Taming of an obstacle course in an Audi

Aditya Patel: The Q Drive gives people an opportunity not only to experience the Audis but to experience them in a rugged terrain, making it more than

Taking on gravity-defying obstacles in a real multi-terrain environment is not for the faint-hearted.

German luxury car manufacturer Audi recently organised the third edition of its flagship event ‘Audi Q Drive’, to give users a hands-on feeling of the company’s ‘meanest’ machines, the SUVs, and experience an exhilarating off-road driving adventure. 

Audi has always been at the forefront of engineering cars par excellence. From the zooming sports cars, commanding sedans, to the roaring SUVs, the Audi stable has charged the Indian market with a robust portfolio of magnificent steeds.

“The multi-city Audi Q-Drives establishes our connect with our target consumers and helps us explore the huge potential that India has to offer. Our luxury Q range of SUVs has been very popular in the land of quattro-India and the younger demographic has shown immense affinity for them even in smaller cities,” Audi India Head Joe King said.

The Q Drive, which was held in Bengaluru on December 20-21, brought Audi and automobile enthusiasts alike an opportunity to come and grab a chance to experience the superlative style, performance, and quattro technology of Audi’s premium SUVs — Audi Q7, Audi Q5, and Audi Q3. Each motorist had a chance to test some of the best SUVs in the market, and feel their superior build in real-time drive situations.

According to Gajanan Hegdakatte, Vice-President (Sales and Marketing) Audi Bengaluru, “We are happy to bring such a successful programme to our city once again. Numerous enthusiasts have the unique chance to enjoy the advantages of quattro technology in Audi SUVs on a natural off-road track.”

What differentiates Audi’s Q-series SUVs from the competition is the composition of their ‘quattro’ engine. The term ‘quattro’ translates as four in Italian. It is the sub-brand used by Audi to indicate that all-wheel drive (AWD) technologies or systems are used on specific models of its Audi automobiles. Quattro was first introduced in 1980 on the permanent 4WD Audi Quattro model, often referred to as the Ur-Quattro. The term quattro has since been applied to all subsequent Audi AWD models.

Clear, yet unclear

We reach the event venue, and before we get down to the drive, take stock. The track in front of us is clear, yet unclear in the literal sense. The rugged track has been specially laid for the drive, posing challenges at different levels to drivers. The track is roughly stretching across an area of around three km, and is made up of all kinds of off-road obstacles, such as a long-side trench, sidewall, slush pit, and a rock bed.

It should be a pleasure to drive through such a rigid track, testing the limits of our driving skills, and the cars themselves, is what we believe.

We seat ourselves in the compact Q3. There is that hint of nervousness, peppered with anticipation. ‘To drive or not to drive’ is the echo resonating out of every heartbeat. The first attempt to conquer the terrain is heady, nonetheless we move on.

To master the obstacle course one has to accelerate slowly at a snail’s pace, keeping absolute control on the steering wheel, and complete grip on the braking. With grit and added confidence, we trudge on steadily, and slowly lower the Q3 into the trench, only to find ourselves a little shaken. Though seemingly precarious, if not deadly, the car ensures that it is safe, along with its passengers.

We rise above the trench and approach a climb. Wait a minute! It appears easy from afar, but when you begin to drive along its slope, you realise it’s a stubborn adversary. Some things are just not what they appear to be!

Varied surfaces    

But the same cannot be said about the car, with the Q3 just packing enough or more punches, as it glides its way past one obstacle after another. We pass through the steep climb uneventfully, and the sudden incline of yet another steep climb makes us wary all over again.

The only mantra that one ought to repeat here is to be maintain focused acceleration and balanced speed as much as possible. Then comes the ‘Axle Twister’ obstacle, reminding us of the circus, where a daredevil rides a bike or drives a car in a circular motion on the wall of a well.

We assume it to be easy, but soon realise it is the most difficult obstacle yet. With a perfect convergence of ‘man and machine’, the Q3, with us inside, manages to defy the odds and drive through successfully, even as two wheels of the car are hoisted in the air.
The obstacles offer a true sense of what off-roading might be, if not of the most hostile conditions. But in the quattro-pumping Audi, it all seems too easy. We also drive the Q5 and Q7 and the experience is all the more exciting.

“The Q Drive gives people an opportunity not only to experience the Audis but to experience them in a rugged terrain making it more than ‘just another test drive’. This also provides us a great platform to showcase the quattro technology as well as the various other special features provided by the Q range of Audis,” said racing driver Aditya Patel.

Comfort for the driver and safety of everyone else inside the car is the hallmark of German engineering, and Audi is a testament to that.