Words by Afzal Rawuther
Audi has unveiled the new A6 ahead of the Geneva Motor Sho w. The design of the new A6 is an evolutionary change over the outgoing model and features much of the same design elements albeit in a sharper and tauter form. The car is now taller, longer and wider than the car it replaces, by 2mm, 7mm and 12mm respectively. Three diesels and a petrol will be on offer. There are two 3-litre V6 turbodiesels developing 285bhp and 619Nm and 231bhp and 499Nm respectively, and a 204bhp/400Nm, 2-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel. The sole petrol engine is a 3-litre V6 turbo, producing 340bhp and 499Nm of torque. All A6 engines will have a mild-hybrid system, with the V6 motors featuring a 48-volt electrical system, the four-pot a 12-volt system. Both systems feature a belt alternator starter working in conjunction with a lithium-ion battery, allowing all four models to coast upto speeds of 160kmph on purely electrical power.
The pair of V6 diesels are mated to an eight-speed automatic, the V6 petrol and four-cylinder diesel to a seven-speed S tronic gearbox. All 3-litre-engined A6s will have quattro four-wheel drive, with the 2-litre diesel front-wheel drive. Tiptronic-equipped models with quattro will also feature a centre-locking differential, with a rear-locking diff available as an option.
There will be four new suspension options on the A6: conventional steel springs, a sport suspension set-up, steel springs with adaptive damper control, and air-suspension with adaptive damping. The entire suspension has been redesigned over the outgoing A6, too, with many of the components now manufactured from aluminium, as are the front brake callipers to help with the increase in unsprung mass due to the increased wheel sizes that will be offered, including 21-inch rims with a 255/35 profile tyre.
The new A6 will go up against the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the BMW 5 Series and the Jaguar XF, when it is launched in India. Expect a slight premium over the current-gen model.