The A6 is an authentic trend setter, just a tad short of a luxury model. Thoroughly appreciated by professionals and fleet owners alike, this Premium sedan (the station wagon Avant winks at families), packs all the historical heritage rooted throughout the Audi range.
6 IS ENOUGH
Whether it’s a short daily trip or a long highway journey, the A6 will have you travelling as in first class.
Audi’s fourth series A6, a balanced option between the A4 and the A8 is slightly shorter than 5 metres (4.933 m). The generous wheelbase, 2,91 metres, allows enough space for a particularly roomy cabin, able to receive 5 passengers in absolute comfort. The boot boasts a loading space of 530 litres (just 35 litres less than the SW A6 Avant, which is further reduced in case one opts for a donut tire instead of the repair kit supplied as standard), which can be enlarged to 1,680 litres when folding the rear seats.
A riot of drive assist systems and connectivity perfectly complements the A6’s class-leading interiors worthy of the heritage it represents. Although the top of the range segment is occupied by the opulence of the flagship A8, the equipment of the smaller A6, whether standard or optional, denotes the innate attitude of superior sedans. The four different options for the front seats, of which two in exquisite leather, can be adjusted manually or electronically, and offer even a massage function, with five different intensities, or superior side support in the more sporty S and RS versions.
The dashboard is dominates by an impressive MMI system, with a 6.5 or 8-inch screen, which can be managed manually through a dial between the front seats, or vocally in case of telephone and navigation functions. The instrument panel, on the other hand, houses a 5-inch mono-chrome or 7-inch colour display entrusted with supplying needed information to the driver, while driving parameters and road signs are projected on the windshield highlighting the surrounding obstacles. External monitoring, in fact, is one of the main safety functions, and is performed through a system of infra-red cameras, able to identify, even at night, obstacles and pedestrians alike. And when things get out of control, the automatic braking system kicks in and takes control, slowing down, or even stopping the car, before an impact.
Defining the lighting system as full led may seem rather simplistic; the smart management of the light beam, through Matrix Led headlights with 19 LEDs, can intensify or lower the light beam on 64 different levels, according to driving conditions, speed and the presence of other vehicles; cornering lights are managed through the satellite navigation sensors. And these are just some of the main features present in a list that could go on and on.
SUPERCAR ON DEMAND
Cutting-edge engineering in a refined package, the A6 is based on the same platform used for the sportier A7 and employs advanced technical solutions and materials, with 20% of the uprights and body parts made of aluminium, as well as alignment and geometry settings. Four independent wheels, with multi-link front and rear suspensions, can cope with virtually any road condition, thanks to traditional elastic elements, such as coil springs and hydraulic dampers (on the A6 Avant coil springs are made of fibre-glass instead of steel), or electronically controlled Adaptive Air Suspension, coupled to two different sports set-ups, with a lowered body of 20 and 30 mm respectively.
Audi’s Drive Select System, works on engine, automatic transmission and steering, interacting with the Esc stability control modules offering five different response parameters, "Comfort - Auto - Dynamic - Efficiency - Individual", according to driver’s preference and travelling conditions.
Don’t be fooled! A highway sedan can also turn into an authentic racer. As is the case of the powerful RS6, with its 560 hp petrol V8 twin-turbo, able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in less than 4 seconds, enough to thrash far more pretentious two seat coupes. Nevertheless, while this option is bound to fuel the desire of many, a selected few will actually have one in the car port. For all the others, Audi provides a wide range of models, such as three petrol driven TFSI, five TDI Turbo-diesel, with powers ranging between 150 and 333 hp.
All modern power-units, able to guarantee very high performance already as entry levels, reasonable running costs and very little noise during all operating modes, suitable for a sedan designed to be first of all comfortable.
Starting with the all-aluminium four-cylinder 1.8-litre petrol engine, which combines a power output of 190 hp with a six-speed manual transmission to more than acceptable fuel consumptions, with a declared average of over 17.5 km / litre. Slightly more thirsty (16.9 km / litre), the 252 hp 2.0 TFSI, proves to be a dynamic and snappy engine combined with a Quattro four-wheel drive system, able to reach 250 km / h with a 0-100 km / h acceleration in 6.7 seconds.
Putting the V8 twin-turbo aside, at the top of the range we find the 333 hp 3.0 TFSI, a V6 with a volumetric compressor capable of going from 0 to 100 km / h in just 5.1 seconds with a progressive thrust that, thanks to its S Tronic 7 speed automatic transmission, can propel the vehicle to 250 km / h.
The Turbo-diesel units, extremely frugal when it comes to fuel consumption, start from a 2.0 TDI offered in two configurations: the entry level is a 150 hp unit, followed by a 190 hp option, both so efficient as to deserve the nickname Ultra, with an average consumption of 23, 8 km/litre for both versions equipped with a 7-speed S Tronic transmission.
Three levels of power guaranteed by a 3.0 V6 TDI, in two single turbo versions with 218 and 272 hp respectively and an average consumption of around 21.3 and 19.6 km / litre, despite brilliant performance expressed with a 0-100 km / h acceleration in 7.1 seconds and 5.5 seconds depending on the drive chain involved, front wheel drive the first and Quattro all-wheel drive in the more powerful version with a top speed of 250 km / h.
One step above, the 320hp V6 Twin-turbo TDI, with a maximum torque of 66.2 kgm between 1,400 and 2,800 rpm which, thanks to its 8-speed Tiptronic automatic dual-clutch transmission, allows the A6 to go from 0 to 100 km / h in just 5 seconds. If thrills is what you’re looking for, Audi offers the TDI Competition version, with an S Line sports package and a 20 mm lowered trim, which thanks to an additional boost sees its power output reach 346 hp.
Eighteen different alloy wheels ranging from 17 inches on the entry level versions, to 18 and 19 inches for the richer versions. In addition, of course, the 20" and 21" wheels with ultra-low profile tires size 245/40 to 285/30, reserved for the exclusive S6 and the 4.0 V8 Twin-turbo RS6.
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