Ian Dickson writes
Audi, like most manufacturers, holds regular catch-up events around the country for journalists to get reacquainted with its products.
I attended one a week or so ago set in the stunning location of Walton Hall, Warwickshire, a beautiful stately-home-cum-manor-hotel that Audi took over for the benefit of its launch. Sadly, I was too busy to stay the evening, but I did make full use of the impressive fleet of new Audis at my disposal.
Here are my thoughts ahead of official road tests due on the site soon.
Audi A5 Sportback
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Cynical at first about this car – why buy one over an A4 I wondered? But in the metal it’s got serious presence. I went straight to the boot first and the hatch makes it hugely more practical than an A4 saloon and more pleasing on the eye than an A4 Avant. I tested first the stop-start 2.0 TDi. Makes a lot of sense this car with low emissions and fuel bills, handy if you commute regularly in heavy traffic. It’s a punchy engine too, using the latest common rail diesel technology to extract 170bhp and 54.3mpg.
I also had a spin in the 3.0 TDI, heading near £50k with a load of options, but a lovely machine indeed and very nicely appointed inside, though I found the centre console not constructed of the highest quality materials…
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