|
The advanced Audi A6 is about to add
more brawn to complement its highly sophisticated electronic ‘brain’ as
the third generation A6 allroad quattro with its customarily tougher
stance and four-level adaptive air suspension makes its world debut. Due
to become available to order in the UK next month priced from £43,145
OTR, the A6 allroad quattro will reach its first customers here in the
spring.
The first two generations of the
allroad quattro, launched in 2000 and 2006, enjoyed considerable
success, and Audi hopes to build on this in the latest car by combining
their outstanding versatility with even greater efficiency that is
reflected in fuel economy improvements of up to 20 per cent.
At 4.94 metres long, 1.90 metres wide
and 1.47 metres tall, the latest A6 allroad quattro sits six centimetres
higher than the Avant. Like the saloon and ‘standard’ Avant, it has been
constructed using the latest Audi ultra lightweight construction
principles, with aluminium components making up roughly 20 percent of
its body. Total vehicle weight has been reduced by as much as 70
kilograms compared with the previous model.
Distinguishing allroad quattro features
include extended side sills, more widely flared wings and vertical slats
within the single-frame grille. Stainless steel guards protect the
underbody at the front and rear of the car, and the exhaust system ends
in two large, flattened tailpipes. The roof rails are mounted on double
bars.
The wheel arches, bumpers and sills are
painted in a contrasting colour, but can be body-coloured if the
optional aluminium exterior package is specified. The colour Java Brown
is available exclusively for the new A6 allroad quattro.
The interior of the Audi A6 allroad
quattro offers plenty of space thanks to the long wheelbase of 2,910
millimetres. It features a clean, elegant design, outstanding ergonomics
and exemplary workmanship. A function that depicts the car’s pitch has
been added to the MMI operating system, the soft keys of which are
finished in aluminium. MMI is a standard feature, as is the Driver’s
Information System with efficiency program. A comprehensive package of
restraint systems helps to mitigate the consequences of an accident.
Outstanding versatility
The luggage compartment has a capacity
of 565 litres. Latches within it make it easy to fold down the rear
seats, increasing luggage capacity to 1,680 litres, and numerous
standard and optional features underscore its practicality. These
include a rail system into which a load-securing kit for dividing the
luggage compartment can be inserted, tensioning straps on the left wall
and a double loading floor.
Audi offers a wide choice of options
for the new A6 allroad quattro. A head-up display can project important
information onto the windscreen, ambient lighting can bathe the interior
with subtle LED light, and the widely adjustable comfort seats seats
offer a ventilation and massage function. Additional highlights include
four-zone automatic air conditioning, a panoramic glass roof and the
advanced key, which enables access, start-up and locking without the
need to remove the key from the driver’s pocket.
Topping the modular range of
infotainment options is the hard drive-based navigation system MMI
Navigation plus with touchpad operation (MMI touch) and whole-word voice
control. Its power-retractable eight-inch monitor displays extremely
sharp, high-contrast images. A Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with
15 speakers can also be added for maximum listening pleasure.
In-car internet access
The new A6 allroad quattro is also
state of the art when it comes to connection technology. The Mobile
Phone Preparation – High option connects it to the Internet via UMTS,
and a WLAN hotspot lets passengers surf the internet and e-mail.
Tailored services for the driver, such as the all-new Audi traffic
information online function, which uses mobile phone signals to pinpoint
traffic congestion or accident blackspots in real time, or Audi music
stream web radio, are delivered right to the car. Attractive services
from Google, including Google Earth, Google Street View and
voice-activated POI search, are also available.
The Audi assistance and safety systems
lend even more confidence to driving. The radar-based adaptive cruise
control with stop & go function always keeps the new A6 allroad quattro
at the proper distance from the car ahead. At speeds below 19mph, the
system initiates maximum braking in the event of an impending collision.
ACC stop & go works closely together with the Audi pre sense safety
system, which is available in a number of configurations.
Audi active lane assist helps the
driver to stay in lane; Audi side assist helps when changing lanes. The
night vision assistant with marking of detected pedestrians reduces the
stress of driving in the dark. The driver information system with rest
recommendation function detects when the driver is getting tired and
recommends taking a rest.
A variety of high-end systems help take
the stress out of parking. The park assist system with 360° display
takes over the steering; the parking system plus with 360° camera
provides good vision in all directions. Four small wide-angle cameras
record images of the vehicle’s immediate surroundings, which can then be
displayed from a variety of perspectives on the MMI monitor.
The new A6 allroad quattro will
initially be available in the UK with a choice of three powerful and
highly cultivated V6 engines – one TFSI petrol engine and two TDI units.
All are 3.0-litre engines with turbocharging and direct injection. They
make use of important technologies from the Audi modular efficiency
platform – the start-stop system and innovative thermal management.
Their fuel consumption has been reduced by as much as 20 per cent
compared with the previous model.
The 3.0 TFSI, which is boosted by a
mechanically driven supercharger, produces 310PS and 440 Nm of torque.
It powers the A6 allroad quattro from zero to 62mph in 5.9 seconds on
the way to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. Its combined
economy figure is an impressive 31.7mpg.
Two TDI options
The two variants of the 3.0 TDI produce
204PS and 245PS; torque values are 450Nm and 580Nm. The entry-level
version achieves a combined economy figure of 46.3mpg, corresponding to
159 g CO2/km. All three engines are paired with the
seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission. With its wide ratio
spreads, this transmission is a major contributor to the efficiency of
the A6 allroad quattro. The driver can operate it manually, using either
the gear lever or optional paddles on the steering wheel.
The quattro permanent four-wheel drive
system is paired with torque vectoring. During dynamic driving this
system brakes the wheels on the inside of a bend, which are under a
reduced load, before they start to skid to further enhance traction and
handling. The optional sport differential distributes the power in
continuously variable proportions between the rear wheels.
The chassis of the A6 allroad quattro
combines agility with comfort. The new electromechanical power steering
is sensitive and highly efficient, and an optional dynamic steering
system is also available to adjust the steering ratio to the speed
driven.
With the Audi drive select system, the
driver can vary the function of the steering, the air suspension, the
throttle pedal, the automatic transmission, the sport differential, the
automatic air conditioning, the lighting and the adaptive cruise
control. In Efficiency mode, these systems work as economically as
possible; their function can be very freely configured in Individual
mode.
The adaptive air suspension, which
combines air suspension with controlled damping, comes as standard. It
lowers the body by 15 millimetres at high speed and raises it by 35
millimetres at the push of a button. This allroad mode is suitable for
rough terrain. Furthermore, the driver can select a lift mode at low
speeds. An additional ten millimetres enables the new Audi A6 allroad
quattro to also handle major irregularities in the road surface. A hill
descent assist function for steep downhill passages is also included.
This limits the speed to between 6mph and 12mph, depending on the
surface.
|
