Driving
instance when you can see that the next traffic
lights are red. This takes advantage of the engine
braking effect, reducing wear on the brakes and
tyres.
Emissions and fuel consumption will drop
to zero due to the overrun fuel cut-off.
Change gear early to save fuel
An effective way of saving fuel is to change up
quickly through the gears. Running the engine at
high rpm in the lower gears uses an unnecessary
amount of
fuel.
Applies to: vehicles with manual gearbox
Shift up to second gear as soon as possible. If
possible, we recommend shifting up to the next
gear at approx. 2,000 rpm.
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox
Press the accelerator slowly and avoid using the
"kick-down"
feature.
Avoid driving at high speed
Avoid travelling at top speed. Fuel consumption,
exhaust emissions and noise Levels all increase
very rapidly at higher speeds. Driving at moder
ate speeds will help to save
fuel.
Do not let the engine idle for longer than
necessary
Engine idling periods are automatically reduced
on vehicles with start/stop system*. On vehicles
without a start/stop system, it is worthwhile
switching off the engine at level crossings, for in
stance, or at traffic lights with a long red phase.
The fuel saved after about 5 seconds can be
greater than the amount of fuel needed to re
start a warm engine (the exact fuel saving de
pends on the engine version).
The engine takes a very long time to warm up
when it is running at idling speed. Mechanical
wear and pollutant emissions are also especially
high during this initial warm-up phase. It is
therefore best to drive off immediately after
starting the engine. Avoid running the engine at
high speed.
o
Regular servicing
Regular servicing can establish a basis for good
iS
fuel economy before you start driving. A
well-
serviced engine gives you the benefit of im
proved fuel efficiency as well as maximum relia
bility and an enhanced resale value. A poorly
maintained engine can consume up to ten per
cent more fuel than necessary.
Avoid short trips
The engine and emission control system need to
reach their proper working temperature in order
to minimise fuel consumption and emissions.
A cold engine uses disproportionately more
fuel.
The engine only reaches its working temperature
after about four kilometres, when fuel consump
tion will return to a normal level.
Check tyre pressures
Always make sure the tyres are inflated to the
correct pressures
•=>page
306 to save
fuel.
If the
tyre pressures
are
just 0.5
bar
too Low, this can
increase the fuel consumption by as much as 5
%. Due to the greater rolling resistance, under-
inflation also increases tyre wear and impairs
handling.
Do not use winter tyres all through the year; they
will increase fuel consumption by up to 10 %.
Avoid carrying unnecessary loads
Every kilo of extra weight will increase the fuel
consumption, so it is worth checking the Luggage
compartment occasionally to make sure that no
unnecessary loads are being transported.
The roof carrier increases the air resistance of the
vehicle and should be removed when not in use.
This will save about 12 % of fuel at speeds of be
tween 60 and 75
mph.
Save electrical energy
The engine drives the alternator to generate elec
tricity. This means that fuel consumption rises
when more power is required for electrical equip
ment. Switch off electrical equipment when it is
not needed. Electrical equipment which uses a
lot of electricity includes the blower (at a high
setting), the rear window heating and the seat
heating*.
73
Driving
Check that the brakes work properly (especially
after driving through water).
WARNING
- You should exercise particular care when
driving on difficult road surfaces, and try to
anticipate hazards in advance. Excessive
speed or careless manoeuvres can result in
personal injury or damage to the vehicle.
- Always adjust your speed to suit the terrain
or road surface and weather or traffic condi
tions.
Drive extra slowly when visibility is
limited by uneven terrain.
- Please note that there can be an increased
tendency for the wheeLs to spin in ESC off-
road mode, causing the vehicLe to lose grip,
in particular on slippery or wet roads -
dan
ger of skidding!
-The car's stability is restricted in ESC off-
road mode.
CO
<
O
rN
iv
rN
•-i
00
•} For
the sake of the environment
Take care not to damage the environment and
respect natural surroundings.
Note
Only drive where access by motor vehicles is
permitted and keep to the marked tracks and
routes.
Driving tips
When driving on rough tracks always drive slowly
and be aware of possible hazards.
Please observe the following precautions if you
drive the vehicle on unsurfaced tracks or off-
road:
•
When driving off-road you are advised to avoid
tracks or terrain which are not suited to the de
sign of the car and your own driving skills and
experience. Do
not
take risks.
•
Drive slowly and be ready for possible hazards.
•
Be aware of the maximum ground clearance of
your vehicle. The figure in actual conditions
may be different, depending on the type of sur
face,
the surrounding terrain and the load be
ing carried. With certain types of suspension,
such as sports suspension, the ground clear
ance is reduced. It is the responsibility of the
driver to decide whether or not the vehicLe is
capable of safely negotiating a particular situa
tion.
•
Activate the ESC off-road mode if required
^>page
146.
Unsurfaced tracks
On unfamiliar roads and off-road terrain, drive
slowly and be prepared for unexpected obstacles,
such as pot-holes, rocks or tree stumps, etc.
To prevent ground contact and possible damage
to the underside, do not drive the bottom of your
vehicle directly over raised obstacles. Instead,
drive the wheels on one side of the car up and
across the top of the obstacle.
When driving over sand or soft mud, maintain a
moderate speed and avoid stopping if possible.
Driving through water on roads
Please observe the important safety warnings on
^>page
72.
Automatic gearbox
Introduction
Applies to: vehicles with automatic gearbox
The automatic gearbox is controlled electronical
ly. The gearbox changes up and down automati
cally.
When you drive at moderate speeds the gearbox
will select the most economical shift pro
gramme. It will then change up early and delay
the downshifts to give better fuel economy.
If you drive at higher speeds with heavy accelera
tion,
if you open the throttle quickly, or if you use
the kick-down or the car's maximum speed, the
gearbox will automatically select the more "spor
ty" shift programmes when the selector lever is
in position S.
If desired, you can also select the gears manually
(tiptronic mode)
^page
90, Manual gear se
lection (tiptronic mode). •
85
Driving
R - Reverse gear
Reverse gear should only be engaged when the
vehicle is stationary and the engine is idling
^A-
To move the selector lever to position R, release
the selector Lever lock and at the same time
press the brake pedal.
N - Neutral
In this position, the gearbox is in neutral.
D/S - Drive/Sport (standard position for
driving forwards)
In selector Lever position D/S, the gearbox can be
operated in either the standard drive mode (D) or
in sport mode (S). To select sport mode (S), brief
ly pull the selector lever back. The gearbox will
switch back to drive mode (D) if
you
pull the se
lector lever again. The selected driving mode is
shown in the instrument cluster display.
In the standard drive mode (D), the gearbox au
tomatically selects the best gear ratio. This de
pends on the engine
load,
the road speed and the
driving style.
In Sport mode S, the gearbox makes full use of
the engine power. When accelerating the gear
shifts may be noticeable.
Press the brake pedal when moving the selector
lever from N to D/S if the vehicle is stationary or
at speeds below 2 km/h
o A-
E - Efficiency*
In efficiency mode
^>page
131, Audi drive se
lect,
the gearbox selects the next gear at lower
engine speeds. Earlier upshifts give improved
fuel economy because the full power reserves of
the engine are not used.
In this mode, an
E
is shown on the instrument
cluster display instead of
a D
^>Fig.
75.
CO
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o < 00
A,
WARNING
- The car can roll away even if the ignition is
switched off.
- Never move the selector lever to
R
or P
when driving, as this could cause an
acci
dent.
- In all selector lever positions (except P) the
vehicle must always be held with the foot
brake when the engine is running. This is be
cause an automatic gearbox still transmits
power even at idling speed, and the vehicle
tends to "creep" - risk of accident!
- The accelerator pedal must on no account
be pressed inadvertently when a gear is en
gaged with the vehicle stationary. The
vehi
cle could otherwise start moving immedi
ately (in some cases even if the parking
brake is engaged) and possibly cause an ac
cident.
- Do not press the accelerator while selecting
a gear with the vehicle stationary and the
engine running, as this could cause an
acci
dent.
- The driver should never get out of the
vehi
cle when the engine is running and a gear is
engaged.
If
you
have to Leave your vehicle
while the engine is running, you must apply
the parking brake and engage the parking
lock P.
- To avoid accidents, apply the parking brake
and
put
the selector lever in position
P
be
fore opening the bonnet and working on the
vehicLe with the engine running. Please ob
serve the important safety warnings
^>page
295, Working on components in
the engine compartment.
© Note
- Audi drive select: You can select the sport
program for gear changes by activating the
dynamic mode
^>page
131. The instru
ment cluster display will show
S
instead of
D.
- If the lever is moved accidentally to
N
when
driving,
take
your
foot off the accelerator
and
let
the engine speed drop to idling be
fore selecting
D
or
S
again.
- It is not possible to move the selector lever
out of position
P
if the electrical power sup
ply fails. In this case, the selector lever can
be released manually. Left-hand drive
vehicles
^page
93, right-hand drive
vehicles
<^>page
94.
87
Towing a trailer
Towing a trailer
Driving the vehicle with a
trailer or caravan
Technical requirements
The
towing bracket must comply with certain
technical requirements.
Your car is intended mainly for transporting pas
sengers and luggage. However, if suitably equip
ped,
it can also be used to tow a trailer or cara
van.
If the car is supplied with a factory-fitted towing
bracket it will already have the necessary techni
cal modifications and meet the statutory require
ments.
A 13-pin socket is provided to make the electrical
connection between the car and the trailer. If the
trailer you wish to tow has a 7-pin plug, the nec
essary adapter cable can be obtained from a spe
cialist retailer.
If
a
towing bracket is to be fitted after the car is
purchased,
this must be done according to the in
structions of the towing bracket manufacturer
^page
102.
A WARNING
If
a
towing bracket is retrofitted, the installa
tion should be carried out by
a
qualified work
shop.
- In particular in high outside temperatures it
is not possible to drive up long steep gradi
ents without
a
suitable cooling system. The
engine would then overheat.
- Incorrect installation can result in a safety
risk.
Points to check before towing
There are a number of points which need to be
checked before towing a trailer or caravan.
*•
Observe the maximum permitted trailer
weights
^>page
342.
Trailer weights
Never exceed the maximum permitted trailer
weights.
If
you
do not load the trailer up to the maximum
permitted trailer weight, you can then climb cor
respondingly steeper gradients.
The maximum trailer weights listed are only ap
plicable for altitudes up to 1000 m above sea
level.
With increasing altitude the engine power
and therefore the car's climbing ability are im
paired because of the reduced air density, so the
maximum trailer weight has to be reduced ac
cordingly. The weight of the car and trailer must
be reduced by about 10% for every further
1000 m (or part thereof). This figure refers to
the combined weight of the (loaded) vehicle and
(Loaded) trailer.
The figures for the draw bar weight that appear
on the identification plate of the towing bracket
are for certification purposes only. The correct
figures for your specific model, which may be
lower than these figures for the towing bracket,
are given in the registration documents and in
•=>
page 343.
Drive select*
Please note that the
efficiency*
mode is not
available in towing mode.
Exterior lights
Before starting
a
journey, make sure that all the
lights for the trailer are working properly.
Distributing the load
Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy ob
jects are as near to the axle as possible. Loads
carried in the trailer must be secured to prevent
them slipping. A badly distributed load can also
affect handling. This can activate the trailer sta
bilisation feature and cause the vehicle to reduce
speed.
Where possible, operate the trailer with the max
imum permitted draw bar weight on the ball
joint of the towing bracket, but do not exceed the
specified limit. •
96
Driver assist systems
This message appears if the radar sensor vision is
impaired,
e.g. by leaves, snow, heavy road spray
or dirt. Clean the sensor
<^>page
112, Fig. 101.
Distance warning: currently unavailable. See
owner's manual
This driver message will appear if the system
fails temporarily. If the fault occurs repeatedly,
drive to a qualified workshop and have the fauLt
rectified.
Fasten seat belt
The system is not fully available when the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
Stationary object ahead
This message appears if
you
try to switch on the
system when a stationary object is located imme
diately in front of your car.
Door open
The system is not available when the vehicle is
stationary and the driver's door is open.
Audi pre sense
Introduction
Applies to: vehicles with Audi pre sense
The pre sense functions can take action to pro
tect the vehicle occupants and other road users in
certain hazardous conditions within the system
limits.
- Because the different on-board systems are
networked,
pre sense basic can detect critical
situations and take preventive action to protect
the occupants.
- The pre sense front uses the data of the radar
sensor to calculate the probability of an
acci
dent
opage
112. It can detect an impending
collision with vehicles or
pedestrians1^
(subject
to general system limitations). In this case, the
system warns the driver visually, acoustically
and,
if necessary, with a short, sharp brake ap
plication.
If necessary, it can initiate a partial or
fuLl
brake application in order to reduce the im
pact speed or, in certain circumstances, to
avoid a collision. In conjunction with pre sense
basic, the reversible tensioners on the front
seat belts are also applied if necessary. Pre
sense front is active even when the adaptive
cruise control* is switched off.
Please observe the general safety warnings
•=>
A in General notes on page 112.
© Note
- Certain pre sense functions are deactivated
when reversing.
- The functions of the pre sense system may
also be unavailable if
a
fault develops in the
ESC
system or airbag control unit.
- Please note that, if the front passenger's
airbag has been deactivated, the reversible
belt tensioner on the passenger's side will
be deactivated as
well.
- Switch off pre sense on private roads and
while the vehicle is being loaded onto a car
transporter, train or ferry, etc. This prevents
the pre sense system from taking action in
an inappropriate situation.
Audi pre sense basic
Description
Applies to: vehicles with Audi pre sense basic
The pre sense basic functions are activated at
speeds above approximately 30 km/h.
The system can activate the following functions
in certain situations:
- Seat belt tensioning (e.g. during hard braking):
The seat belts on the front seats have reversi
ble tensioners. Provided an accident does not
occur, the belts are loosened again slightly and
kept ready for activation.
- Initiation of the closure process for the
win
dows and panorama sun roof* (e.g. if the
vehi
cLe understeers or oversteers).
Audi drive select*: the activation threshold
dif
fers according to the mode selected.
x)
Not available on vehicles for some markets.
120
Driver assist systems
CO
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o < 00
-The automatic brake application with in
creasing brake force can be cancelled by ap
plying the brakes yourself or by pressing the
accelerator firmly.
- In certain situations, a warning may be giv
en by the rear cross-traffic assist even if
there is no traffic in the critical zone, for in
stance when parking or manoeuvring the ve
hicle in reverse.
- The rear cross-traffic assist is deactivated
automatically if you deactivate the
ESC.
-The rear cross-traffic assist is switched on/
off via the parking aid
^>page
134.
-The system is not available in towing mode.
Driver messages
Applies to: vehicles with Audi side assist
Should the side assist be deactivated automati
cally, a driver message will appear in the instru
ment cluster display.
O
Audi side assist: system fault!
The system cannot detect vehicles reliably and
will be deactivated. The sensors are out of align
ment or defective. Have the system checked by a
qualified workshop soon.
O
Audi side assist: currently unavailable. No
sensor vision
O
Audi side assist: currently unavailable.
Sen
sor view restricted due to surroundings. See
owner's manual
The radar sensors are blocked. The area in front
of the sensors must not be obstructed by bicycle
racks,
stickers, deposits or any other substances.
If necessary, clean the area in front of the
sen
sors
^>page
128, Fig. 120.
O
Audi side assist: currently unavailable
The side assist is temporarily inoperative and
cannot be switched on (for instance if the battery
is not sufficiently charged).
O
Audi side assist: unavailable in towing mode
2
Audi side assist: unavailable in towing mode
The side assist function will be switched off auto
matically after a short time when the electrical
connector for the trailer socket is plugged in on
vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket. If
the towing bracket is not factory-fitted the side
assist function may not be switched off automat
ically. The side assist must not be used when
towing a trailer.
O Rear
parking aid: obstacle detection limited
The rear cross-traffic assist is not available. Ei
ther the ESC is switched off or the radar sensors
may be obstructed by a bicycle rack, stickers,
leaves, snow or similar objects. Switch on the ESC
or, if necessary, clean the area in front of the
sen
sors
<3page
128, Fig. 120. If this message re
mains displayed, drive to a qualified workshop
soon and have the fault rectified.
Audi drive select
Introduction
Applies to: vehicles with Audi drive select
Audi drive select alLows you to use different set
ups on your vehicle. The modes efficiency*, com
fort, auto and dynamic allow the driver, for ex
ample,
to change from a sporty mode to a more
comfortable one via the
&&
button in the centre
console or via the infotainment system. In
addi
tion,
the individual* mode allows you to adapt
the vehicle set-up to
suit
your personal driving
style.
For example, you might choose to combine
a more dynamic engine set-up with a lighter
steering response.
Description
Applies to: vehicles with Audi drive select
The possible vehicle set-up in each mode de
pends on which equipment is installed on your
vehicle. The engine and steering are basic parts
of your vehicle which are always included in the
set-up.
Engine and automatic gearbox*
The response of the engine and automatic
gear
box* to accelerator pedal movements will be
more spontaneous or balanced, depending on
131
Driver assist systems
which mode you select. In the performance-
oriented dynamic mode, the automatic gearbox
changes gear at higher engine speeds.
By contrast, in efficiency* mode, the automatic
gearbox* selects the next gear at lower engine
speeds and the coasting mode is activated
^>page
91. This helps to reduce fuel consump
tion.
Suspension control (Audi magnetic
ride)*
The suspension control uses sensors to collect in
formation on steering movements, braking and
acceleration input by the driver, road surface
quality, road speed and vehicle Loading. With
Audi drive select you can choose between dynam
ic and comfort-oriented suspension set-ups (dy
namic and comfort modes), or opt for
a
more
balanced set-up (auto mode).
Steering
The degree of power assistance can be varied.
Various modes are possible
^>page
133. The
light, indirect steering response in comfort mode
is particularly suitable on long motorway trips,
for instance. The steering has a tighter, more di
rect feel in dynamic mode.
The steering response is even more agile on
vehicles with progressive steering*.
Audi adaptive light*
The adaptive light system adjusts the light distri
bution according to the mode selected.
Air conditioner*
The air conditioner runs in a particularly econom
ical mode when the efficiency* setting is selec
ted.
When this function is selected, eco* is shown
in the display of the automatic air conditioner.
Cruise control system*
The acceleration response is particularly econom
ical in efficiency* mode.
Audi adaptive cruise control*
The acceleration mode can be varied from com
fort to sport by changing the setting in drive se
lect. The setting also determines whether the re
sponse of the adaptive cruise control to the driv
ing style of the driver in front is more balanced or
spontaneous. The efficiency* mode chooses a set
up for maximum economy.
© Note
- On some models the vehicle's maximum
speed can only be obtained in the auto and
dynamic modes.
- Applies to vehicles with manual gearbox: An
E appears in the gear-change indicator when
efficiency* mode is activated.
- Applies to vehicles with automatic gearbox:
Selector lever position
S
is automatically se
lected when dynamic mode is activated.
E
is
selected in efficiency* mode.
- Applies to vehicles with automatic gearbox:
If
you
select efficiency* mode when the se
lector Lever is in position D,
E
will automati
cally appear in the instrument cluster dis
play.
- Applies to vehicles with manual gearbox: If
you press the accelerator right down past
the point of resistance in efficiency* mode,
the engine power is automatically control
led to give your vehicle maximum accelera
tion.
- Please note that the efficiency* mode is not
available in towing mode.
Selecting the driving mode
Applies to: vehicles with Audi drive select
You
can choose between efficiency*, comfort, au
to,
dynamic and individual*.
Fig.
123 Centre console: Button for drive select
•
Press the
ism
button
^>Fig.
123 repeatedly until
the desired mode appears on the instrument
cluster/infotainment display. Or: •
132