Audi India has launched a more efficient, smaller capacity variant of its A6 saloon, the A6 2.0 TDI. With the addition of the 2-litre diesel motor, the A6 now has a total of four engine options – 2.0 TDI, 3.0 TDI, 2.8 FSI and 3.0 TFSI.

Base variants are a preferred choice among luxury car buyers who want a higher segment model but are also looking for affordability and low running costs. This is evident from the sales of the BMW 5-series, where a major chunk of the numbers comes from the base 520d. Audi hopes to emulate this success with its new entry-level 177bhp 2.0 TDI.

The technology-laden new Audi A6 features intelligently built light-weight body shell, owing to a significant proportion of aluminium components. It also sports an intuitive and user-friendly range of assistance and multimedia systems. Audi India has tested the saloon in a coast-to-coast drive and claims an efficiency figure of 18.9kpl under real Indian road conditions. This may have been achieved with the help of Audi’s new lightweight and hybrid bodyshell technology known as ‘Audi Ultra’.

Speaking on the occasion, head of Audi India Michael Perschke said, “It gives us great pride in showcasing the new Audi A6, which has again established a new benchmark globally and has now been proven on Indian roads.”

“With the arrival of the A6 2.0 TDI in India, we are confident that we might even increase our forecast for this year based on a strong response to the new A6,” he added.

Priced at Rs 37.70 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the A6 2.0 TDI will be available at Audi dealerships from October 2011.