| We approach a steep downhill slope where the | | | | the whole way but the Hill Descent Control |
| trail just seems to drop away from you. Since | | | | uses the angle of the slope to control our |
| we don't have a good view of the approach to | | | | speed beautifully. We make it to the bottom |
| the descent, Justin, the Land Rover driving | | | | of the hill without incident, and, in |
| instructor, suggests that we step out of the | | | | retrospect, quite easily - the technology in |
| car to get a better sense of what lies ahead. | | | | the Range Rover proving triumphant once |
| We jump out of the confines of the Range | | | | again. |
| Rover's luxurious cabin onto a slippery | | | | |
| surface of loose sand and rocks - suggesting | | | | I'm attending the Land Rover Driving School |
| that this may get somewhat tricky. | | | | at Quail Lodge in Carmel, California - one of |
| | | | the most scenic parts of the US west cost. |
| The Range's parked just before a sharp left | | | | Set amidst some of the best golf courses in |
| turn leading to the descent, which means that | | | | the world, there's about 100 acres of private |
| we have to turn the car and have it pointing | | | | forestland owned by Quail Lodge. This is used |
| straight before we start heading downhill - | | | | by Land Rover to educate anyone who cares |
| try going sideways through a steep downhill | | | | about the finer points of off-road driving - |
| slope and you're likely to find yourself on | | | | in some of the best machinery in the world |
| your roof very quickly. We get back in the | | | | suited to the task. The Land Rover Driving |
| car to activate the Range Rover's Hill Decent | | | | Experience is an off-road driving school set |
| Control (HDC), after which we proceed to | | | | up by the company in different parts of the |
| navigate our way through trees on either side | | | | US, essentially with the aim of providing |
| of the trail - taking a wide line so that we | | | | owners or prospective owners the chance to |
| can straighten the car before we start | | | | experience the true capabilities of their |
| heading downhill in earnest. | | | | vehicles in a safe and controlled |
| | | | environment, and, most importantly, sitting |
| Justin now suggests that I simply keep the | | | | alongside professional driving instructors. |
| steering pointed straight and take my foot | | | | The DTM version of the A4 is the car that's |
| off the pedals. 'Take my foot off the | | | | campaigned in the Deutsche Touren |
| pedals?' I look at him like he's a man with a | | | | Meisterschaft or German Touring Car |
| death wish but he nods reassuringly. The car | | | | Championship. It's a bit like stock car |
| lunges forward for an instant before the | | | | racing, where the cars being raced have the |
| tires find grip and the Hill Descent system | | | | general appearance - save for a few wings and |
| uses traction control to manage our downhill | | | | fins - of a normal road going car but are |
| speed. I use all my will power to avoid | | | | completely different under the skin, and |
| following my natural instincts of standing on | | | | light minutes ahead in terms of technology |
| the brakes, which could possibly cause the | | | | when compared with the cars they're based on. |
| car to pitch sideways and, as previously | | | | But first, let's have a look at what the |
| explained, eventually leave us sitting on our | | | | standard car is all about to better |
| roof. The tires fight the surface for grip | | | | understand the DTM car. |