Not Just On Paper?

It’s all new and it promises to deliver to us on road as it does on paper. The Audi A4 will soon be in showrooms across India. Does it stay between the lines or does it push the boundaries? We’ve been to Bhubaneswar to find out.

- Jim Gorde

PUSHING THE LIMITS IS NOT an everyday thing. Not for everyone, anyway. While some view each day as a blessing and, more importantly, as a chance to be better than they were yesterday, not everyone adopts that philosophy. Some are complacent. Some keep calm and carry on doing whatever they were doing, exactly how they have been doing it all the way. Yet, there are some who strive to improve with each passing day, each passing moment even. Those are the doers. They push the boundaries of what was thought possible. They aren’t content with being good enough; they want to be great. And, when the world stands to benefit from your doings, that’s all the more reason to stay committed to being bold with your approach.

Audi haven’t been known to be complacent. Not in the least. While the world is crying itself hoarse about diesel being bad and petrol efficiency figures not being accurate, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to many that numbers will differ, and with each car. Not everyone gets on the pedal the same way, with the same intensity or timing, and certainly not on the same road and in the same conditions. Of course, those who are indeed aware that an engine produces more exhaust gas at 3,000 RPM than it does at an 850-RPM idle will continue to see cars in the same light as they did before and look forward to more innovative technology.

The Audi A4 is one such new car that hopes to bring a big change to the luxury sedan segment. The BMW 3 Series has ruled the roost in terms of being the driver’s car of choice for a while and, though Mercedes’ new C-Class isn’t half bad and the new Jaguar XE is ever so close to rivalling the kidney- grilled Bavarian, it’s the new Audi that wants to get in the fight and throw a strong punch for Ingolstadt too. Does it do that?