New Audi A6 unveiled

    New A6 ready to take on rivals

    Published On Nov 30, 2010 08:00:00 AM

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    New Audi A6 unveiled

    Audi’s all-new A6, on show for the first time in these official images, will ape its A8 big brother in more ways than one when it hits showrooms next year.

    Proclaimed by Audi as “the most successful executive saloon in the world”, the last A6 has outsold both BMW’s 5-series and Mercedes’ E-class globally. However, its worldwide lead is, in no small part, attributable to sales of Audi’s locally assembled long-wheelbase A6 in China. Even launching into a market in which both the 5-series and E-class are performing beyond expectations, Audi will be hoping that the new A6 can consistently top its segment in the US, Germany and the UK — something that was beyond the last model.

    Bucking the trend for incrementally expanding replacements, the new A6 is slightly shorter than the outgoing car, with a lower roofline. It is, however, wider than its immediate forebear and, courtesy of Audi’s MLP platform, has a shorter front overhang and longer overall wheelbase than the last A6. This makes for greater legroom and shoulder room throughout the cabin, as well as a more optimal weight distribution.

    Although it’s fitted with more electronic sub-systems as standard, Audi’s new A6 is 80kg lighter than its antecedent, model for model. Wider use of aluminum in the hybrid aluminum/steel superstructure means that the new car’s body-in-white is now 20 per cent aluminum and weighs 15 per cent less than it would if constructed exclusively from mild steel. The car’s doors, wings, bonnet, bootlid and bumpers are also aluminum.

    There will be four engines to choose from when the car goes on sale and there could be as many as five more in the pipeline. The launch offering will start with a 175bhp, 2.0-litre TDI — which will likely be the volume seller. Equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox; there will also be a 3.0-litre TDI on offer in some markets. The higher-output diesel will get Quattro four-wheel drive and Audi’s seven-speed S-Tronic twin-clutch gearbox. 

    This fourth-generation A6 breaks the mould by being launched without an eight-cylinder petrol engine. Although other markets will be offered a 202bhp 2.8-litre normally aspirated V6 FSI as well and 3.0 TFSI with 298bhp, quattro four-wheel drive and a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox.

    Optional S-Line suspension honed by Quattro GmbH and a sports styling kit will give owners the opportunity to add some dynamism to the flagship A6. However, a faster V8-powered S6 will be along later.

    For those more impressed by economy, a hybrid petrol-electric A6 will be launched in 2012, using a powertrain adapted from that of the Q5 hybrid. 

    Several measures have combined to make the new A6 up to 19 per cent more fuel-efficient than the outgoing model. A drag coefficient of just 0.26 minimises both aerodynamic resistance and wind noise. The car features engine stop-start as standard, as well as all of the economy-boosting technologies that Audi collects under its ‘recuperation’ banner.

    Twin-clutch gearboxes have replaced less efficient torque converter autos on the higher-powered models. This A6 is also only the second longitudinally engined Audi, after the A7, to get more efficient, fully electric power-assisted steering.

    Lightweight aluminum chassis arms form part of the new A6’s suspension, which consists of a five-arm double wishbone-like arrangement up front and more conventional trapezoidal multi-links at the rear. Steel springs come as standard and are available in the incrementally stiffer tunes of standard, Sport and S-Line. Air springs are available as an option.

    Audi will also fit a new five-mode Audi Drive Select system on the new A6, with which drivers can tailor the power steering assistance, throttle response and drivetrain settings to suit their tastes.

    The Comfort, Auto, Individual and Dynamic modes will be familiar to current Audi A8 owners, while a new Efficiency mode sets up all of the A6’s adaptable systems for optimum economy.  Expect the all new A6 to be launched in India shortly after its global unveiling sometime in April next year. 

    Copyright (c) Autocar India. All rights reserved.

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