2009 Audi A4 First Impressions

Active steering
I did manage to put Audi's new Active Steering system to the test. Here's hoping Canadian buyers will be able to get this feature as a standalone option, just like in Europe. What a marvel! Usually, by placing my hands at 9 and 3 o'clock, my arms get tangled up when trying to go from lock to lock and completing a slalom course with the A4. But with the new system, I was able to cut the wheel rotation by 50 percent over the same course.

Highlighted view of Audi's Active Steering system.

Likewise, on a partially wet track, I performed an emergency braking maneuver at 80 km/h and the car was brutally pulling toward the dry section, even though traction control was turned on. However, with a second A4 equipped with Active Steering, the system automatically corrected the car's path. That's great news for Canadian drivers, who will benefit from an extraordinary driving aid on slippery surfaces caused by rain, snow or ice. Technically, the system relies on an elliptical gear mounted inside the steering column: by way of an electronic impulse, it monitors the steering wheel angle and the pressure applied by the driver in order to bring the car in the intended path by over-rotating the steering mechanism. The result is amazing: the A4 is easier to drive and also much safer. The system will only activate when the required effort exceeds a certain level.

See you next year!
Being a 2009 model, the new Canadian A4 will arrive in dealerships in September 2008. Rest assured, this new Audi is well worth the wait. Crafty and comfortable, it will deliver a huge blow to the competition -- be it German, Italian, American or Japanese.

The latest generation of the highly popular sedan will exceed all your expectations.

Photo Credit : Audi, Amyot Bachand