2017 Audi A4 allroad: A Closer Look at Engineering

Introducing the 2017 Audi A4 allroad

Audi recently announced the specs for the 2017 A4 allroad. As you can tell from the press release, the German automaker included a plethora of additions and alterations to this year’s model in order to improve the look, performance, and overall driving experience of their luxury, sport wagon.

While the 2017 Audi A4 allroad will be fitted with the Virtual Cockpit, Apple Carplay, a sizeable increase in horsepower, additional ground clearance, as well as a newly-tuned, five-link Offroad Suspension system, the most radical change accompanies one of Audi’s flagship features: the all-wheel drive, quattro system.

Innovating a Mainstay: quattro with ultra technology

The quattro system first appeared in Audi vehicles during the early-80s. With its inception, Inglostadt began manufacturing (and, subsequently, became known for) their permanent and continuous all-wheel drive vehicles.

With the roll out of the 2017 Audi A4 allroad, the quattro’s fundamental concept has radically altered. Now billed as the quattro with ultra technology, it seamlessly modulates between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive based upon the vehicle’s immediate needs. Better fuel-efficiency and lower emissions are the result of (and reason for) this shift, according to Audi.

A February 2016 Product Communications guide offers a highly-detail explanation of how the new system works. But, in short, quattro with ultra-technology aggregates data from a network of sensors throughout the car to calculate proper levels of displacement between all four wheels.

Engineers separated these processes into three categories: proactive, predictive, and reactive. With the proactive quattro activation, for instance, the switch from front-wheel drive to all-wheel drive occurs “roughly 0.5 second prior” to its need. Yes, that’s right: the data and sensor system will engage all wheels in fractions of a second before they’re needed.

Car magazine offers a helpful FAQ-style article delving deeper into the details of the new, ultra technology. For anyone buying a 2017 Audi A4 allroad (or planning on purchasing a new Audi with quattro all-wheel drive after this summer), this overview is a must read.

Embedded within the article, though, is an Audi-produced product video. Check it out below:

Since the 2017 Audi A4 allroad has not hit showroom floors yet, I have not been able to test drive one. Having said that, I did drive the 2016 Audi allroad to Denver’s Highland neighborhood in March. And frankly, in my opinion, it’s second only to the A7-series in the Audi fleet. Especially for Denver, Front Range, and Colorado drivers, an all-wheel drive sport wagon makes a lot of sense. And compared to its chief rival, the allroad is a far more appealing ride.

The first review of the 2017 Audi A4 allroad offers a glimpse of a “cutaway model of the new drive train with ultra technology [and] its highly-efficient trans axle” at the 1:37 mark, along with a description of how it functions.

A Round-Up of 2017 Audi A4 allroad Walk Around Videos

Excepting the above video, though, most online outlets have not posted reviews of the 2017 Audi A4 allroad; although, several “walk around” videos have popped up on YouTube. While they don’t contain commentary about the vehicle’s ride, handling, and performance, they provide viewers with some wonderful images of this gorgeous wagon. Watch them below:

As you can tell from the above videos, the allroad looks slick on the inside and out; likewise, it appears to handle well on both unpaved roads and the highway.

On a closing note, I found this video from the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit to be, well, hysterical. While the car is a beauty, the commentary from the narrator makes you wonder how he received his press credentials:

When walking along the right-front side of the 2017 Audi A4 allroad, the speaker touches the gray cladding covering the wheel arch at the 00:46 mark and says: “To go with the allroad, you have this above the wheel.” Then, at the 1:03 mark, he says: “The wheels on this are 19 inch wheels, and they should be able to do all kinds of things.” I mean, knowing the names of basic components and having the ability to explain their function should be a rather low benchmark for any car journalist.

If you fast forward to the 3:19 mark, the speaker sits in the back passenger seat and touches the carbon fiber inlays by the door handle and notes: “A nice chrome finish along the door.” It’s difficult not to get snarky, at this point, as the difference between carbon fiber and chrome is excruciatingly evident.

To top it all off, he completely botches his presentation of the integrated display unit. At the 4:58 mark, he slides his finger across the screen in order pull up another menu. The problem, of course, is that the LCD screen is not a touch-screen. At the 5:07 mark, he finally gives up, saying: “Hmm. It doesn’t want to play around with me.” Priceless. While plenty of high-quality video reviews exist online, these second-rates ones tend to be pretty good for guffaws and chuckles.

For a final look at this amazing vehicle, check out the Audi-produced trailer for the 2017 A4 allroad:

Prestige Imports: Denver’s dealership for the 2017 Audi A4 allroad

If you’d like to find out more about the 2017 Audi A4 allroad, give Prestige Imports a call at (833) 825-5423 to speak with one of our Audi Brand Specialists. Likewise, you can stop in to test drive a 2016 Audi allroad by visiting our dealership. We’re located at 9201 West Colfax Avenue between Wadsworth and Kipling.