2009 Acura TL SH-AWD vs 2009 Audi A4 3.2 quattro

Torque steer. Two words that make front-drive loyalists cringe and rear-drive purists chuckle. While most of today's automakers have managed to quell torque steer with half-shaft trickery or engine control units that reduce torque in low gears, the helm-tugging phenomenon still exists in several, modern front-drivers, especially those with a propensity for pound-feet. This trait is unwelcome in any car, but certainly those of the luxury bent, whose buyers, after gassing their new rides through a sharp turn, would likely race back to the dealership exclaiming, "There's something wrong with my $50,000 car!"

Solutions? Besides the obvious (read: rear drive) and the aforementioned tricks, there's all-wheel drive, a system that can be easily bolted to a front-drive chassis and, more notable, apportions torque to the rear wheels, thus nullifying or greatly calming those pesky pound-feet. Today there are myriad rear-drive-based all-wheel-drive sport/luxury sedans, including the BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G, Lexus IS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but for this test we focused on the newest and most significant front-drive-based traction mongers.

We turned first to Audi, whose fourth-generation A4 once again gets the company's renowned quattro all-wheel drive. For 2009 the Spanish-dubbed system has been biased to send 60 percent of torque to the rear wheels. Naturally, a self-locking center diff can also send a majority of torque to the front axle, if traction levels dictate. In addition, the A4, which in base front-drive trim gets a 2.0-liter turbo and a CVT, sports a longer wheelbase, a wider track, a lower center of gravity, and a front axle moved forward six inches, all of which promises enhanced dynamics. We opted for the flagship of the line, the 3.2 quattro, featuring a six-speed automatic and Audi's direct-injected 3.2-liter V-6 making 265 horsepower and 243 pound-feet (for V-6 lovers, get the 3.2 while you can-Audi will not offer it for 2010).

Rounding out this head-to-head match-up is the all-new fourth-gen Acura TL, which for this shindig wears a Monroney declaring, "SH-AWD TECH HPT." Confused? It's understandable. As is Acura's reasoning for taking the acronym route -- "Super Handling All-Wheel Drive with Tech Package and High Performance Tires" -- would have made one helluva long badge. As its name suggests, the TL adopts Acura's SH-AWD, a system that not only distributes torque fore and aft but also side to side. And thanks to a 3.7-liter, 305-horse V-6, the TL receives the stamp as the most powerful Acura ever. Keeping this NSX-humbling Acura in check are a five-speed auto with paddle shifters, sport-tuned suspension, brakes, and electric-power steering, and 19-inch alloys with summer Michelins. Pricing? What fun's that? Let's drive them first.