Model athlete
Following hot on of the heels of the relaunched Audi A8 and Audi A7 Sportback, the latest edition of the Audi A6 rounds out the four rings’ full-size class. Showcased at the Geneva International Motor Show, the car made a splash with its sharp-edged, dynamic design, impressive infotainment and exceptional drive technology.
Jan Strahl (copy) & AUDI AG (photos)
While design aficionados already admired the Audi prologue allroad study’s razor-sharp contours as well as the Audi A8 that reached the market in late 2017, some were nevertheless bowled over by the precision and athleticism the new Audi A6 sedan radiates even before it moves an inch. With the crisp lines and clearly defined surfaces adding extra emphasis to the new Audi design idiom, onlookers feel they have encountered a futuristic descendent of the quattro lineage. Set in the wide Singleframe grille, the narrow headlights look like the eyes of an athlete totally focused on the contest. Together with the sporty roof line, coupé-like silhouette and upright front end, the flat tail rounds out the powerful exterior. Elements such as the three-dimensional chrome trim at the rear lend the car’s sporty exterior a touch of the familiar sophistication and progressive quality.
The minimalist concept is carried through into the interior as an aesthetic stylistic device. The sharp detailing and quality already eloquently evident in the design of exterior volumes, surfaces and edges is echoed on the inside. Overall, the design aims to not just showcase but also celebrate the high-tech equipment built into the car. For instance, the vehicle interior is shaped by the MMI touch response operating system—two touch-sensitive displays with haptic and acoustic feedback that largely replace buttons and deliver the ultimate in user friendliness. Customers who select the optional Audi virtual cockpit with HD resolution can choose between the smaller and larger formats, which additionally enhances clarity and intuitive operation.
Alongside the visible cutting-edge equipment facilitating communication between man and machine in the Audi A6 cockpit, high-performance processors in the vehicle interior are also busy ensuring that the driver’s comfort and safety are taken to the max: The central driver assistance controller (zFAS) collates a wealth of data from sensors and cameras to create a comprehensive picture of the vehicle’s surroundings, which is then fed to the assistance systems. As with the Audi A7 Sportback, the driver assistance systems* in the new Audi A6 are divided into three packages entitled Park**, City and Tour. Among the almost 40 systems, two highlights are the parking pilot and the garage pilot, which autonomously maneuver the car into and out of a parking space or garage, as well as the adaptive cruise control** and adaptive cruise assist, which help A6 drivers stay in their lane and maintain their following distance behind the vehicle in front.
When the Audi A6 launches on European markets, it will be available with a choice of two powerful engines—one gasoline and one diesel. With its three-liter displacement, the turbocharged V6 TFSI power plant produces 250 kilowatts, accelerating the business sedan from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.1 seconds. The fuel-efficient 50 TDI quattro generates 210 kilowatts of power and delivers a comparable driving performance. Both engines come with quattro all-wheel drive as standard and are electronically limited to a top speed of 250 kilometers per hour.
The feel behind the wheel and efficiency receive a significant boost from mass hybridization in the shape of the four rings’ new mild-hybrid technology. A 48-volt electrical subsystem, which relies on a belt alternator starter mated to a lithium-ion battery, is available for the two six-cylinder power plants (50 TDI quattro and 55 TFSI quattro). Installing the electrical subsystem together with the lithium-ion battery helps reduce energy consumption. For example, the engine automatically cuts out in certain situations, allowing the Audi A6 to coast along in energy-saving glide mode. Thanks to the lithium-ion battery, the process of recuperating energy during braking is even more efficient—plus, stop-start operation now not only kicks in earlier but has also been improved with the new technology in this vehicle generation.
In a word, the car’s inner values live up to what the design promises. The new Audi A6 steps out as one of today’s top athletes—high-tech and extremely efficient.
The Audi A6 sedan is scheduled to launch on the European markets in July 2018. The Audi A6 Avant will follow in September 2018.
*Assistance systems can only support the driver within the specified system limits. Responsibility for remaining sufficiently alert and performing driving tasks rests at all times with the driver.
**The driver assistance systems mentioned above are unlikely to be available from July 2018. Your Audi partner will be happy to inform you about the exact date of their introduction.
Audi A6 Limousine 55 TFSI quattro fuel consumption combined in l/100 km: 7.1–6.7; CO2 emissions combined in g/km: 161–151. Audi A6 Limousine 50 TDI quattro fuel consumption combined in l/100 km: 5.8–5.5; CO2 emissions combined in g/km: 150–142. Where stated in ranges, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions depend on tires/wheels used.
Further information on the official fuel consumption and specific CO2 emissions figures for new passenger cars can be found in the Guideline for Fuel Consumption, CO2 Emissions and Electric Power Consumption, which is available free of charge at all car dealerships as well as DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen, Germany (www.dat.de)