Audi Q5 2.0 TFSIq
The middle member of the Q-family was
always the most nondescript in its design. Audi wasn’t too flattered with the
non-polarizing response and the 2013 facelift promises to rub you the right way
doesn’t see any changes yet? Well, read on…
Almost identical to the larger Q7 in the
standard equipment list, the new music interface, Driver Information System and
Bluetooth interface make the Q5 quite a bargain.
The
middle member of the Q-family was always the most nondescript in its design.
The continuous strip of led head and tail lights
is the most visible change here. On closer inspection, Q5 fans may also notice
the subtle chamfer in the gaping grille and, er, new fog lights. What you won’t
see are the benefits of the new all-aluminum hood and wrap-around tailgate.
Less weight = more kmpl.
It might sound like it has four cylinders
missing for an SUV, but the new Q5’s 2.0 petrol motor is simply one of the most
refined engines we have had the pleasure of throttling in recent times. With
the 8-speed transmission and suspension in comfort mode, you could be cruising
up and down the length of the country without a break for a back massage.
Newly added to the 2013 model is the
Individual mode to the Audi Drive Select interface. This lets you dial-in just
the kind of steering, suspension and throttle response you wish for your kind
of driving style. Helped along by a cleaned-up MMI interface, it makes for a
swift experience navigating the abyss of settings. The audio, as always, is
fabulous.
Changes under the skin in the steering
response and damper settings have also made the new Q5 a more responsive beast.
Like most new Audis, the steering feels a bit numb but doesn’t hesitate to
change direction on call. There is minimal turbo lag, especially in Sport
modebut the throttle response does become jerky in stop-and-go traffic.
Nyne NB 250
Website: nyne.com
If you hate heavy ape-sized speakers in
your room and would rather have something that you could easily lug around, you
will adore the Nyne Bluetooth Speaker.
The built-in dual passive radiators and a
DSP dynamic control chipset make sure the Sonics are music to your ears.
The Nyne dock weighs in at just about a
kilo and feels surprisingly light. We also absolutely love the way the NB 250
is designed, its tiny proportions and contoured body make it easy to be carried
around.
It takes less than a few seconds to connect
the dock to your smartphone, laptop or just about any serve worthy
Bluetooth-enabled device. The signal range is surprisingly good – we were able
to play songs from across another room without any problems. The dock is
absolute fun for movie viewing too.
The
built-in dual passive radiators and a DSP dynamic control chipset make sure the
Sonics are music to your ears.
You can crank up the volume all the way to
the maximum without upsetting the sound quality too much. Bass is powerful
enough, but loses a bit of composure at higher volume levels. As long as you do
not intend to play 16Hz tones that Zimmers brunches on, you don’t need to
worry. Overall, this one is a sonic star.
The rubberized exterior is beautifully
built. Thanks to its liquid-repellant characteristics, the occasional beer
spill during your next house party won’t kill the product. With more than 10
hours play time on a full charge, you can easily pull off an all- nighter as
you show off to your friends how well this thing plays even at max volume
levels.
Sony VAIO Duo 11
Website: sony.com
Microsoft is doing to the ultrabook
industry what Apple did to the MP3 player industry - turning it on its head. It
slaps the VAIO brand name on a tablet + ultrabook hybrid that promises to offer
the best of both worlds
Since it’s a slider design, there isn’t any
room for a track pad. Instead, you do get an almost full-size keyboard and a
trackball. But really, Windows 8 is all about touch and the VAIO’s touchscreen
input is brilliant.
It’s probably a good thing that Gorilla
Glass has been used to smother the 11.6in, 1080p screen since it will always
remain exposed. Pity that even the ugly hinges and joints are exposed!
Sony hasn’t alienated legacy users so even
though ports like Ethernet and VGA sound obsolete in the days of Wi-Fi and
HDMI, they’re all there, just in case. A stylus tries to persuade you to be
more creative than usual but it will seldom ever come out of hiding. An
interesting option is the sheet battery that extends this VAIO’s short
lifespan.
A
stylus tries to persuade you to be more creative than usual but it will seldom
ever come out of hiding.
While it may sound like a great idea, at
1.3kg, the VAIO Duo won’t pass as a tablet really. It feels heavy and
cumbersome because it is. The accelerometer is slow to react when you slide
back from ultrabook mode to tablet mode and none of the modes are without
interruptions. All of this makes it a less than pleasant experience.
The third-gen Intel Core i5 that this
hybrid sports makes it much better suited to strenuous tasks than any tablet
brethren. Packing a 128GB SSD drive and an SD card slot, it can hold even more.
There was absolutely no hint of lag or stutter while swooping ‘n swiping
through Windows 8’s myriad gesture controls.
