Audi is now taking orders for its latest A6 line-up headed by the V10 bi-turbo RS 6. First cars should reach customers in October.
The new range is highlighted by visual and technical changes as well as improvements in fuel economy and emissions, courtesy of new and updated engines. Fuel efficiency is claimed to have been improved by 12 percent and comfort-focused suspension reconfigurations have been made across the range.
At the bottom end of the new line-up is the 2.0-litre TDIe model, touted to deliver in excess of 53mpg. Another all-new engine to enter the mix is the supercharged 3.0-litre TFSI unit, the first time Audi has employed supercharging since its Auto Union racers from the 1930s.
However, enthusiasts will be more interested in the 'S' and 'RS' derivatives of the new A6s. The RS 6 comes with over 570bhp and will be available in both saloon and estate body styles. Customers will have to be more patient if they opt for this model though, as deliveries start in November.
The flagship owes its power to the 5.0-litre bi-turbo powerplant currently under the bonnet of the
RS6 Avant, whereas its slightly slower brother, the S6, makes do with the
current 5.2-litre naturally aspirated unit. Both cars are, as per Audi tradition, electronically limited to 155mph - this time, though, new owners can choose to up the limiter to 175mph. As expected, the turbocharged RS 6 has the upper hand when it comes to acceleration, getting to 62mph in 4.5 seconds using its six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. Like the S6, it also comes with Audi's familiar quattro all-wheel-drive system.
The handling characteristics of the car can be tuned by the driver thanks to a new version of the Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) system, first seen in the original RS 6 quattro. The driver can change the dynamics of the car from behind the flat-bottomed, multifunction steering wheel, selecting any of the three built-in suspension options.
UK customers also get the Multi Media Interface (MMI) infotainment system, which has evolved to include more intuitive 'joystick' controls and a navigation system sourcing its 3D mapping from a 40Gb hard drive, which can also store MP3s and addresses. Other options include the Audi side assist blind spot warning system, Audi lane assist lane departure warning system and radar assisted adaptive cruise control.
The entry level A6 TDIe model starts at £24,800 and the range is topped off by the RS 6 Avant starting at £77,730. Watch out for our first drive of the new Audi A6 on the
Audi road tests page.
Dejan Jovanovic - 19 Aug 2008