Sliding a car across a frozen lake is one thing. Doing it in a lineup of Audi performance sedans, under the guidance of professional racing instructors, is something else entirely. That was the point of the 2012 Audi Driving Experience: Winter Edition.
Held on frozen lakes in Quebec and Alberta, the program gave participants a controlled environment to push Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system to its limits. Locations included Esterel Suites in Quebec and Nakoda on the Lake in Alberta—both chosen for their wide-open ice surfaces and brutal winter conditions.
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The experience was led by Canadian racing icon Scott Goodyear, alongside a team of Audi-certified instructors. Together, they coached drivers through high-speed ice laps, controlled slides, and emergency maneuvers designed to build confidence in low-grip conditions.
Participants drove the 2012 Audi S4, powered by a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 producing 333 horsepower, paired with Audi’s quattro system and riding on Pirelli Sottozero Serie II winter tires—the same rubber fitted from the factory.
It’s fun ripping around on ice. But the program is about understanding how performance technology behaves when conditions are at their worst. And why winter driving, when done properly, can be just as engaging as it is challenging.
