We have complained about how difficult it is to release the ignition key in our Audi A4 and Q5 full track reports, as well as in the Cars blog. (See “Pet Peeve: Audi Q5 – The maddening key.”) The stubborn key can be quite infuriating because it usually happens when you’ve just arrived somewhere and you’re running late. Perhaps in Germany no one is ever late. We’ll admit, though, that it’s a bit easier to get the key out, even in haste, in our later-built A5 convertible that we’re now testing. All three models share basic components.

It didn’t take long for our recent blog to reach the attention of Audi’s headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany. Audi’s response: “Cars produced as of November 2009 have a redesigned internal release mechanism,” says After Sales & Technical Service Director Marc Trahan.
 
Supposedly, the fix makes the release quicker. Evidently, this issue wasn’t a surprise for Audi. We haven’t tried the new mechanism for ourselves yet, however.
 
Cars with the quicker-release key should have 11/09 or later printed on their door jamb label.
 
—Gabe Shenhar and Mike Quincy