Audi Allroad Quattro

2001 March: At the Melbourne Motor Show. Given that Audi developed the original Quattro for rallying c1981, it is astonishing that it took the company so long to get around to the Allroad idea.

The alloy wheel design is rather fussy with double "spokes" which will be difficult to clear of mud. There is good interior room and the seats are very comfortable with electric adjustment every which way.

4wd.sofcom.com/Audi/Audi.html

2001 February: The Audi Allroad Quattro attempts to compete with the BMW X5 4x4, Mercedes Benz M-class 4x4 and Volvo XC 4x4 - the very up-market soft four wheel drive segment.

The Allroad has a 2.7 litre V6 twin turbo engine, as offered in the A4/ S4 and A6 but here in a mild state of tune: 184kW and 350Nm at 1800rpm - 4500rpm. 6-speed manual and 5-speed tiptronic automatic gearboxes are offered. The Quattro four wheel drive system incorporates a Torsen limited slip centre differential. Uniquely for an Audi, this one has low-ratio gears (1.54:1). The suspension is independent all round with air bag springs, which are height adjustable (BMW and Merc' should get around to this!). The driver can choose between four height settings, giving from 142mm to 208mm ground clearance, and the car lowers itself automatically at highway speeds for stability.

Tyres are 225/55R17W "developed in co-operation with two leading tyre manufacturers."

Standard feautes include ABS brakes, electronic stability program (ESP), multiple (front and side) airbags, electronic differential lock, 6-disc CD player, xenon headlights, and cruise control.

• Audi Allroad Quattro 2001
• station wagon, 5-seats, 4-doors, multiple airbags, ABS brakes, ESP
• loa: 4810mm, width: 1852mm (body), height: 1551mm (roof rack)
• wheelbase: 2757mm, track: 1574mm/1585mm, grnd clearance: 142mm - 208mm
• weight 1795kg - 1825kg, GVM 1425kg - 2455kg, towing 750kg (unbraked)
• 2671cc V6, petrol (95 RON), dohc, twin turbo chargers, intercooled, 5-valves/cyl
• power: 184kW at 5800rpm, torque: 350Nm at 1800rpm-4500rpm
• transmission: 6m/5a, full-time 4WD, hi- and lo-range
• suspension: indep/ indep by air-bags, brakes: disc/disc ABS ESP
• tyres: 225/55R17W, fuel-tank: 70L
• competition: BMW X5, Mercedes Benz M-class, Volvo XC
• price: from $99,250 ($au 2/2001)

4wd.sofcom.com/4WD.html

2000 November: The Allroad was at the Sydney show. Australian vehicles get the 2.7 litre V6 twin turbo and 5-speed tiptronic gearbox - set for an Australian launch in early 2001, priced from $99,250.

2000: The Audi Allroad Quattro, shown as a concept car in 1998, goes on sale in Europe with a petrol 2.7L V6 twin-turbo engine (184kW) as in the Audi S4, or a 2.5L V6 twin-turbo TDI diesel (132kW). The production model came out at the Geneva Motor Show, Feb' 2000. The news from Audi (au) is: The [petrol] Audi allroad quattro will be launched in Australia in the final quarter of 2000. [This date later slipped to 1st quarter 2001.] There is no pricing available [yet]. We would hope to show the vehicle at the Sydney Motor Show for the first time in November this year [-4/2000].

The manual Allroad Quattro has an option of a dual-range transmission. Being a "car" at heart, it has independent suspension, of course. To increase ground clearance on rough tracks it "offers four-level air suspension".

4wd.sofcom.com/4WD.html - go to the 1998 and Audi pages
Pictures by Audi