Prepare to be seduced by an Audi A4 wagon

The 2009 Audi A4 Avant is the automaker’s fourth-generation wagon. The Audi A4 Avant is all about lovely lines and superior technology.

The Audi A4 is the company’s best-selling car in Europe.

For 2009, the Audi A4 Avant has grown longer by 4.72 inches and shortened its front overhang to create a faster look. This wagon is all about handling. With a stiffer body that is 10 percent lighter (due to lightweight steel construction), plus a wider track and wheelbase, the A4 Avant didn’t feel to me like I was driving a wagon.

The interior is fashioned for the driver. For instance, the center console tilts 10 degrees to the left, the electro-mechanical parking brake is a user-friendly addition and the alcantara (suede-like material) on the seats helps to keep you from sliding while taking a corner.

Some changes in drag reduction (.31 Cd to .27 Cd), a more forward positioning of the clutch/torque-converter and new front and rear suspensions that are predominately aluminum, have improved the agility of the wagon.

The engineers moved the steering rack lower and closer to the wheel carriers for a lower center of gravity, more direct steering control and exacting feedback.

The U.S. version will offer the automatic version 2.0 with six-speed paddle shifters, 211 horsepower and 258 pounds-feet of torque, and all-wheel Quattro.

Acceleration is strong and on-point, the power consistent, the braking sure and level. In other words, the 2009 Audi A4 Avant has lots of personality.

In addition to the lower coefficient of drag, the 2009 wagon features lighter weight components, and the climate control system supplies 10 percent more cooling while operating 20 percent more efficiently. The Audi A4 Avant will be in dealership this fall priced between $28,000 and $38,000.

So, even when you’re hugging those corners or shooting out on freeway traffic, the Audi A4 Avant is not what one would call a “hog”. It’s a streamlined wagon with the soul of a sports car.

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