowing red in the saturated afternoon light, pumpkin spice lattes, and bedtime stories next to the fireplace. Just around the corner is an entire season of soggy socks and mittens littering the mudroom and, my personal favorite, the daily six-mile, 8 a.m. drive to school over patchy black ice.
As a single mom with two daughters, I hardly feel the need to rush out and buy a huge behemoth of a four-wheel-drive SUV to transport my estrogen-laden clan to and from charter school. I’d like something in a manageable size that’s strong and feminine, safe and functional, and stylish enough to take out on date night (you know, in all that free time I have between mom-ing and Mother Proof-ing.) And, living in Colorado, I simply must have all-wheel drive.
The brand-new Audi A4 and A4 Avant with Quattro all-wheel drive just might be the answer for me — a slightly less-expected answer than that deliciously crunchy Colorado standard: Subaru. A good portion of my preview session in the A4 — which just debuted at the Frankfurt auto show — was dominated by my driving partner, a young road test editor from a certain muscle mag which shall remain nameless (but if you really must know, it begins with an “R” and a “T”) who drove like such an idiot I got car sick. Still, I managed to get the inside scoop for my dear readers on some of the new and notable features of this A4, which is so new it won’t even go on sale in this country until next fall.
The sporty ride was a total blast on the fall-color-laden mountain roads we drove (well, it was a blast while I was driving, anyhow). In addition to being fun to drive, the A4’s ergonomics were perfectly comfortable for lil’ ol’ me on the long ride. I always felt in complete control of the car. On the highway, I appreciated Audi’s side assist system, which illuminated lights on my side mirrors when another car was riding in my blind spot — ugh, make your move, already! After experiencing Audi’s Lane Change Assistant, a system that causes the steering wheel to vibrate slightly to let me know when I’ve swerved outside my designated lane, I was bummed to find out that this system will not initially be available in the U.S. Those Europeans get all the good stuff. What’s up with that?
Other notable features in the A4 (well, notable for Mother Proofers) include a self-opening trunklid that keeps your hands free to actually load the cavernous trunk with pumpkins from the pumpkin patch; advanced keyless entry and start, so you won’t have to dig those keys out of the bottom of your purse; Bluetooth telephone interface, so you can call the school to let them know the weather is making you late — yes, again, and you really don’t need to rub it in; and a rearview camera to help you avoid backing over trick-or-treaters while pulling out of the driveway.
I’d love to keep going, but all this talk of pumpkins is giving me a craving. I’m off for a pumpkin spice latte at the local coffee shop. Come meet me and I’ll fill you in on the rest of the dirt.
Comments
C'mon Frank, everyone knows that VW's are chick cars....wait aren't Audi's just tarted up VeeDubs? Nevermind.
Regardless the last few years of Audi's have been absolutely drool-worthy. A neighbor up the street recently got herself upgraded from a Chrysler minivan to a smokin' rusty red A6. That is a gorgeous car. Been envious ever since she got it. Now the new A4's have the new LED headlight treatment and all sorts of ticket earning goodness. So fabulous.
Posted by: HDC | Oct 20, 2007 12:45:40 PM
How exactly is it a chick car? Kristin, was your test Audi lavender? I guess THAT would make it a chick car.
Posted by: Sara Lacey | Oct 20, 2007 5:08:00 PM
helo i am shpetim form can you hac jaguar 2008 ok send to my emil ok .... italiano-sh@hotmail.com
Posted by: jaguar | Oct 23, 2007 7:21:35 AM
A Member of theCars.com Family
Subscribe
This is the epitome of a chick car.
Posted by: Frank | Oct 19, 2007 5:13:05 PM