The little difference engine
Charles Babbage designed the first mechanical computer in 1821, just as Napoleon was gasping his last breath. He called it the Difference Engine...
This car is a hoot to drive. It is light, nimble, sounds great with that unusual 3-cylinder beat, turns on a sixpence yet sticks to even the lumpiest road like Marine Parade to the PAP. Audi says it has new electromechanical steering that reduces power assist as speed increases, but I didn't notice it. The gearbox is very slick and responsive and really makes the most of the engine's sweet spot without giving that small-engine revvy feel. Parking is easy; the car slots in anywhere with utter neatness. It has parking sensors but you never need them
Position-wise, the deep and well padded seats and "sit-in" position make you feel like Sebastian Vettel, and the sound system has as much go as that little beauty of an engine.
The dash is well laid out and the easy-read dials and digital display are customisable enough to make your own, even if the display is a bit low-res. The dash also houses a pop-up 7-inch screen which sadly doesn't include GPS or traffic notifications despite them being billed in the list. As such it's really only a fancy menu control. The rest of the controls - aircon, lights, windows and gear section - are very obvious and instantly easy to use without needing a weekend with the operation manual. The suspension and small wheels do transmit more road noise than some of the competition on specific road surfaces, especially at higher speeds and acceleration is brisk rather than neck-cricking; this is not an autobahn cruising car.
But if you are looking for a cool, nimble, capable, petrol sipper that still has a prestige badge and can take you and the girlfriend to the Turf Club in chic style, this car is great. And if you get tired of fiddling with those funky airvents, doing fast u-turns in narrow roads and grooving to the great sound system, you can always lift the bonnet and marvel at the powerplant. It's a very different engine, for sure. Babbage would have approved.
Credits: Story and Photos by Jeremy Torr
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