New Audi A6 with petrol and diesel engines revealed

Audi has unveiled the next-generation A6 as an estate car in the European market. The A6 Avant is the only body style currently available, but a sedan is expected to join the line-up shortly. Under Audi’s now-axed naming strategy, the premium estate was supposed to be called the A7, but it now uses the conventional nomenclature. The Audi A6 Avant gets fresh styling, petrol and diesel engines with mild hybrid assistance, and a host of new features.

 

In terms of styling, the new Audi A6 Avant is radically different from the car it replaces. It features a low, wide-shouldered stance typically reserved for Audi’s S and RS models. The front fascia is dominated by the large grille, with the raised Audi rings logo placed on its top edge. The sleek headlamps feature digital LED daytime running lights with 48 individual light segments each, providing a distinct and customisable light signature. Beneath the headlamps are large air curtains and electronically controllable air intakes, which, together with the roof spoiler and aerodynamic panels on the sides of the rear windows, help the A6 Avant achieve a drag coefficient of just 0.25 – the best of any ICE Audi Avant.

 

The side profile features crisp shoulder lines highlighting the width of the A6 Avant’s haunches. Wheel arches are well-rounded and protrude subtly to give it a wide-shouldered look, with optional 21-inch wheels filling the arches nicely. The roofline and D-pillar taper downwards sharply at the rear, giving the A6 a striking sporty estate silhouette. At the rear, an LED light strip running across the tailgate further emphasises the width of the A6 Avant, while slim tail-lamps feature their own intelligent light signatures. The bumper is characterised by a large diffuser element flanked by dual rectangular exhaust finishers.

 

In terms of dimensions, the new A6 Avant has a length of 4,990mm – 60mm longer than its predecessor – and a 2,927mm wheelbase. 

 

 

Inside, the Audi A6 Avant has Audi’s latest dashboard architecture, which is also found in the new A5 and Q5. The dashboard features what Audi dubs the “digital stage”, comprising the Audi MMI panoramic display and the optional MMI passenger display. The curved Audi MMI panoramic display is made up of an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit and a 14.5-inch central infotainment touchscreen. The optional 10.9-inch MMI for the front passenger enables them to stream video content and assist in navigation.

 

An optional Sound & Vision pack brings with it a configurable head-up display that is said to be 85 percent larger than before. Also part of the pack is a premium sound system from Bang & Olufsen, with up to 20 speakers and 810 watts, also featuring speakers in the front headrest for an immersive experience. 

 

In typical Audi fashion, the rest of the cabin uses high-quality materials, with sustainable options such as the Cascade fabric and the microfibre material Dinamica available as well. The optional panoramic glass roof, dynamic interaction lights and four-zone climate control further enhance the interior ambience.

 

 

In Europe, the Audi A6 Avant gets three engine options: two petrol ones and a diesel. The entry-level mill is a 204hp, 340Nm, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol mated to a 7-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission, sending power to the front wheels. The diesel engine is a 204hp, 400Nm 2.0-litre TDI with a 48-volt mild hybrid system that is said to improve efficiency and enable partial electric-only driving. The MHEV system’s powertrain generator also produces an additional 24hp and 230Nm when starting off or overtaking. This engine, too, is mated to a DCT, but it also gets the Quattro ultra all-wheel-drive system as standard. The most potent unit is a 367hp, 3.0 TFSI six‑cylinder turbo-petrol that also benefits from the 48-volt mild hybrid system.

 

Audi claims that the chassis of the A6 Avant is the perfect blend of comfort and sportiness. To that end, it features a five-link setup on the front and rear axles constructed largely of aluminium. It is available with three suspension setups in the UK. Audi claims that the standard setup is more comfortable than its predecessor, while the sport suspension, which lowers the body by 20mm, offers sportier handling. Adaptive air suspension with adjustable damping is optional across the range and offers a balance between comfort and dynamism. The A6’s dynamics also benefit from what Audi claims to be a more direct electromechanical progressive steering, Quattro sport differential and optional all-wheel steering.

 

The Audi A6 Avant joins the new A5 Avant and the all-electric A6 Avant e-tron in Audi’s estate range, none of which, unfortunately, are likely to make it to Indian shores. However, the sedan based on the new A6 Avant’s platform is a more viable proposition for our market.