Mar 16, 2012 (Laura Walubengo) – Flashy, attractive, sleek and powerful, the Audi is swiftly making its way to more and more households in Nairobi. The A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, A8, Q7, TT are all available in Kenya, despite the absence of a showroom in the country.
Nearly all Audi’s were purchased second hand at costs ranging from about Sh1.4 million for a TT and Sh6.5 million for a Q7. Fixing the car requires expertise from CMC motors and care must be taken on rough Kenyan roads – which are slowly smoothing out at least.
Apart from being the official state car for the Argentine government, which has them fitted with special armory, the Audi is yet another symbol of German supremacy on the roads.
Known for the trademark four circles, this beast was first brought into the world by August Horch in 1921. The name Audi was derived from the Latin translation of his last name Horch, which means to hear. Though several people have tried it in red, the Audi is best drooled over in black or sleek grey.
To keep up with the X5s and X6s and Range Rovers that whizz stealthily on Nairobi’s new highways, a class of Kenyans is paying keen interest on the Audi Q7, which has been categorised as a mid-size sports utility vehicle.
With a powerful engine and swanky interior, who would blame them? With a choice of petrol powered 3 litre V6 or TDI Diesel Engine, the Q7 purrs effortlessly on the road, accelerating 0-100kph in just under 6 seconds. Its size and weight pin it firmly on the road, while design and adjustable air suspension make room for easy maneuvering.
According to reviews, the sheer size outside is compromised on the inside but not enough legroom and space occupied by high-tech entertainment and upholstery. While you struggle to park between two Vitzs, at least you will be entertained by the busy interior. This includes a music interface with IPod and iPhone compatibility, and a 14-speaker system with 1000 watts of sound that has been described as a “concert hall on wheels”.
It has four-zone climate control within the car and adaptive cruise control that uses radar sensors to check distance between it and other cars.
As with most Audis, the LED lighting is significantly superior in tandem with its Vorsprung durch Technik philosophy, which means ‘progress through technology’.
