Audi's dynamic duo shine

Audi is often the forgotten Germanic auto maker, with the two big boys, Benz and BMW, doing most of the talking. The next question you need to ask yourself is why?

Audi cars are of the same standard as those seen from its rivals - typical German engineering with an emphasis on build quality, comfort and control, whose engines are reknowned for their reliability, too.

You can't attribute it to the lack of tradition or heritage: the four iconic rings of the Audi badge symbolise the four car companies who merged in 1932 (Audi, Horch, Wanderer & DKW).

But perhaps 2002 is to be Audi's year. With the new A4 Cabriolet just launched in Europe and the stunning RS 6 to be unveiled at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show in March, the German marque could well outshine its brothers.

First we'll take a look at the new A4 Cabriolet, which isn't just a gap filler. No. This new Audi is just the tip of what the company expects to be big business in the coming years - a "whole new generation of classic open-air motoring."

With a more sporty look to it, the A4 Cabriolet replaces the the ageing Audi Cabriolet, first sold in 1991. The biggest difference with the new Cab is interior space. This new convertible is being touted as a car that seats four adults comfortably. We'll reserve our judgement for the Melbourne Auto Show, where the car will make its first Australian appearance, but if it does seat four adults in comfort, with the top down, it will already have a lead over almost all of its rivals whose main drawback is just that - limited space.

Audi decided to go with an electro-hydraulic roof and heated glass rear window as standard equipment, continuing that acoustic insulation is seconds to none. Interior styling has also received plenty of attention, with an overly sporty fit and finish.

On the outside, the well-defined, round wheel arches and the basic line of the silhouette are reminiscent of the characteristic design features of the current A4 series. The Cabriolet’s design is also characterised by a scrupulously economical approach. No swage lines or edges interfere with the dominant flat, taut surfaces and expansive arches.

When it comes to convertibles, the engine is not the most important aspect, but still a vital issue to consider when deciding on which car to buy. With this in mind, Audi have done well, offering two distinc engines that will slot into the new A4 Cabriolet: a 2.4 and a 3.0-litre V6. The 2.4-litre six-cylinder mill offers spirited performance, with 125kW @ 6000rpm. With a variable intake manifold, DOHC and camshaft adjustment, the spritely V6 creates some 230Nm @ 3200rpm and should run from standstill to 100km/h in just over nine seconds.

The 3.0-litre V6 shakes out a more potent 162kW @ 6300rpm and 290Nm @ 3200rpm. This adds up to a blood-stirring 0-100km/h run of just 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 238km/h. Not bad, eh? Both engines will be mated to multitronic transmissions, which allow you to drive them either as manuals or an autos. Audi is keen to push the fact that both engines offer heaps of pulling power low in the rev range, good for everyday commuting, not just afternoon coastal cruises.

Offering a fairly impressive 315 litres of baggage space with the roof up, you still get an astonishing (for a convertible) 246 litres of room when driving open-air. Annually, AUDI AG plans to produce 15,000 units of this new car and two thirds of the total are destined for export markets, including Australia. The new A4 Cabriolet will be launched in Australia in late October 2002.

Now this is the big news: Audi will lift the veils off one of its most maniacal road cars ever built - the RS 6. To be first shown at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show in March, we've got all the details for you right here.

The first thing that came to mind when we initially looked at all the data were a few little comments: "560Nm!", "Twin turbos!?", "Four-wheel drive?" and "Loss of license."

Indeed, Audi has come up with a car that is powered by an engine that threatens to overtake 12-cylinder Mercs on the autobahn. There is talk of some 20 units heading to Australia in 2003, which would be nice, though no price has been announced.

The nomer 'supercar' is being bandied about when the conversation topic turns to the RS 6, and rightly so. At the heart of this generic-looking family car is one of the coolest (it's got 2 intercoolers) engine's ever built. Firstly, its got five valves-per-cylinder, intake camshafts with hydraulic adjustment and two-stage intake manifolds to help deal with the forced induction and the brutish power henceforth available.

The 'biturbo', as Audi calls it, comprises a 4.2-litre V8 with twin turbochargers, one for each bank of cylinders, enhanced with another two intercoolers. It was specially designed for the RS 6 by quattro GmbH in close collaboration with Audi AG's engine development works located at Neckarsulm. Specially designed indeed, as there's not many mass-production V8s over 4000cc that can reach 6400rpm and not blow a gasket.

It achieves a permanent maximum power output of 331kW (450 bhp!) between 5700rpm and 6400rpm. Peak torque is an eye-watering 560Nm! Even more mind blowing is that such a huge chunk of acceleration is available across an extremely wide range of engine speeds, from 1950rpm to 5600rpm.

And thanks to its four-wheel drive transmission, it converts such an evil amount power into a rather tasty 4.9 second 0-100km/h sprint. The word impressive just doesn't quite cut it here. Furthermore, it takes the RS 6 some 18 seconds to reach 200km/h. Gulp.

Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h, which is a good thing. Who knows how fast this bad-boy would go without one... The adapted engine management is another key aspect of the RS 6 engine's power. The Motronic ME 7.1.1 operates with boost pressure, knock and exhaust-gas temperature control. A sexy-looking dual-branch exhaust system with larger-section pipes satisfy the EU3 emission standard while offering a melodious exhaust tone. Other refinements include the upper section of the air cleaner, which is made from a carbon fibre composite material, together with a carbon fibre cover over the front section of the engine compartment, not only making it lighter but also easier on the eye.

To maintain the emphasis on an overtly sporty driving style, the tiptronic five-speed automatic transmission for the RS 6 incorporates a dynamic Sport program. The 'S' drive position on the one hand pushes each individual gear up to higher speed at full throttle, and on the other hand permits swifter downshifts. Depending on the level of lateral acceleration, the transmission management can adjust the shift points upwards. This avoids undesirable gearshifts on a bend and takes the hassle out of riding the clutch for more ponies.

The RS 6 driver can of course also operate the transmission manually, either by briefly pressing the selector lever or by pressing a shift paddle on the steering wheel, a la Formula One cars. When the driver operates the shift paddle, his choice of gear overrides the driving program currently in use.

In keeping with the car's high performance, quattro GmbH has developed a completely new brake system for the RS 6. Large brake discs of a composite design have been fitted on both the front and rear wheels. This technology, which originated in the world of motor sport, involves fixing a cast friction ring to an aluminium brake-disc chamber by means of 14 pins. This "floating" arrangement improves the stability of the brake discs, particularly when exposed to extreme loads and at high operating temperatures.

The ventilated, perforated disc brakes have a diameter of 365 millimetres at the front, and 335 millimetres at the rear. The grip is achieved by means of insane eight-piston brake callipers at the front and single-piston floating callipers at the rear. The parameters of the ABS system and the electronic brake-force distribution system have been specifically redefined for the high-performance brake system.

With such gargantuan disc brakes, the RS 6 needs plenty of room to house them. 18-inch wheels create space for the generously dimensioned brake system: 18-inch cast aluminium wheels of nine-spoke design are fitted with 255/40 R 18 tyres at the front and rear. The vehicle is also available with 19-inch alloy wheels as an optional extra. The 19-inch aluminium wheels, with the new five-arm design, come with 255/35 R 19 tyres.

As well as Recaro sports seats with leather upholstery and a three-spoke sports steering wheel with shift paddle, the standard specification of the RS 6 includes heated seats, a "concert" stereo with Bose sound system and the Acoustic Parking System to facilitate parking. The standard-fit passive safety equipment includes airbags for the driver and front passenger, side airbags at the front and the Audi Sideguard head-level airbag system.

To quote Keanu Reeves of The Matrix fame, "Woah..."

Audi has gone all-out to show the world what it's capable of and, by the looks of things, that turns out be quite a lot. Audi Australia Managing director, Graham Hardy, had this to say: "The RS 6 is the absolute pinnacle of the A6 model range. We believe that the combination of absolute supercar performance with the high levels of luxury associated with the Audi brand will find favour with an exclusive number of Australian buyers.

"The handcrafted nature of this vehicle builds on Audi's reputation for superb quality and design, albeit subtle, to maintain exclusivity for owners. We plan to import around 20 RS 6 saloons into Australia next year, although pricing and specification has not been finalised," Mr Hardy added.

So there you have it... The intriguing and classy Audi A4 Cabriolet and the here's-my-license-officer Audi RS 6 will go a long way in redefining Audi's position as one of Germany's top automakers. Let's not forget the freaky-looking A2, either, which could deliver many more sales in the highly-contested compact car segment.