Class act A6 Quattro

By Ghaith Madadha - Jul 14,2015 - Last updated at Jul 14,2015

Photo courtesy of Audi

Sophisticated and smooth, quick and confident, and well equipped and elegant but uncomplicated, the Audi A6 is a well thought out and executed premium executive car. Driven in its top sub-super saloon A6 50 TFSI Quattro guise, the Audi executive saloon is refined, spacious and comfortable, with tidy handling and reassuring all-weather roadholding.

First launched in 2012 and revised for the current model year, the A6’s receives a subtle aesthetic facelift, upgraded infotainment features, and more sophisticated, better integrated and networked driver assistance and other systems. Perhaps more significant is the A6’s revised drivelines, which include engines better honed for increased power and improved fuel efficiency.

Cerebral yet stylish

Cerebral yet stylish and sinewy, the A6 now features a more defined and assertive single-frame trapezoidal grille, bumper, side air intakes and sills. Slim, browed and moody headlights now feature sharper LED strips, while rear lights are slimmer and the air diffuser inserts includes wider exhaust tips to emphasise the A6’s width.

Muscular and bold yet sleek and balanced, the A6’s design features strong bonnet and flank character lines and muscular shoulders. A relatively level and low waistline, un-exaggerated body surfacing and upright glasshouse provide good visibility and allow one to easily place and manoeuvre the A6 through tight winding roads and in town.

With flowing, low and rakish roofline the A6’s aerodynamic drag co-efficient is as low as 0.26. Driven with sportier S-Line guise, the A6 sits 20mm lower and has a more chiselled appearance, including more aggressive side intakes. Meanwhile, large low profile optional 235/35R20 footwear lends a sportier and road hugging stance.

Sophisticated supercharging

Powered by a 3-litre supercharged engine tuned for more power and less fuel consumption, the 2015 A6 50 TFSI develops 22BHP more and is 0.4-second quicker to 100km/h. Producing 328BHP at 5300-6500rpm and the same 325lb/ft torque over a broader 2900-5300rpm band, it can sprint through 0-100km/h in 5.1 seconds and onto 250km/h.

Situated between its cylinder banks for short airflow paths and given its direct mechanically driven nature, the A6’s supercharger allows for excellent responsiveness. Innovative, the A6’s supercharger also automatically de-couples when not needed to save fuel. Also de-coupling in “sport” driving mode, the supercharger, however, operates so fluently and responsively that this is practically imperceptible.

Eager, smooth, responsive and with generous mid-range grunt and flexibility, the A6 is also punchy reaching for its top-end plateau. And with slippery aerodynamics, smart supercharger, stop/go system and coasting feature that disengages the gearbox on declines to further save fuel, the A6 returns just 7.4l/100km/h fuel consumption and 172g/km CO2 on the combined cycle.

Composed and confident

Driven through a swift and slick shifting 7-speed dual clutch automated S-Tronic gearbox, the A6 powers all four wheels through its Quattro system. With 60 per cent rear drive bias and brake-based torque vectoring subtly nudging it into corners the A6’s inherent front weigh bias, owing to its in-line engine position ahead of the front axle is offset.

Tidy and composed with quick and precise adjustable steering assistance, the A6 is surprisingly agile through tight winding country lanes. Cornering with taut body control and able to vary power distribution front to rear — and optionally right-to-left at the rear — the A6 delivers tenacious traction and vice-like roadholding over gravelly and low traction surfaces.

Dynamically confident with intuitive and easy to modulate handling, even if nearing its front grip limits, the A6 Quattro is particularly reassuring among peers in that it doesn’t throw up unwanted dynamic surprises. Smooth and slightly firm riding with its optional wide, grippy, low profile tyres and buttoned down rebound control, the A6 S-Line is a natural motorway chariot.

Classy and comfortable

Despite its firm tyres, the A6 S-Line’s fluency and refinement over rough gravelly routes was an unexpected bonus, while optional adaptive air suspension further enhances comfort. Using high strength structural steel and some light aluminium bodywork and underpinnings for lower un-sprung mass, the A6 is stiff with superb cabin refinement, and includes optional acoustic laminated glass.

Classy, uncluttered and airy, the A6 features quality leathers, metals, woods and soft textures, and sleek user-friendly layouts and instrumentation. With upright seating and flanks and level waistline, good visibility promotes easy manoeuvrability. Front space and seat and steering adjustability and support are good, while rear space and boot volume are among the in-segment best.

Well-equipped with convenience and safety features, the revised A6 features updated MMI infotainment system with 8-inch retractable touchscreen and WiFi hot spot. Bang and Olufsen stereo is optional. Advanced semi-autonomous systems are numerous and better networked, including adaptive cruise control working with stop and go, and side and active lane assists working in cooperation.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 3-litre, supercharged, in-line V6 cylinders

Bore x stroke: 84.5 x 89mm

Compression ratio: 10.8:1

Valve-train: 24-valve, DOHC, direct injection

Gearbox: 7-speed dual clutch automated, four-wheel drive

Top gear/final drive ratios: 0.52:1/4.09:1

Power distribution, F/R: 40 per cent/60 per cent

Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 328 (333) [245] @ 5300-6500rpm

Specific power: 109.5BHP/litre

Power-to-weight: 187.4BHP/tonne

Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 325 (440) @ 2900-5300rpm