High country experience

The ultimate way to enjoy the snow. Welcome to the Home of quattro.

Mount Hotham, Victoria became the Home of quattro as Audi showcased its own brand of winter sports, in the form of the Audi quattro snow driving experience.

30 October, 2015

Home of quattro

It has all of the ingredients of a truly memorable experience, with that special Audi twist. Offered for the first time Down Under, the Audi quattro snow driving experience gave customers and members of the public the opportunity to sample the all-new Audi Q7 in the unique and challenging alpine environment.

With stunning Mount Hotham as the venue – aptly renamed the ‘home of quattro’ – Audi Australia not only celebrated the announcement of an on-going sponsorship between the company and Mount Hotham, but also the Audi quattro snow driving experience, which featured the new Q7 ahead of its official Australian launch.

Putting these advanced vehicles through their paces under the tutelage of Audi’s chief driving instructor, Steve Pizzati and his team is an experience in itself, but with the added challenges of driving on snow and ice, the experience took on a whole new dimension.

“It’s an opportunity for customers to not only sample the new Q7,” Steve Pizzati said of the experience, “but also to gain some important insight into how to drive in the often difficult conditions encountered in these alpine regions,” he added.

“It’s a fact that once you get your licence in Australia you’re allowed to drive anywhere, and yet driving on snow or in icy conditions presents unique problems that require a special approach,” he said.

Pizzati, a race driver and former Top Gear Australia host has trained extensively in Europe with the Audi driving experience instructors and was responsible for designing the course and the program for the Audi quattro snow driving experience.

Driving on both the specially constructed snow circuit and then on an alpine touring loop on off-road trails normally closed to the public, the Q7s showed just how comfortable and competent they are in all conditions. Stunning scenery formed the backdrop for this unique event which was held over eight days – the first time a snow driving event has been held in Australia.

Stunning Mount Hotham

But in true Audi style, the driving formed just one component of the experience – albeit a significant one. Customers arrived at the mountainous destination by charter plane, flying from Sydney and Melbourne respectively before heading to the specially constructed off-road course to sample the Q7s. Exploring parts of the Mount Hotham area normally off-limits afforded participants a rare opportunity to see some of the more remote parts of the region – all with Audi drive instructors present and ensuring everyone made it back into Hotham to enjoy a sumptuous lunch in the heart of the resort.

After lunch it was back out onto the snow, but sans vehicles this time. Participants could nominate skiing or snowboarding for the afternoon, with instruction provided commensurate with their experience (or lack of it as was the case with this writer), while others chose to enjoy a spa treatment and relax after the morning’s activities.

Whether it was action out on the slopes or a relaxing treatment while taking in the stunning scenery, it was a perfect way to wrap up the day, before being chauffeured back to Mount Hotham airport in a fleet of Audis to board the charter flights home.

A full day and one that perfectly illustrates Audi’s commitment to providing genuine experiences that not only showcase the vehicles, but the Audi lifestyle.

High country experience

The ultimate way to enjoy the snow. Welcome to the Home of quattro.

Home of quattro

Stunning Mount Hotham

Open road touring

Space ships

Complete immersion

Up above the clouds