Audi A6 35TDI Matrix Driven
Matrix LED headlamps headline the updated Audi A6
They were the first, and even though the competition has caught up on the technology front, they’re still the one’s occupying mind space as far as lighting is concerned. Which is a good thing considering this updated Audi A6’s biggest claim to fame are the Matrix LED headlamps – which also explains the officially-unofficial name: A6 Matrix.
Is Keanu Reeves going to jump out of the Matrix?
Nothing sinister about this Matrix. It refers to Audi’s full-LED headlamps that not only look sexy as hell and offer a dazzling spread of light in the dark but using a rather complicated system of sensors can dim individual LED elements so that oncoming traffic isn’t blinded by the two suns in the nose of your car. It means you can continue driving with main beam activated and all the areas around the approaching car are light up like it’s (almost) day, but the driver of the oncoming car won’t get blinded and crash into you. At least in theory; in India if the oncoming driver isn’t blinded by your headlight he won’t bother dipping his main beam for you. And you end up getting blinded. Throw a solution and India will give you a new problem!
What else is new?
Well that’s about it. The Matrix headlamps have a new arrow-head pattern for the LED DRLs which look really cool while the tail lamps too have a very cool LED graphic. The turn indicators do that same trick as the R8 where the LEDs light up in the direction of the turn. Sexy tricks with the lighting, that’s what the new A6 is all about.
The A6 has always been a handsome car so the minor updates are fine, but Indian love bling on their cars and the understated elegance of the A6 is the clear opposite of flashy.
What about the cabin?
Again unchanged apart from the new gear lever, which reminds me of the Creta! Personally I prefer the earlier gearlever design but there really isn’t much to it.
Like the exteriors, the interiors of the A6 too are rather handsome and not really in need of major updating. Quality of materials are excellent, the wood inlays are much nicer with an expensive-feeling texture, there’s tons of space and the MMI Plus multimedia interface is one of the nicest to use. The navigation is now much better and took us through Udaipur without a hitch, and there’s a lovely Bose sound system.
Under the hood?
Don’t be fooled, or confused, by the 35TDI badging. Under the hood is the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel making 187.5bhp of power and 200Nm of torque. The claimed 0-100kmph time is 8.4 seconds while top speed is 232kmph, which is quick enough for Udaipur’s bustling lanes and even the highway when you want to make relaxed progress.
However the engine has to be properly spanked if you’re in the mood for some sporty action. You can keep up with fast moving cars on the highway but then you have to work the twin-clutch S-Tronic gearbox rather aggressively (there are paddle shifters on the steering wheel to make the task more enjoyable) and ensure the motor is always on the boil. When speed is the need of the hour progress isn’t as effortless like with a V6 engine.
Why no V6 then?
Because customers don’t want it! That’s what Audi says and there’s no reason to doubt them. Audi used to offer the 3.0-litre V6 diesel motor in the A6 (even a fabulous supercharged V6 petrol) but customers weren’t interested in a larger engine – they preferredto spend their money on a sunroof than on performance. So now that is all the Indian customer will get – a four-cylinder diesel motor. And a sunroof as standard. No V6 diesel. No petrol of any sort. No Quattro even.
No Quattro?
Nope. No Quattro. Which would be okay were the A6 not front-wheel-drive. The E-Class and 5 Series don’t have all-wheel-drive options in India but that doesn’t matter as they are rear-wheel-drive and, for driver involvement and sportiness, you want to free the steered wheels from the task of transferring power. In the A6 the front wheels are driven as well as steered and that put a stop to sportiness.
Get jiggy with the new A6 and you can feel the steering squirming in your hands as the turbo kicks in and is accompanied by torque steer. To be fair enthusiasts like a dose of torque steer but that’s in a front-wheel-drive hot hatch. Torque steer in an expensive luxury saloon, in my opinion, is not on. And in any case the steering lacks feedback and isn’t communicative or involving.
So what about comfort?
Oh that the A6 does very well. Very, very well. We took the back roads around the Beda lake in Udaipur and the cobble-stoned path up to the FatehGarh resort and it rode over broken roads with exceptional grace. The faster you go, the better it gets and you barely feel broken roads in Comfort mode. Even in Dynamic mode the ride quality is exceptional.
The Drive Select on the A6 also has an Individual mode and the perfect balance is engine, gearbox and steering in Dynamic and suspension in Comfort. In Comfort the steering is way too light and lifeless – great for parking but not for highway driving.
Variants
There are no variants. There’s one A6 Matrix priced at Rs 49.5 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) with the headline LED headlamps, S-Line exterior package, eight airbags including side airbags for the rear passengers, front co-passenger adjustment from the rear, a rear remote control for the MMI (these cars are majorly chauffer-driven car after all), Bose sound, navigation, 18-inch alloys, paddle shifters, electric steering wheel adjust and everything else you’d expect of a car in this segment. I guess the only thing you will tick on the options list are rear entertainment screens.
Verdict
The new A6 is not really new, the biggest change are the headlamps and that’s about it. That said the A6 was always a handsome, well-equipped and comfortable car and this one continues in the same vein delivering a great cabin, lovely refinement and fantastic ride – all at a great price. It is not sporty and journos like us will miss Quattro and the V6 motor, but apparently customers don’t want or care for it and that’s why Audi hasn’t bothered with it. Fair enough. As an elegant, comfortable and well-equipped car for the chauffer-driven set the A6 ticks all the right boxes. And won’t blind oncoming traffic either.
