Audi Allroad Wagon

Introduced more than a decade ago, Audi's original A6-based Allroad was a moderately rugged wagon built to tackle on- and off-road adventures in style. After a few years' hiatus, the Allroad returned to dealer showrooms last year. This time based on the A4 platform, the 2014 Audi Allroad is smaller and more city-oriented. It still has the goods for all-weather pursuits and light off-road travel, but now it's basically an A4 wagon with extra ground clearance and extra body cladding. As is typically the case with all things Audi , though, the Allroad's primary strength is its exquisitely appointed cabin. The design is modern and upscale, and materials quality is never less than first-rate. Handling is easy and agreeable, and the Allroad delivers the smooth ride quality that well-heeled city dwellers and suburbanites will expect. Standard all-wheel drive makes the car a suitable companion for those who slosh through rain and snow. In addition, with 7.1 inches of ground clearance and standard skid plates, it can take on deeper snow and maintained dirt roads when the need arises.

This week I bring you a real beauty! I have the 2019 Mercedes Benz AMG S63 Cabriolet, a 200-plus thousand dollar ragtop. This car features a hand-made engine from AMG, the performance division of Mercedes. Since 1967, this division has made some of the greatest and fastest engines found anywhere in the world. So, let’s get right to what’s under the hood. It is a 4.0-liter V8 Bi-turbo that produces an incredible 603-horses and 664-pound feet of torque. It is mated to a 9-speed shiftable transmission, and my tester is all-wheel drive. This combination will take you from 0-to-60 miles per hour in just over 3 seconds, and top speed is limited to 155 miles per hour. In a straight stretch of abandoned highway, I got it up to 112, and the amazing thing was it was only turning 3800 RPM. Red line is 7000. It wasn’t even breaking a sweat and had a lot left. The S63 is attractive on the outside with a low, wide, and aggressive stance.

There is a heavily-vented grill with front spoiler, and also a rear spoiler and dual exhaust that add to the sleek looks. This car has the 20” AMG wheels, and you can’t miss the huge red brake calipers. When you open the large door of the S63, you see a crafted interior that exudes pure luxury and the front seats look more like high dollar recliners than car seats. My tester has a beautiful white interior with quilted seats that are heavily bolstered. Beautiful magnolia wood with inlaid lines flow from the door panels all the way across the dash. There are two 12.3-inch LED screens mounted side by side, but it looks like one huge screen. The gauges on the left half of the screen are easy to read and there are three choices to make the left gauge cluster look different. Between those is a driver info center that operates from the AMG flat bottom, heated steering wheel. There are a number of buttons on the center console, including the Dynamic ride control switch that takes you from Eco, to Comfort, to Sport to Sport Plus, and finally Race mode.

In race, you can record your lap times and data. The different modes change the ride, handling, steering, transmission shifts, and exhaust sound, and the differences are nothing short of remarkable. Also on the center console you can turn on the amazing performance exhaust, turn OFF the auto start/stop system, and lock out the transmission from shifting itself, forcing you to use the shift paddles. There is a large round knob on the console that controls the Comand system, which runs everything on the second and right side 12.3” high resolution screen. Over the knob is a touchpad that works in conjunction with the knob to operate through all the systems, like navigation, radio, media, Bluetooth, the apps, and controls the car and system settings. One cool feature is called the Energizing Comfort system that combines the climate control, air fragrance, ambient lighting, audio, and massaging driver seat and heated armrests. You can select from 10-minute programs and enjoy physical benefits accompanied by cabin lighting and music.