Audi A4 Sedan car review: Tech sells

Audi's philosophy is 'Advancement through Technology'. It's not hard to see why when one of the factory's engineering gurus gives you a presentation on the latest and greatest technical innovations that the new A4 has to offer.

The new A4 has similar looks in comparison to the previous model but has been designed to create a new sporty impression. The athletic stance is achieved by reducing the front overhang and increasing the bonnet length.

Stretching the wheel base has allowed for more interior occupant room, rear legroom has improved slightly but is still restricted by the central drive train tunnel. There's room for the golf clubs as well with a 480 litre boot which is larger than any of its direct competitors.

Weight savings give the obvious benefit of a better power to weight ratio, but it also has the benefit of decreased fuel consumption. A target manufactures like Audi must sometimes struggle with given customer expectation of high performance and specification levels. Of the two petrol power units available the 1.8 litre in-line 4 cylinder is turbocharged with electronic intake camshaft adjustment while the 3.2 litre V6 is the only normally aspirated engine available.

In total, an average fuel saving of 13% has been achieved over the previous model for the petrol models while the diesels achieve a reduction of 6%. Audi's version of the Constant Variable Transmission (CVT) called Multitronic is used on the 1.8 litre turbo and both diesels and can cleverly imitate eight gear change patterns while a super smooth six-speed tiptronic auto is used on the 3.2 litre quattro permanent four wheel drive model.

Apart from the quattro, where the torque split is 40:60, drive on both the diesels and petrol models comes via the front wheels. In a piece of engineering mastery and with no apparent costs spared, the differential has been moved further forward in the driveline from the previous model, by interchanging its position with the clutch or torque convertor. This has enabled the front axle to be repositioned further forward allowing for the axle loads to beideallybalanced.

To add further to Audi's fascination for everything high-tech, two optional technologies are on offer. One of them is the Audi drive select control system, with which the driver can adjust the operating characteristics of the engine, automatic transmission, steering and adaptive suspension damping to suit their individual preferences or driving conditions by the push of a button. The big assumption here is the driver really knows which setting is best in what could be constantly changing driving environments.

When asked this question, the technical expert present at the press launch commented that while the system was designed to allow the driver to change the handling characteristics of the vehicle, built-in safety margins ensure the car is never allowed to step outside of certain parameters.

The other optional package is Audi dynamic steering which varies the steering ratio according to road speed. At slow speeds or when parking full lock will be reached with less than one turn of the steering wheel, while at high speeds the steering becomes much less sensitive.

In addition, the system can automatically override the drivers intended steering wheel angle when the vehicle is close to its handling limits and the stability control system is activated. The driver is totally unaware of the change in steering angle in this condition. The technology in this superimposed gear system helps reinforce that the Audi philosophy is indeed alive and well.

All models come standard with electronic stability and traction control, six airbags including a front passenger airbag key deactivation system, auto headlights, rain sensing wipers, fog lights, rear parking aids, cruise control, leather multifunction steering wheel, trip computer and a split folding rear seat.

Impressive technology in all facets of the cars construction makes the Audi A4 a very good package for those with the coin to buy new.

Exercise 4.Answer the following questions:

1. What is Audi’s philosophy?

2. Is the new model similar to the previous one? Name the differences if there are any.

3. What did the expert say about the safety margins of the car?

4. What does the standard model include?

Exercise 5.Explain the words in bold.

Exercise 6.Give English equivalents of the following:

Уменьшать, натяжение, условия вождения, меняющийся, быть идеально сбалансированным, встроенный, позволять.

Choose any three words or expressions to make your own sentences.

Exercise 7.Give synonyms of the verbs:

To buy, to include, to allow, to reduce, to add, to offer.

Exercise 8.Complete the following sentences.

1. Stretching the wheel base has allowed …

2. This has enabled the front axle …

3. One of them is the Audi drive select control system, with which the driver can adjust …

Exercise 9.Make up a plan to the text. Retell the text using your plan.

Text B.

Exercise 1.Read the text. What is the form of it? Prove your opinion.

Sometimes the obvious things in life are completely underappreciated. For instance, say your career has been rich and rewarding in all ways, including monetarily. So for you, buying a $90,000 luxury sedan isn't a stretch. But which one do you buy? The obvious choice is, naturally, a Mercedes-Benz S500. But that takes some of the fun out of the equation, since rear-wheel-drive cars tend to feel sportier-even if that's purely sensory and doesn't reflect real-world handling stats-and allow the driver to use the throttle as much as the wheel to steer the car around turns. Nope, we wouldn't suggest that anyone plunking down 90 large for a luxury sedan would find himself carving S-turns around fluorescent cones at the weekend auto-cross circuit, but just because you want an ultra-comfortable Interstate cruising machine doesn't mean you don't want the car to feel alive. And that's precisely how the S500 seems; quicker from corner to corner than you'd ever expect; grippy, with minimal interference from traction control; and mighty fast from 90 mph to 110 mph on the open road-just in case you happen to be feeling frisky. Should You Buy This Car?

Of all the reasons to want the S500 4Matic over its competition-all-wheel drive but rear-wheel drive feel; faster than the Audi and more nimble than you'd ever expect; Mercedes cachet – let's add one more: thoughtfulness. Remember how we said at the start of this piece that the obvious things often go unappreciated? However, the level of complication is simply nowhere near as befuddling as you'll find in the Audi or BMW. And you can drive the S500 4Matic without fiddling much at all, should you choose. For instance, if you want to adjust the suspension settings of the S500 (like the Audi, it has an air system to stiffen or soften the ride) you can do so via a button on the dash. Tap once for a firmer ride, tap twice and the chassis feels like it's traded rubber tires for steel ones – it's a bit too firm, in fact, much the way we'd characterize the firmest setting in the Audi. The difference: The Audi's suspension settings are buried in the LCD interface, so if you suddenly find yourself on a lovely new twisty road, dialing up a stiffer suspension just isn't going to happen as quickly as it will with the Benz.

HIGHS: Smooth, comfortable, quiet and fast – and Mercedes prestige.

LOWS: Slightly numb steering; $90,000 isn't pocket change.

Exercise 2.Answer the following questions:

1. Do you know any other highs and lows of this car?

2. Would you like to have such a car? Why/Why not?

3. What is your favorite car model?

Exercise 2.Read the text once again and think of a suitable title. Explain your choice.

Exercise 3.Find Passive Voice constructions in the text. Translate the sentences into Russian.

Exercise 4. Divide the text into parts and give them appropriate headings. Make notes under each heading. Retell the text using your notes.

Exercise 5.Role play the following situation: you’re at a car presentation. Everybody in the group represents a car producer and makes an advert of his or her car model. Choose the best presentation.

TEST

Choose the right variant:

1. A device that works on the same principle as a car engine is_____________.

a) a nuclear submarine b) a jackhammer c) a spud gun

2. A crankshaft’s job in an engine is to: ___________.

a) deliver fuel to the cylinder

b) change linear motion into rotational motion

c) keep cylinder heads in place.

3. A car’s engine uses a series of small, regular explosions to run. It doesn’t move in stops and starts because _________.

a) the muffler dampens the explosions

b) the crankshaft stores energy and releases it slowly

c) there are multiple cylinders, and the explosion in each one happens at a different time

4. There are three basic failures that can happen in an engine: bad fuel mix, lack of compression and __________.

a) lack of exhaust b) lack of water c) lack of spark

5. A turbocharger is _________.

a) a set of gears that makes the wheels turn faster

b) a turbine that compresses the air traveling into the engine

c) an injector that delivers fuel to the engine faster

6. When you turn the key to a car, the starter motor ________.

a) sends electricity to the spark plugs, starting ignition

b) sends electricity to the fuel pump, forcing the car to start

c) spins the engine a few revolutions, starting the combustion process

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