580 PS Audi RS 6 Saloon
Smarter both aesthetically and technically, the new Audi A6 range makes its international debut this week, underpinning enhancements to visual appeal, refinement, convenience electronics and equipment with improvements in fuel economy and emissions control averaging 12 per cent courtesy of new or updated engines. Priced from £24,800 OTR for the new economy-targeting 2.0 TDIe model, delivering in excess of 53mpg with 139g/km of CO2, the range is available to order now and will reach its first UK customers in October.
At the same time, the eagerly awaited Saloon version of the potent ten-cylinder RS 6, which like the A6 allroad quattro and S6 line-ups incorporates many of the new enhancements, moves to the head of the range priced at £76,160 OTR. Its Avant counterpart, like all Avant versions, carries a premium of £1,570.
Two all-new engines in particular will be among the headline-makers in the latest range – a 3.0-litre TFSI petrol unit which makes its debut here to effectively replace both the 3.2 FSI V6 and the 4.2 V8, and the advanced 2.0-litre TDI with common rail piezo fuel injection, whose impressive frugality makes the new A6 TDIe model possible. This 136PS diesel unit replaces the 2.0-litre pump jet injection engine with 140PS, and later in 2008 will also become available in the A6 in 170PS form.
The achievement of even smoother, quicker and cleaner progress in the new A6 range has also been aided by extensive modifications to the standard suspension, key among these being optimised spring settings and the addition of new large-diameter front shock absorbers operating within a revised valve system. An update of the quattro all-wheel-drive system to the latest generation 40%/60% rear biased version also brings greater agility. Adaptive air suspension continues to be offered as an option, a specially reconfigured version of which gives the A6 allroad quattro its impressive all-terrain ability.
The impressive sense of space and quality and the general layout of the much praised cabin will be familiar from the outgoing A6, but it is embellished here by enhancements including higher resolution graphics for the instrument panel, new upholstery materials and additional chrome detailing.
The much praised Multi Media Interface (MMI) infotainment control system also continues, but has evolved considerably for the new A6 range to include new, even more intuitive ‘joystick’ control and the very latest Navigation plus system sourcing its high-tech 3D mapping from a 40GB hard drive which can also store MP3s and up to 2,000 addresses. The options list also now includes useful new features such as the Audi side assist blindspot warning system, Audi lane assist lane departure warning system and radar assisted adaptive cruise control.
