There are many types of cool. This multi-faceted word can be a noun, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. It can mean a temperature under, say, 60 degrees, a common occurrence in the perennially un-cool city of Detroit. It can serve as a slang interjection, as in: “OK, cool.” It can reflect an attitude, a calm level-headedness under stress. And for a time, when smoking was cool, it was a brand of cigarettes expressed the same way someone who might start smoking in the first place would spell it. For our purposes, “cool” is defined as a car we think offers something different, something fun, or something extraordinary.
Keeping this in mind, we prowled the exhibition hall at the Motor City’s Cobo Center, searching for cool amongst the numerous debuts and displays. After the press conferences were over, and after digesting thousands of new facts and figures about all the newest models to be unveiled to the public at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, we settled on these 10 Coolest Cars from Detroit, presented in alphabetical order by brand.
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Audi A4 Allroad Concept
The big news from Audi on the stage inside Detroit’s Cobo Hall was the Q3 Vail, a “concept” vehicle that is coming to America in the form of the 2013 Audi Q3. But that’s just another small crossover SUV. The car nobody was paying much attention to – the Audi A4 Allroad Concept – is a much cooler piece of machinery.
The 2013 Audi A4 Allroad will replace the A4 Avant (read review) in Audi’s lineup, but that’s OK because the Allroad is the same thing as the Avant but equipped with SUV-derived design cues like a shinier chrome-trimmed grille, stainless steel skid plates and side sill trim, and matte gray lower bumper and wheel arch paint. The new A4 Allroad goes beyond cosmetics to lend legitimacy to its name, however, thanks to a 1.5-inch increase in ground clearance and its standard Quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system. The A4 Allroad is also wider and taller than the current A4 Avant.
Audi’s familiar 211-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is standard. Lest you assume the A4 Allroad is underpowered as a result, know that it benefits from 258 pound-feet of torque developed across a broad rev range, which makes the car feel much quicker and more powerful than its horsepower specs would indicate.
A panoramic sunroof is standard on the 2013 A4 Allroad, bathing the cabin in natural light. Cargo volume measures 27 cubic-feet behind the rear seat, or 50 cubes with the rear seat folded. In standard specification, the car is well equipped, but a long list of upgrades is available including Audi Connect infotainment that turns the car into a mobile wi-fi hotspot. Numerous safety features are also offered if you’re willing to open your wallet a little wider, including lane and blind spot assist systems.
Unlike the original Audi Allroad, which featured an adjustable air suspension to raise ride height and ground clearance, the new 2013 Audi A4 Allroad sticks with conventional underpinnings. Even so, we think this car is cool, even if it portends the death of yet another genuine sport wagon.
