I could wax lyrical about the joys of ice driving – about how it’s a waltz between man-and-machine. A dance that mirrors the one we do every day, one that beats our very beings into shape as we tackle the travails of life.
But I realise that I’m writing for the Internet generation, where attention spans are shaped by 90-second Instagram reels. So, I’ll get straight to the point.
Why are Audi & Quattro synonymous?
The fastest cars in the world may be Formula 1 cars but try and take one of them on the daily commute and you’ll find that they’re not entirely usable. So, unless you’re a permanent resident at the BIC (Buddh International Circuit), you’re going to need something a bit more practical – think four seats and a boot. And the fastest machines with that description compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC). The most iconic of those were the Group B monsters of the 1980s. And the most recognisable of those was the Audi Quattro, specifically the pre-Group-B original Quattro. In fact, it changed the sport forever by introducing four-wheel drive to the world of rallying. The Quattro was dominant. Thus, the legend was cemented, and the nomenclature stuck.
Ever since, Audi has been known for its four-wheel drive Quattro technology. This folklore continues and is ever-present in virtually all its models even today. Of course, it goes without saying that, as the surface gets more slippery, the benefit of providing power to all four wheels increases exponentially. And so, in the snow, Quattro is not just a luxury – it’s mandatory!
Our steed of choice on this occasion is the RS4 Avant – the RS4 wagon. And it’s a shame that it’s not available in India, because it’s one hell of a machine. One that packs a massive punch, thanks to its 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 that produces 440 horses and propels this Audi with a big boot to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds flat. And that’s to say nothing of its sheer versatility. After all, it’s a family car and supercar all rolled into one. And then there’s the fact that we were sliding it indiscriminately at minus 25 degrees centigrade for three days straight – with a couple of trips into the snowbank thrown in for good measure – with no complaints whatsoever from this epic machine.
How do you drive on ice?
Quattro? Check.
Studded tyres? Check.
You’ll need both for even a modicum of grip on a frozen lake. Frozen river to be exact. The Tornio river that separates Finland from Sweden to be precise. We restricted ourselves to the Finnish side, as we revelled in the winter wonderland that is Lapland.
The Audi Driving Experience employs a rather skilled tractor driver (cum track designer) who uses his tractor to clear a course on the frozen river. This consists initially of a short oval, which the instructors use to get the uninitiated amongst us familiar with sliding a car on ice. We subsequently progress to longer and tougher tracks over the course of two-and-a-half of the most exhilarating days you’re likely to ever experience.
Not surprisingly, driving on ice is very much like driving on any other surface – which is to say, you need to be smooth and keep your wits about you. If you’ve ever driven on a racetrack – the ones made of asphalt, not solidified water – you’ll understand the principle of ‘slow-in, fast-out,’ which is to say brake before entering a corner, follow the racing line to minimise steering input, and power out to carry speed onto the next straight. The principles of driving on ice are very much the same, with an emphasis on being patient, smooth and even more precise – with the exception being that you’re totally sideways most of the time. And because there’s nothing to hit but soft snow, there’s no fear so you can focus on learning as much about chassis behaviour as possible in a short time.
It’s literally a crash course in – without the crashing – steering input, weight transfer, and the art of looking where you want to go, as opposed to what you’re about to hit. Of course, since you’re sideways, this means you’re looking out of the side window more than the front windshield – but therein lies the fun. There’s simply nothing else like it…
How can you drive on ice?
Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head of Audi India, says that a quarter of Audi India’s sales are to existing customers – which means that they have a very loyal customer base. And so, to return the favour, Audi India curates a number of driving experiences for its owners – in India as well as overseas. The Audi Ice Driving Experience, perhaps, being the most enjoyable. But to secure an invite, you need to have bought a high-performance RS model from Audi, and you need to ask your dealer to put you on the list for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
So, now that you know what to do, and how to do it, my work here is done. And while I can tick this experience off the bucket list, I wouldn’t mind living out my Walter Rohl fantasies anytime Audi India has a vacant spot on the Ice Driving Experience. Until then, it’s safe to say that I’ll be drifting in my dreams…
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