A is for Audi

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

The best thing about carmaker Audi over recent years has been the fastidious attention to detail it places on its interiors: fit and finish across the range is the best in the business.

Build quality overall is as good as it gets, too. Ride and handling from its mix of front-drive and all-wheel-drive quattro models is not bad either, if not quite as cutting edge as its German rear-drive BMW or Mercedes-Benz rivals.

But Audi is closing the gap, judging by the fine-tuned agility and body control of its latest A6 model.

The new A6 was launched on a mix of roads south of Auckland the other day. It is Audi's best attempt at a luxury mid-range saloon yet, offering a complementary blend of performance and dynamics the previous A6 lacked.

It offers something else that forever characterises the difference too: a new, deep grille. It doesn't seem as prominent on dark-coloured cars as lighter ones, but get used to it as it will be on the front of every Audi from the A3 on. So will the sharper body styling of the new A6, highlighted by a delightful rear-end.

Two A6 models are available, both with six-speed tiptronic automatic/manual transmissions - 14kg lighter than the old five-speed gearbox - and Audi's all-wheel-drive quattro system.

The $124,900 saloon is powered by the Volkswagen Group's 3.2-litre V6 FSI direct-injection engine, which delivers a maximum 188kW (255bhp) at 6500 rpm and 330Nm of torque at 3250 rpm.

More than 90 per cent of torque is available between 2400-5500rpm, unusual for a naturally aspirated V6 engine. This car sprints from zero to 100km/h in a tad over seven seconds.

The premium $158,900 variant uses a compact 4.2-litre V8 producing 246kW (335bhp) at 6600 rpm and 420Nm at 3500 rpm. This engine first appeared in the high-performance Audi A4 early last year and pushes the A6 from a standstill to 100km/h in just over six seconds.

The A6's mainly steel body is 34 per cent more rigid than the outgoing model, which contributes to its improved dynamics. It is longer and wider for increased interior room. The wheelbase is 83mm longer.

Inside, the A6 borrows from the flagship A8 layout and is more driver-focused than before. Controls - including the operating Multi Media Interface (MMI) system and its monitor - are now angled more towards the driver, which leaves a wide expanse of dashboard on the passenger's side.

Both A6 models come with every conceivable feature from a safety and comfort point of view, including a special residual heat function that allows the driver to use waste heat from the engine for warming up the car after switching off the ignition.

The refinement and flexibility of the V6 drivetrain in particular was a highlight of the launch, coupled with the electronic variables programmed into the gearbox.

The Drive mode pretty much copes with every throttle demand. Shift into S for sports mode and the manual function adds another performance dimension.

The electro-hydraulic steering - lighter at parking speeds and weightier at speed - doesn't provide as much feel as some rival systems but remains accurate and predictable.

The A6's torque-sensing Torsen differential distributes power between the front and rear axles only, unlike the new A3 which splits it across and between axles.

Under normal conditions A6 power is split 50:50, but up to 75 per cent of power can be delivered to one axle. The benefits of all-wheel-drive on broken and slippery surfaces on the back roads to Huntly were obvious.

The A6 is an important model in the Audi line-up. The New Zealand distributor expects to sell around 120 over the next 12 months.