Test Drive: Audi Driving Experience at Losail International Circuit (Qatar, Doha)

Audi Middle East invited 850 VIP customers and us ArabWheels along with almost all regional Press to test-drive their new machines – The A6 and RS 6 were the stars – for a full track day on the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. Audi's program made sure to put us through serious 
track time as well as numerous handling exercises and last but not least, a white knuckle ride in the Diesel-powered Q7V12 TDI.







RS6 Blast

Prior to test driving the RS6, I thought that it takes a special sort of person to buy an Audi RS saloon. At first look, the RS6 could just be any other top German spec with its large rims and dual exhausts however when you look under the skin, you notice that the RS6 is so much more than that, because underneath this Audi is a monster! Actually, it shares an engine not too different from the one in the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 and most recently the R8 V10. The RS6 has a twin-turbo V10 engine that produces 580bhp, so it's fast, extremely fast!!! Once behind the wheel, there's certainly no hiding this Audi's potential.

The one thing that bothered me was the speed limit on the track imposed by the instructor in the passenger seat at 180 km/h. This fact didn't allow me to test the full brutality of the car. despite that however, the RS6s acceleration off the line left me speechless, our first run took place on a closed track, we covered the 0-100 kph sprint in 4.3 seconds, and went on to reach 160 kph in 9.4.
The really inspiring thing is just how effortless the Audi makes this acceleration feel. The Quattro all-wheel-drive system delivers excitement free standing starts and impressive traction when you drop the hammer, while the six-speed DSG gearbox has a lightning quick, but smooth action. Pull the lever into manual, and use the steering wheel-mounted paddles and you are rewarded with a trilling sound on each downshift. The RS6's smooth and effortless hurtling towards the sound barrier made us keep a suspicious eye on the speedometer, mainly because it's easy to forget just how fast you're going. As an outcome, on a test track this car cruises at double the motorway speed limit with less fuss than some vehicles make at 120 kph. The RS6 is just as talented when cornering, too. It shakes off its significant curb weight to offer amusing performance, proving that it wraps up a supercar package in a four-door body. Much to your friend's amusement.

Audication

Then we moved to a makeshift museum displaying the whole Audi model range. A brand representative walked us through the lot of them and guided us through an interesting and very amusing historic timeline for the brand highlighting Audi's milestones in both production and competition. "On the way we asked our guide on the origins of the brand name, and contrary to general belief, Audi does not stand for Auto Union Deutschland Ingolstadt, it is actually Latin for Audio, derived from the German word Horch which in turn means listen. Horch in no accident was the name of the original Auto Union founding company.

Diesel Power

We had the ultimate chance to experience the Audi Q7 V12 TDI with a factory driver from Audi Technical. Note that with this mighty oil burning engine, Audi opened a new chapter in diesel record.
I usually don't expect much emotion when riding an SUV, but the Q7 TDI is the Supercar of SUV's; the hot lap around the Losail was packed with high adrenaline surges and white knuckle moments as we approached the turns with frightening speeds (for an SUV) but the big surprise was when the driver would stand on the brakes and turn into these corners, the laws of physics were being re-written before our eyes. The big or rather huge and bulky performance SUV Audi accelerates with notable ease, the V12s 1000Nm of torque make sure of that; blasting the 0 to 100 kph in just 5.5 seconds (blistering for a diesel!) and achieving an electronically limited top speed of 250 kph, the Audi Q7 V12 TDI is propelled into the elites of top-class sports cars. In my opinion, none of Audi's competitors can offer an equivalent engine at least not at the moment.



Carving Turns

Later in the day, the group was put to the test on a slalom course with a DSG gearbox and manual transmission A5. As tricky as it might have looked, differentiating both cars was relatively easy if you kept an open mind. The manual cog-box fitted A5 had a faint but unmistakably distinct engine note, that of a diesel.  Despite the fact, the diesel powered A5 felt remarkably composed through the slalom. The diesel engine's immediate torque makes things much easier, but its hefty weight, can be felt while transitioning through the cones. However the compromise between front end weight, and rear end playfulness seemed minimal as the A5 diesel was tail happy when pressed.  The combination of all-wheel drive and diesel on the other hand gave it epic grip in the twisty bits. On the downside, chassis stiffness and overall ride quality were akin to sports cars extreme rather than long cruising GT.

Braking

The final test of the day came in the form of brake testing, and after going mighty fast we had to cool down or rather slow down.  Our weapon was the all new 2.0L TFSI powered A6, this test was entertaining although the engine was smaller comparing to the other ones, but that didn't matter. Underway, the I4 powered A6 boasted sharp, precise steering, and a firm but comfortable ride, the mighty engine (for it size) hauled the sedan with ease. Braking and handling were exceptionally balanced and well weighed, whether on dry asphalt road or when hurtling through a torrent of simulated rain, the A6, and that applies to the rest of the Audi range showed incredible agility and steadfastness in obeying its drivers commands down to the millisecond. Something you'd want for both safety and an overall sense of comfort.

Verdict

Foremost we'd like to thank Audi Middle East for giving us this unique experience to share with you, our readers. And in short, we'd like to say that if you have a circuit near where you live, you should heavily consider going there for some advanced driving courses. You will be amazed how much more you can get out of the car you drive everyday, and more importantly out of yourself, after a few hours with qualified instructors. You learn how to sharpen your reflexes and get rid of your bad habits, ultimately providing you, and those who ride along enhanced safety and pure driving pleasure.