Light years

Light years

What better way to showcase the new A6's light theory than to allow a group of car breaking journalists let loose in them in a controlled environment.

OneShift Editorial Team

24 Aug 2011

Audi today previewed the new A6 to the media at a driving event at the Changi Exhibition Centre. The activities at the event gave the media the opportunity to fully appreciate the A6's dynamism as well as the chance to drive both the new A6 and outgoing model back to back over marked courses,

The latest Audi A6 features a lightweight aluminium body among many other innovations. The executive sedan is up to 80kg lighter than its predecessor, reversing the dreaded “weight spiral” and making it a game-changer in its segment.

Reinhold Carl, Managing Director of Audi Singapore: “The new Audi A6 is a key model in our 2011 growth strategy. Beautifully designed and packed with class-leading technology, this latest Audi A6 is set to be a game-changer in the executive sedan segment in Singapore.”

The design of the A6 stands for athleticism and elegance. The sedan is 4.92 metres long and 1.87 metres wide, but just 1.46 metres tall – the sportiest proportions in its class. The long hood, the low, taut roofline and the distinctive lines on the flanks create a dynamic overall impression.

Up front, LED headlights underscore the distinctive appearance. Thanks to an intelligent composite construction concept, the body is extremely lightweight, rigid and safe. The numerous aluminium components and the high-tech steels reduce its weight by roughly 30 kg compared to its predecessor, making the body the backbone of a consistent lightweight design concept.
Depending on the version, the new business sedan is up to 80 kg lighter than the previous model. Audi has once again reversed the weight spiral and established new standards.

The body offers additional advantages too. Modern materials and construction methods provide for a very low interior noise level. The precise matching of all components and systematic hydraulic damping in the axle and drivetrain bearings provide excellent vibration comfort.

The chassis of the new A6 combines superior comfort with sporty precision. Its links are made of aluminium; the power steering features a new electromechanical drive for high efficiency. The big sedan rolls on wheels measuring between 16 and 20 inches in diameter, behind which are powerful brakes.

The Audi drive select driving dynamics system comes standard with all engine variants. Also standard is a 20 mm lowered sports suspension for sportier handling Audi can also deliver the comfortable adaptive air suspension with variable damping on request.

The new A6showed off its dynamism during the driving activities at the launch, shrugging off all manner of obstacles. It displayed a high level of poise and stability thanks to the quattro drivetrain as well as improved suspension and running gear over its seven year old predecessor.

Audi even brought along the outgoing C6 A6 for us to drive back-to-back with the new for comparison. The new car is certainly a leap forward on the dynamic front when compared with the old. On the slalom course, the C6 felt less eaher to swap directions while the steering was stubbornly uncommunicative. The newer A6 in comparison, showed a fairer degree of eagerness to swap directions on the course while the steering is not only better weighted but more accurate and communicative as well.

The spacious interior of the new Audi A6 takes up the sinewy style of the exterior design. Its salient element is the “wrap-around” – a decorative inlay encircling the driver and the front-seat passenger. The elegant face of the instrument panel accentuates the tension of the cockpit.

Every interior detail documents the care with which Audi builds cars. All materials are carefully selected and processed. The front seats are available with optional ventilation and massage functions. Ambient lighting accents the interior with detailed highlights.

The new Audi A6 features the intuitive ergonomics concept that characterises all of Audi cars. An efficient deluxe automatic air conditioning system and the MMI radio plus come as a standard. The MMI navigation plus system with MMI® touch, which is available as an option but comes equipped with the 3.0TFSI variant, allows you to access many features of the hard drive navigation system via the touchpad.

MMI navigation plus works intensively together with the optional driver assistance and safety systems in the new A6. It forwards the route data to the control units for the headlights, the automatic transmission and the adaptive cruise control with stop & go function. This enables these systems to recognise complex scenarios and support the driver. The Audi pre sense safety system can in many situations reduce the severity of accidents and their consequences, or even avoid them all together.
The Audi active lane assist helps the driver to keep the A6 on course, and the park assist system relieves the driver of the chore of steering when parallel and vertical parking.

Audi offers the new A6 with a choice of two powerful and highly efficient gasoline engines – the 3.0 TFSI (300 bhp) and 2.8 FSI (204 bhp). Both engines use key technologies from Audi’s modular efficiency platform – the innovative thermal management, the start-stop system and the recuperation system. Compared to the previous model, fuel consumption has been reduced by as much as 21 per cent – a top mark in its class.

Audi offers the new A6 with a range of drivetrains. Depending on the engine, the choices include the continuously variable multitronic and – new in this model line – the sporty seven-speed S tronic. With their wide gear spread and low internal friction, both engines make major contributions to efficiency.

Power is delivered to all four wheels with quattro that comes standard. The latest evolution of the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system features a crown-gear centre differential and torque vectoring for superior traction, stability and dynamics.