Drum Magazine Issue 4 | Page 46

44 Drum: WHEELS On The Road Audi A4 Convertible 2.5 V6 TDI 140 mph, 0-60 in 9.9 seconds 163 bhp at 4000 rpm, 310 Nm at 1400-3600 rpm Fuel Economy: 39.2 mpg combined Max Speed: Torque: Converted to Diesel have a confession to make writes Drum motoring correspondent, Karl Williams. I love diesels. You might not be aware of it, but the days of noisy, smelly diesels are long gone. Testament to this is the fact that Mercedes has just shoehorned diesel engines into the bellies of its SLK and SL sports cars, making them the most powerful in their range. I Similarly, the new 21st century Audi 2.5 V6 turbo diesel has brought us a purring, sweetly refined engine that is vastly superior to what you may be used to. Let’s cut to the chase, ‘Vorsprung Durch Technik’ is all about stylish, solidly built, well-engineered cars and this one won’t disappoint. Yet again don’t think, “Diesel, uhoh, slow!” Oh no, it’s got plenty of poke on the go, what with 310 Nm of torque, which is more than any petrol variant in the range except the 4.2 V8, betwe en 1400-3600 rpm. That’s a lot of low-end torque, offering a great spread of power across a very wide rev range, just right for take-off with a variable turbo engine. But it’s the multitronic gearbox and the sound of the glorious V6 diesel under acceleration that adds cream to my coffee. It’s quite docile and smooth around town but when you fancy a shake down, just park the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) auto box in the manual shift and let that engine sing as it gathers momentum. The suspension has been lowered on the cabriolet for more stability, and combined with the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) it makes for good steady progress with little or no wind noise and shuttle shake to mention. This sport model came fully loaded with satellite navigation, electric and heated front seats, xenon lights, and auto box. The combination of a diesel engine and an automatic gearbox makes so much sense. In many ways ‘frugal’ springs to mind, especially if you run your own business. In a car of this size and performance, 0 to 62 in 9 seconds, and with a top speed of 140 mph, you may want to sell those shares in that Iraqi oil well