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The design of the new Audi A6
embodies athleticism and elegance. The sedan is 4.92 meters
(16.14 ft) long and 1.87 meters (6.14 ft) wide, but just 1.46
meters (4.79 ft) high – sporty proportions that are unrivaled by
the competition. The long engine hood, the low, sweeping
roofline and the prominent lines on the flanks create a dynamic
overall appearance. Optional LED headlights emphasize the
striking expression at the front.
The roomy interior of the new Audi
A6 echoes the sinewy style of the exterior. The salient element
is the “wrap-around” – an inlay encircling the driver and the
front-seat passenger. The elegantly curved dash panel places the
driver at the center of the interior.
Every detail of the interior is a
testament to the care that Audi invests in carmaking. All
materials, including an innovative layered-wood veneer, have
been selected and crafted with the utmost care. As an option,
the front seats can be equipped with ventilation and massage
functions. Classy ambient lighting in the lighting package
provides small points of light throughout the interior.
The new Audi A6 features the
logical ergonomics concept that distinguishes all of the brand’s
models. A highly efficient automatic air conditioning system and
the latest-generation MMI radio operating system are standard;
Audi also offers an optional head-up display, which projects
important information onto the windshield. The MMI touch
operating system is also available as an option. This enables
much of the hard-drive MMI navigation plus system to be
controlled by means of a touchpad.
Audi offers the A6 with a choice
of five powerful, highly efficient engines: two gasoline engines
and three TDI units. These powerplants develop between 130 kW
(177 hp) and 220 kW (300 hp). All of these engines make use of
important technologies from the brand’s modular efficiency
platform – the start-stop system, the energy recovery system,
and the innovative thermal management concept.
Throughout the entire model line,
fuel consumption in the A6 has decreased by up to 19 percent
compared to the previous model. In terms of consumption figures,
the A6 outperforms the competition.
The most powerful unit in the
range is the 2.0 TDI. In conjunction with a manual transmission,
it requires on average just 4.9 liters of fuel per 100 km (48.00
US mpg) and emits just 129 g CO2 per km (207.61 g/mile). The A6
hybrid will be available from Audi at a later date. Serving up
180 kW (245 hp) of system performance, its 2.0 TFSI plus
electric motor will achieve efficient and sporty acceleration
with an average fuel consumption of only 6.2 liters per 100 km
(37.94 US mpg) (provisional figure).
As was the case with the previous
model, the new Audi A6 is also available with a wide range of
drivetrains. The choice, based on the engine version, will
include a manual six-speed transmission, the continuously
variable multitronic, and the brand-new, sporty S tronic. Each
unit is precisely tuned and features a wide gear-ratio spread,
thereby making a significant contribution to the sedan’s
efficiency.
Depending on the engine version,
power is funneled via the gears to the front wheels or to the
quattro permanent all-wheel drive, whose crown-gear center
differential and torque-vectoring function achieve the ultimate
traction, stability and dynamic response. For the
top-of-the-line engines, Audi will offer an optional sport
differential.
The chassis of the new A6 combines
sporty precision with supreme comfort. Its links are made of
aluminum; the redesigned power steering features a highly
efficient electromechanical drive. The executive sedan has
wheels ranging from 16 to 20 inches in diameter.
The Audi drive select dynamic
handling system is standard, and the front-wheel-drive models
have the sporty ESP with electronic limited-slip differential on
board. For enhanced comfort, adaptive air suspension with
controlled damping is available as an option. Dynamic steering
will be available soon, also as an option.
Photos: Audi
(Dec 3, 2010)
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