News coming in from the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit is exciting as the new Audi A4 allroad quattro took to the stage with a sharper design, striking front end and a typical “allroad” look. Its quattro drive as standard and the 34 millimetre gain in ground clearance make it the perfect automobile for every situation – including away from paved roads. The available engines are powerful but also efficient: They deliver an output of up to 272 hp. High-end options such as the Audi virtual cockpit and the MMI navigation plus with the new MMI operating concept underline the level of comfort and convenience offered by the new Audi A4 allroad quattro. The diverse Audi connect services link the driver and passengers with the internet via the high-speed LTE standard. There is also a comprehensive range of driver assistance systems. Particular highlights include the predictive efficiency assistant, adaptive cruise control Stop&Go including traffic jam assist and trailer assist that makes it easier to manoeuvre the outfit.
High range, swift refuelling, sporty road performance: The technology study Audi h‑tron quattro concept demonstrates the huge potential of fuel cell technology. This model, which Audi is unveiling for the first time, has all-electric drive – using hydrogen as its energy source. It combines state-of-the-art fuel cell technology delivering up to 150 hp with a battery that provides a temporary boost of up to 136 hp. Two electric motors on the front and rear axles represent a new evolutionary level of quattro drive – the electrified quattro. The electric motor on the front axle develops 122 hp, and its rear counterpart 190 hp. The sporty SUV accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under seven seconds. Its hydrogen tanks can be refuelled safely and easily in around four minutes; a range of up to 600 kilometres is possible. The Audi h-tron quattro concept also provides a foretaste of the technologies for piloted driving and parking that will go into production in 2017 with the next generation of the Audi A8 full-size saloon. Piloted driving at Audi revolves around the central driver assistance controller (zFAS). It computes a model of the car’s surroundings in real time and makes this information available to the assistance systems and the piloted driving and parking systems. The latter can assume driving tasks during parking or in stop-and-go traffic on motorways at speeds of up to 60 km/h.
The NAIAS 2016 is the first event in the United States at which Audi is presenting the A4 Saloon* to a wide audience. It builds on the success story of the high-volume model with new cutting-edge technologies on board. It redefines the benchmark for weight, aerodynamics, acoustic comfort, storage space and driver assistance systems. Highly efficient engines, the safe and sporty quattro drive and extensive connectivity are other virtues of the new Audi A4 Saloon. Audi complements its operating and display concepts with even larger displays and a new interpretation of joy of use. At the Detroit show, an interactive interior model is used to evoke a concept based around large screens with touch control. Haptic feedback is provided every time an option is selected, making touch control car-friendly, safe and convenient.
