In honour of the upcoming release of Audi’s redesigned flagship, the fourth-generation A8, we put the spotlight on an interesting piece of onboard technology: a fully active, electromechanical suspension. 

There are other vehicles that utilize a similar concept, continuously altering dampening settings according to road conditions, but the electromechanical setup in the Audi is actually quite ingenious in design. Powered by the main electrical system, it enables the occupants to be in constant comfort whether the executive sedan is travelling over a pothole-ridden road, or carving high-speed corners.  

An electric motor with built-in gears is mounted to each individual wheel. A camera mounted on the front of the car scans the driving surface ahead and pre-emptively adjusts the suspension settings so that by the time the tires roll over say, a small rock, everything is already calibrated to relay minimal noise, vibration and harshness to the cabin. 

Aside from absorbing vibration over bumps, rolling movements normally induced by excessive g-forces, as well as changes in pitch from hard braking and acceleration, are mitigated.  

The active hardware also serves to increase safety in a passive manner. Sensors detect risks of collision from any direction 360 degrees around the vehicle. For example, if a side impact occurring at speeds greater than 25 km/h is unavoidable, actuators raise the suspension, and in turn the body, on the affected side up to 80 millimetres within half a second. This causes the stronger areas such as the side sills and floor structure to absorb the brunt of the oncoming forces. Audi says this results in a 50 per cent improvement in load reduction to the passenger compartment. 

Consumers can get a closer look at the technology when the 2018 A8 is launched in North America later in the year. 

The approximate English translation of Audi’s slogan Vorsprung durch Technik is “advancement through technology.” The phrase is usually in reference to the German manufacturer’s vehicles, but it is also the perfect way to describe OpenRoad’s latest flagship store, OpenRoad Audi Boundary.

Just down the road from the previous location that operated for over 10 years, the new 113,000-square-foot, $19 million state-of-the-art dealership officially opened last Thursday with a launch party featuring plenty of surprises. 

To name a few, there was a performance by Trevor Guthrie, Juno award winner and former frontman of Canadian pop group soulDecision; catering courtesy of celebrity chef Vikram Vij and his three Lower Mainland restaurants; and an exclusive showcase of aluminum art by artists Noah Deledda and Robert Davidson, complementing the vehicles on display such as the 2017 Audi Q7 that has dropped 700 pounds thanks to use of the lightweight metal in 41 per cent of its construction.

“This building is about advancing your automotive experience. We’ve built this building for you. We’ve built it to make your car buying and servicing experience legendary,” said general manager Brad Beckett, who kicked off a series of presentations by Audi representatives and OpenRoad president and CEO Christian Chia.

“We have a 12-car drive through that I please ask you to visit. Come in out of the rain and get service. We have a 24-bay shop, the most advanced shop in the Lower Mainland. We have this beautiful 18-car showroom — we can exhibit every car in the Audi lineup. And right above me is a brand new indoor, stay dry, used car showroom we’re so proud to have.”

The reimagined store was designed at Audi AG headquarters in Inglostadt, Germany and planned by Vancouver architect Christopher Bozyk. The project utilizes the automaker’s “terminal” concept that, like its products, focuses on sophistication, sportiness and the illusion of movement, translated through prominent application of the colour aluminum, an asymmetrical layout and an abundance of glass and natural light. 

OpenRoad Auto Boundary is located at 3701 Lougheed Highway, and is now the largest dealership in Western Canada and the second largest in the country. For more information, visit openroadaudi.com.

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The Audi A4 is quickly reaching legendary status, now about to enter its ninth generation with the release of the 2017 model built on a completely new platform. The sporty sedan retains the core qualities that have made it popular for so long, such as a timeless design and fun-to-drive nature, and throws in a bunch of technology focused on comfort, convenience and safety. Here are five of the major additions.

Headlights

In standard trim, the A4 gets perfectly bright bi-xenon headlights. What customers will really want, however, are the optional and energy-efficient full LED headlights. They offer a more precise beam pattern that emulates natural daytime light and reduces eye strain. Signature LED daytime running lights shaped like two inverted checkmarks inside the housing give the car a distinct look when approaching.

Audi Virtual Cockpit

Other manufacturers today offer fully digital instrument clusters. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which is a 12.3-inch TFT display installed right above the steering column, is arguably the best looking. Featuring 1,440 x 540 pixels of high definition resolution, the sight is something to behold when Google Maps is loaded and overlaid overtop of the screen. Users can customize the information shown in a multitude of configurations.

Semi-autonomous driving

Audi’s redesigned sedan can’t completely drive on its own just yet, but it’s getting pretty close. The A4 gets adaptive cruise control, self-parking, and a traffic-jam assistant that utilizes GPS data and scans road signs to keep the car moving by itself in heavily congested situations. There’s also a turn assist function that stops you from accidentally pulling out in front of an oncoming vehicle.

Powertrain

The A4 runs off a massaged version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged TFSI engine, producing 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque — an increase of 15 per cent compared to the outgoing model. Harnessing the power is an upgraded seven-speed dual clutch transmission generating less N/V/H (noise, vibration and harshness) than before.

Construction

New, lighter materials used in construction have resulted in a weight loss of approximately 120 kilograms, despite the vehicle being 25 millimetres longer with a total length of 4,730 mm. The extra bit of size provides the A4 with more interior space than ever before, translating into extra head and legroom for the driver and passengers.