It’s hard to put into words what it’s like to drive a range of Audi performance vehicles, full throttle with the traction control off on the snow and ice that covers the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds (SHPG). Thrilling doesn’t come near, nor does rip-roaring or hair raising. It’s an awe-inspiring, joy a minute experience, and Audi have been doing it for 15 years.
Audi was the first car brand to take the public to the SHPG, atop the Crown Ranges near Wanaka. Prior to this, (and being the only place in the world at that time of the year) the proving grounds were the sole playground of automotive and ancillary services that required snow and ice testing on their products.
Anyway, Audi believed that we, the public, would like to play there too, and they weren’t wrong. The rest, as they say, is history.
As Audi New Zealand General Manager, Greg Leet explains, “There’s no better environment than this, the snow and ice, to demonstrate Audi’s quattro performance. Quattro cut its teeth doing things in snow that cars just didn’t ever do. And that’s what the customers see here.”
Over the years, the cars may have changed, however, the smiles on the faces of those that participate remained the same throughout. But I’m getting ahead of myself, as the Audi Ice experience is all encompassing and as such begins when you arrive in Queenstown.
Audi have chosen The Rees as their 5-Star accommodation of choice, and it’s easy to see why. Hugging Lake Wakatipu, and with luxurious rooms that overlook postcard scenery, it’s as hospitable as Audi themselves and a glorious place to both eat and lay your weary head.
Greeting us in our rooms were several treats that included some local sweets, a snifter of Negroni and a down-filled jacket from Kiwi brand Huffer – believe me you need the latter most of all.
The trip up the mountain began at what seemed the dead of night, (it was 6.30am but cold and dark), and as dawn broke and the night slowly became the day, the anticipation of the day ahead rose along with the sun.
Jumping off the Audi bus and into the bracing cold was like a slap in the face, but thankfully the smiles and hugs from the Downforce team (our instructors for the day) eased the pain considerably.
The attention to detail is fantastic with road signs sporting Quattro only, a giant Audi balloon and archway, two wood fires and of course a mouthwatering range of Audi performance vehicles.
Following a couple of coffees and an intro to what we’d be doing for the day, we were split into two groups and headed back out the snow to start driving.
The line-up of Audi’s on the snow was a performance-nut’s dream. Beginning with the 228kW S3 and 294kW RS3, through the 260kW S4 and 332kW RS4 and culminating with two 475kW powered RS e-tron GTs – meaning that despite the windchill dipping the mercury to freezing temperatures, it was undoubtedly going to be a good day. Particularly as we would be cycling through all models, with ESC permanently OFF.
Our first exercise was a simple understanding of both understeer and oversteer, with the former being the enemy (and the result of heading into the corner too fast) and the latter being where all the day’s fun lay.
Full throttle down a snow-laden straight, off the accelerator and turn had my S3’s front tyres ploughing through the white stuff, with a little steering unwind having the quattro system pointing the nose back in the right direction. Understeer check.
Slow into the corner, turn the wheel and stamp on the throttle had my tail swinging round to meet the front seats. A steering turn towards the upcoming tail and off the gas being the simple correction. Oversteer check.
The next exercise was a three turn oversteer manoeuvre, the same as we had just done but with three connecting turns, small right, larger left and a final big right. My first attempt in the RS4 was good, but my second turn in the RS e-tron GT was sooo much better. Despite the RS4’s 331kW of power, there is a tiny lag as it spools and works its magic under the bonnet, not so with the e-tron. 475kW of power and 830Nm of torque all there at the dab of the throttle. The result is nothing short of stupendous, with the rear end of this 2.3-tonne super EV snapping round at lightning speed and yet settling just as quickly the moment my foot left the pedal.
Lunch was served back at the lodge and I probably ate more than I should have, particularly as we still had plenty of driving to go.
A slalom run was next and the anticipation of staring down a cone laden straight with the e-tron’s foreboding motor sound was another inexplicable moment. With its low centre of gravity and instant torque, the e-tron shifted its weight well, shaking its tail like an excited puppy, all with minimal steering inputs and a posh interior/advanced MMI system that I barely looked at.
Next up was a giant circle that required substantial throttle control as you donut around it, for some reason, (even with the instructor beside me telling me how to do it), I couldn’t master this exercise, however, the figure of 8 task that came after a gut-wrenching ‘taxi ride’ in an RS6, I proudly got to grips with.
Sure the final ‘little Finland’ and knockout gymkhana exercises were completed with ICE-powered models, but that didn’t detract from the sheer performance and ability of the battery-powered e-tron. Not only did it show it was more than equal to its fossil-fuelled siblings, its instant torque (and huge amounts of it) made going sideways a breeze – Greg Leet said it best “the RS e-tron GT demonstrates that electrification is no compromise to performance.”
Alas all good things must come to an end and the bus arrived to take us to Ayrburn for drinks, canapes and tall stories of our driving prowess. Ayrburn is a fabulous place and another ‘must visit’ if you’re in the neighbourhood.
As stated in the outset, Audi has been doing the ICE driving experience for 15 years now and unlike my snow driving, have absolutely nailed it. The tuition is amazing and the hospitality is even better. Seriously, book me a slot on the 16th year anniversary, there’s a donut I need to perfect – just as soon as my smile subsides.
