As a highly trained Agent here at AutoSpies.com, part of my extensive training includes being able to sort out fact from fiction when it comes to manufacturers claims regarding their offerings in the marketplace.
Call it a truth detector, my training has taught me to be able to sniff out a rat, and this week I think I caught a big one.
Or did I?
To be honest with you, I am not sure. I think I have, but the facts used in making my determination are a little skewed, and as such I will present the facts to you, and perhaps together we can come together to determine the truth.
On trial, the 2009 Audi A4 3.2 Quattro. In an effort to call attention upon itself, it seems to have ruffled the feathers of their cross town German rival BMW by claiming that they are now the fastest car in the segment, a role currently occupied by the BMW 3-Series.
BMW takes the sports sedan market pretty serious. It is a market they created, and one that with each new generation of the 3-Series makes major advances that keeps competitors chasing. And chase they have, most have simply fallen by the wayside during the years however some strong efforts have been brought to market.
The Lexus IS 250/350 Mercedes-Benz C300 / C350 Sport Sedan, and of course the Audi A4. I know what you are thinking. So what, the Audi A4 has challenged the establishment and for the most part I would agree with you, however it is the method Audi used in challenging the market segment.
Boldly.
Brazenly.
Brashly.
Ballsy.
Don't believe me, watch the commercial in question.
This is an in your face attempt to not only get your attention, but hopefully sway you to come test drive the new 2009 Audi A4.
Audi claims that the new A4 3.2 Quattro is the fastest car in the segment.
But I don’t think it is.
Fast is a quantitative value, be it 0-60 times or ¼-mile times, perhaps even top speed, fast is something that can be tested across a range of vehicles using methods that can be repeated consistently to insure accuracy and fairness.
So is the Audi A4 the fastest car in the segment?
Let’s look at the facts by looking at a benchmark. In this case lets use the 0-60 times as reported by C&D magazine for reference.
The 2009 Audi A4 3.2 Quattro has a reported 0-60 time of 5.7 seconds. No testing has yet to be completed on the 2.0 A4, so the time for the 3.2 is the only number we will use.
The 2008 BMW 328i has a 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds, however the 335i gets to 60 in a very quick 4.8 seconds. In the commercial a 328i is used, but I am not sure that using the 328i is fair, but I will address that a little bit later.
The Lexus IS is also featured in the commercial but has two different engine options, a 2.5 and a 3.5 six-cylinder. It is impossible to tell which Lexus is used in the commercial, however C&D reports a 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds for the IS350, so I think it would be safe to assume the IS250 is the car in the commercial, and based on C&D testing, the IS250 makes it to 60 in 7.1 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz is also featured in the commercial, however the C300 Luxury is the model used which again is the smaller of the two engines available. With a 0-60 time of 7.3 seconds, the A4 is certainly faster than the MB.
And herein lies the biggest problem with the commercial. If you compare the BIGGER engine A4 3.2 Quattro against the SMALLER engine BMW 328i, Lexus IS250 and Mercedes-Benz C300, yes, the Audi certainly is the fastest car in the segment.
But that is not a fair test.
The Audi A4 3.2 Quattro starts at a base price of $39,000. The BMW 328i starts at $33,525 and the Mercedes-Benz C300 and Lexus IS250 all start in the low $30k’s. The forthcoming Audi A4 2.0 will certainly be cheaper, but the A4 3.2 is aimed directly at the BMW 335i, Mercedes-Benz C350 and Lexus IS350.
And based on that competition, the A4 is the third SLOWEST car. The BMW 335i gets to 60 in 4.8 seconds, the Lexus IS350 gets it done in 5.1 seconds, the Audi A4 3.2 clocks a 5.7 and the Mercedes-Benz finishes out the race at 6.0 seconds.
I’d say we caught ourselves a rat with this commercial and subsequent claim by Audi. The A4 3.2 Quattro IS NOT the fastest car in the segment, and testing proves it. I’d say Audi is out of line for testing their larger engines against the competitor’s smaller engines, wouldn’t you?
I have laid out the evidence, now I ask you…
Do you believe Audi’s claim to have the fastest car in the segment?