6 techie features and the mobility of Audi A4

MANILA, Philippines — There are SUVs, sedans, Pickups and small entry-level cars  — and then there is the Audi A4. What sets this sedan apart for me is how the cars are equipped with tech features that make it a gem to drive.

On the onset, let me state that Audi A4 is made with its groundbreaking synthesis of technology and aesthetics. All the technology in Audi’s A4 has been redeveloped so as to redefine the benchmark in the segment.

Display and operating concept

When I stepped into the cockpit, I was immediately impressed with the many features that said, “This is a techie to me.” Let me count the ways. For me, what is love if not a car loaded with lots of tech features that work.

1. Driving the Audi A4 is an intuitive adventure because of its new Audi MMI display and operating concept. Because of the optional Audi virtual cockpit, a fully digital instrument cluster, there is a graphic form on its high-resolution 12.3 inch LCD screen with brilliant resolution, a high level of detail and carefully calculated effects.

2. The MMI operating concept in the center console acts as the main control element. A touchpad is integrated in the MMI control panel for the infotainment system, the MMI navigation plus with MMI touch and 8.3-inch monitor. It can be used to zoom in and out as well as to input characters.

How cool is this system? A screen rises in the center of the cockpit and there are keys in the console that you let control theme. This means that, at a moment’s notice, I was able to see exactly what the Audi A4 was doing — and in visual form, too. How cool is that?

3. The MMI control logic is similar to that of a cell phone, including the intelligent free-text search function. Now here is where the cell phone wielding techie in a broke into a smile. The knobs where as easy to control as the ones on my cell phone. And the best part, it didn’t take me three uses to get the hang of out — just driving down EDSA was enough to make me an expert. And for any techie person that was truly wonderful. For what makes a techie gadget really techie to me — is my ability to learn how t use in one the fly. Let’s face it, if we need to take three days to get the hang of our cell phone then it isn’t any good right. More so the knobs and lever in a sedan — we should be able to become familiar with them as soon as we step into the cockpit— and that’s how it was in the A4.

4. The new, natural voice control system can also recognize easily understandable input in everyday language, such as: “I want to call Peter Miller.”

Ease of use cannot be overstated. So when a techie system in the car can be controlled with a simple voice system and simple words, it can only mean easy driving.

5. The new Audi A4 also has an intelligent park assist system that allows for a totally hands-free experience. Park assist let’s the vehicle steer itself into a spot, easing the burden off from the driver’s shoulders.

There was the ease of parking. But blame it on my need to be sure that there are no scratches on the car when I return it. I only tried this system once — and it worked.

6. The new Audi A4 is among the safest cars in its field of competitors. The European consortium Euro NCAP has awarded it the top score of five stars for adult and child safety as well as for pedestrian protection.

Safety, is what Audi equips all it cars with and the A4 is no exemption.

It also gave the Audi A4 the “Euro NCAP advanced” special award for its standard-fit multicollision brake assist system and for the Audi pre sense basic system, which is available as an option. Multicollision brake assist automatically brakes the Audi in the event of an accident, thus reducing the danger of skidding as well as the risk of further collisions. Audi pre sense basic tightens the seat belt in hazardous situations leading up to a collision, and closes the windows and sunroof.

Drive on

To love: The techie cockpit of the Audi A4

All that tech testing I had done while I sat in the cockpit was in the driveway of my home. It was time to take this baby for a spin. As always, I had set my sights on somewhere close‚ Tagaytay.

The plan was to have brunch there, as I was famished from all the work I did at the office the night before.

But, as is my wont, I kept all the controls as they were when I got the A4 to test just how easy it is to fix on the fly. As I entered into C5, I started to fumble with the control and to fix them as I like — I was disappointed. Not only did I fix them as I wanted, I was able to do this as I was driving and my thoughts on the work I had done the night before. Mutitasking, sort of.

The Audi A4 was all ready and so was I.

I drove down the SLEX and unto Sta. Rosa and into Tagaytay’s Bag of Beans for some bread and a can of an ice cold softdrink.

The Audi A4 is 4.73 meters long with a 2.82-meter wheelbase and it runs very confidently stands on the road. The flowing design with concise lines communicates the sporty elegance of Audi. The Singleframe grille is broad and flat. 

The dimensions of the new Audi A4 have increased compared with the predecessor model, yet the unladen weight has decreased significantly­—by up to 110 kilograms, depending on the engine version. The body is the lightest in the competitive field because of an intelligent mix of materials and lightweight design.

There was nothing that day that could dampen my mood that morning.

Cool Tagaytay weather, cool eats and a cool, cool Audi A4.

Time to drive to Anya Resort Tagaytay for an interview with its GM Mikel Arriet to discuss the eco-sustainability of the resort for Tagaytay and his plans for the coming years.

Let’s go.