24 June 2011
New car report; New A6 a business class act.
It’s hard to feel sorry for engineers working in the design studio for a prestige brand such as Audi, but when it comes to penning a new model, upping the ante on an already first rate product would appear to be an impossible task. Yet somehow they always seem to work their magic and come up with the goods.
In the case of the new Audi A6, numerous small advancements across a full gamut of technologies have culminated in a new model that has taken the latest four ring executive sedan a giant leap forward overall.
With extensive use of aluminium and high-tech steels as well as improved methods of bonding different metals to one another, the engineers have shaved 15% off the weight of the body shell, resulting in an overall vehicle weight saving of up to 80kg.
Advanced structural technology as well as state of the art acoustic development and suspension damping methods mean that the new car is considerably more refined and nimble than the outgoing model, with added strength and reduced noise levels. These are just some of the benefits of Audi’s 2.5 billion Euro that goes into R&D each year.
Choice of three engines - two price points.
Powering Audi’s latest A6 are options of a pair of common rail 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesels or a 3.0 litre TFSI V6 supercharged petrol engine; all with quattro drivelines and all equipped with a 7 speed S-tronic double clutch transmission.
Kicking off the range at $127,900 is a 150kW/450Nm 3.0TDI quattro with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 7.2 seconds and a fuel consumption of a miserly 5.7L/100km. The base model’s equipment level is impressive, being very close in spec to the range-toppers.
For $143,900 there’s the option of a 180kW/500Nm 3.0 TDI quattro or a 220kw/440Nm TFSI quattro. The 3.0 TDI 180 gets to the open road speed limit in 6.1 seconds, while the 3.0 TFSI 220 manages the sprint in just 5.5 seconds. Fuel is consumed at the rate of 6.0L/100km and 8.2L/100km respectively.
Audi General Manager Dane Fisher has chosen to steer clear of lower priced models with smaller capacity engines for the time being, saying “We don’t believe there’s a demand or any interest for a smaller capacity A6, at least, not in the short term.”
The only material differences between the two levels currently on offer are that higher grade models get Xenon headlights in place of Halogens, LED tail lights and a reversing camera.
Otherwise, almost everything is thrown in with the standard package. Milano leather, MMI (Multi Media Interface), Dynamic Drive Select, Navigation with touch pad, front and rear parking aid, heated seats, Bluetooth, 18 inch alloys and everything that opens and shuts is included.
Ride quality and refinement is everything you’d expect in a premium level car and for a car of this size it handles and grips the road well, thanks to the four wheel traction. Even road noise, which is a bugbear in just about everything on New Zealand course chip, is pretty well silenced and undulations are well damped.
S-Line arriving later this year.
We're told the S-Line will be here by December with bigger, 19 inch alloys and stiffer suspension. We wonder whether the refined qualities that have impressed us with models on offer so far might be compromised under New Zealand conditions, although S-Line models have traditionally been a winner in Kiwi showrooms thanks to the sportier look.
Of course, it wouldn’t be an Audi without the option of personalisation, and even though equipment levels will be comprehensive enough for most buyers, we counted over fifty option boxes to tick, should you so desire.
With the launch of the A6, Mr Fisher says that the Audi line-up is now complete with new models, with all the bases covered. Having launched the A7 Sportback earlier this year with a similar size and spec level to the new A6, he says that the A6 will continue to appeal to a more conservative buyer, where the A7 adds a more flamboyant offering for those buyers so inclined.
“The A6 will continue to appeal to a buyer who is more business orientated and conservative.” He says. “It’s all about what’s appropriate for the carpark.”
Yes, the A6 is conservative and perhaps a little understated, but it’s definitely not dull or boring. You could say that the A6 is the pinstripe business suit where the A7 is the designer jeans and sports jacket that comes out on casual Fridays. Just a shame we can’t all have one of each!