Design and performance - The new Audi A6

.February 25, 2004
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Design and performance - The new Audi A6

Photo: Audi

Audi is setting a new benchmark in the luxury performance segment. For the latest generation of the Audi A6 is a saloon combining supreme driving dynamics with high technology, plus outstanding comfort and exemplary equipment, thus striving for top position within this competition segment.

Powerful TDI and petrol engines with up to eight cylinders and 246 kW (335 bhp), the most advanced transmission technology, as well as the choice of front-wheel or quattro permanent all-wheel drive set the foundation for the particular supremacy of the new A6 sports saloon. And thanks to the cutting-edge suspension combined with high body rigidity, this power and performance opens up a new dimension in driving dynamics.

Given these qualities, the new Audi A6 is rightly and appropriately committed to an outstanding role model: the Audi A8 lauded by both the press and the public as the sportiest car in its class. And now, with its wide range of features - with design and performance - the A6 is likewise set to overtake all its competitors as the most progressive car in the luxury performance segment.

A new face in the business class

Measuring 4.92 metres in length, 1.86 metres in width, and 1.46 metres in height, the new Audi A6 visibly sets a new standard. The lines of the car combine the clear architecture typical of Audi with other core elements of the brand's progressive design.

Already acknowledged as classic, the fundamental proportions of Audi's sports saloon with its low-slung windows and coupé-like roofline now comes with even greater tension and dynamism.

Seen from the front, the trapezoidal design of the single-frame radiator grille reveals clearly that the A6 represents the latest generation of Audi models. The most advanced headlight technology, in turn, is equally visible behind the clear-glass headlight covers: the new A6 is the first Audi to feature as an option dynamic adaptive light technology incorporating powerful xenon plus units that help you see around corners.

Interior

A quick look at the interior is also sufficient to show the change in generations, the high and wide centre console with controls and instruments in perfect reach accentuating the sporting architecture of the interior fully integrating the driver.

Sporting design and perfect ergonomics - these are the features that characterise the cockpit. A joint cover at the top connects the central instrument panel and the upper part of the centre console facing slightly towards the driver to form one common unit.

The new generation of Audi steering wheels is also making its production debut in the new A6. The most outstanding visible symbol of both the three- and four-spoke steering wheels is the single-frame trapezoid centrepiece with the four Audi rings on the central airbag cap. And the oval exterior geometry also serves to vary the single-frame design.

All the car's occupants benefit from a far higher standard of comfort and spaciousness inside: The wheelbase of the new Audi A6 is up by 83 millimetres over the car's predecessor to 2843 millimetres. This means extra comfort and safety as well as additional legroom for the front passengers, plus extra knee room at the rear. Shoulder room at the front is up by 23 millimetres, with an extra 6 millimetres at the rear. The luggage capacity on both front-wheel-drive and quattro models is 546 litres.

Drivetrain

The new Audi A6 is entering the market initially with a total of five power units fitted in longitudinal arrangement - three petrol and two TDI engines. All these engines share a level of power and torque that is outstanding in this segment of the market:

new: 4.2 V8 - 246 kW (335 bhp) - 420 Newton-metres
new: 3.2 V6 FSI - 188 kW (255 bhp) - 330 Newton-metres
new: 2.4 V6 - 130 kW (177 bhp) - 230 Newton-metres
new: 3.0 TDI V6 - 165 kW (225 bhp) - 450 Newton-metres
new: 2.0 TDI - 103 kW (140 bhp) - 320 Newton-metres

All of these power units, as featured in the new Audi A6, are entering the market for the first time and comply with the EU 4 emission standard.

The six- and eight-cylinder engines come from Audi's new V-configuration engine family with a 90° cylinder angle and a distance of 90 millimetres (3.54") between the cylinders. They are compact in design and feature maintenance-free camshaft drive by means of a chain, as well as low-friction roller arm valve drive.

Petrol engines

The powerful 4.2 V8 with chain drive made an outstanding debut in the Audi S4 towards the end of 2002. Now this supreme power unit has been re-tuned and updated for the new Audi A6, offering powerful torque up to maximum engine speed plus an agile response and superior fuel economy all in one.

The new 3.2 FSI six-cylinder has all the features of a cutting-edge petrol engine. Direct fuel injection with on-demand fuel supply, four-valve technology, a variable intake manifold and infinitely variable camshaft adjustment gives the driver dynamic and powerful reaction to every movement of the accelerator plus a broad useful speed range of up to 7200 rpm, muscular torque and an equally high standard of fuel efficiency.

The new 2.4 V6 is the entry-level power unit leading into the versatile range of petrol engines available for the Audi A6. Based on the new engine block of the 3.2-litre power unit and featuring intake manifold fuel injection, this smaller engine provides an exemplary synthesis of superior performance, refinement and exemplary fuel economy.

TDI engines

The new 3.0 TDI six-cylinder engine introduces outstanding power and muscle in the sporty business class, offering output and torque highly impressive in every respect: 225 bhp and 450 Newton-metres. Maximum torque is available just above idle speed, starting at a mere 1400 rpm and giving the driver forceful acceleration at all speeds. Further fortes are the engine's highly efficient noise management and fulfilment of the strict EU 4 emission standards.

This versatility of the highest calibre is based on the latest generation of common rail fuel injection with piezo injectors conveying fuel into the combustion chambers at a pressure of up to 1600 bar and in five carefully graded stages.

The 2.0 TDI four-cylinder version with unit injector is one of the most modern engines in the market today. Again, the particular strength of this engine is its outstanding output and torque combined with equally impressive all-round economy. The new Audi A6 2.0 TDI is able to easily cover a range of more than 1,100 kilometres or 680 miles on one single tank (market launch: the second half of 2004).

Transmission

The supreme fuel economy and dynamic performance offered by the new Audi A6 also results from the standard fitment of six-speed manual/six-speed automatic transmissions with a wide range of gear increments.

The particularly high-torque 4.2 V8, 3.2 FSI and 3.0 TDI power units are also available with six-speed tiptronic transmission converting the supreme power of these engines into an equally supreme synthesis of operating convenience and dynamism.

quattro permanent all-wheel drive is a typical feature of all high-performance Audi models. With the power unit and drivetrain of the new A6 being fitted longitudinally, all models come with a Torsen centre differential distributing engine torque in a straightforward but very effective flow of power to the front and rear axles and thus making a significant contribution to the driving dynamics and superior safety even in extreme situations so typical of quattro drive.

The 4.2 and 3.0 TDI models come as standard with quattro all-wheel drive, which is optional on the 3.2 FSI.

The equipment and data stated here refer to the model range offered for sale in Germany. We reserve the right to make changes. Errors and omissions excepted.

(February 20, 2004)

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