Audi has (officially now) lifted the sheets of the all-new 2012 A6 that will take on the latest generations of BMW's 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz's E-Class executive sedans. The new A6 is set to make its market debut in early 2011 and will be available at launch with a variety of four-cylinder and V6 petrol and diesel engines, and later on, with a hybrid powertrain claimed to combine the power of a V6 with the fuel efficiency of a four-cylinder unit.
With Audi continuing its "one-style-fits-all" approach to design, there's not much to add about the car's exterior and interior works that hasn't already been said on our A7 Sportback posts. Even though the most accurate description of the new A6 is an A7 with a boot, we won't disagree with those of you waving the "larger A4" or "smaller A8" banner.
Moving on to the more technical aspects of the new A6, the sedan is 4.92 meters (16.14 ft) long and 1.87 meters (6.14 ft) wide, but just 1.46 meters (4.79 ft) high. It has a trunk capacity of 530-liter (18.72 cubic ft).
Audi says the aluminum components make up more than 20 percent of the body with all add-on parts, such as the front fenders, the engine hood, the rear hatch and the doors, as well as the bulkhead and the crossmember in the luggage compartment, all made of aluminum panels.
Underneath the body we meet an aluminum suspension with five control arms up front and, a self-tracking trapezoidal-link suspension at the rear, plus a redesigned power steering system with an electromechanical drive. As an option, buyers will be able to order an adaptive air suspension with controlled damping as well as a Dynamic steering system.
At launch, Audi will offer the 2012 A6 with a choice of five engines with the company claiming that fuel consumption throughout the range has decreased by up to 19 percent compared to the previous model.
The gasoline range includes two options, a 2.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 with 204HP and 280 Nm (206.52 lb-ft) of torque, and a 3.0-liter TFSI supercharged V6 delivering 300 hp and 440 Nm (324.53 lb-ft).
The 204HP model completes the 0-100 km/h (62mph) sprint in 7.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph). Average consumption in the EU cycle comes to 7.4 liters per 100 km (31.79 US mpg) with 172 g CO2 per km (276.81 g/mile).
The 3.0 TFSI sprints from standing to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds and reaches an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). It consumes on average 8.2 liters per 100 km (26.7 US mpg) and emits 190 g CO2 per km (305.78 g/mile).
There are three diesel options starting with a redeveloped 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI producing 177 hp and 380 Nm (280.27 lb-ft) of torque. In conjunction with a manual gearbox, it propels the A6 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.7 seconds, then on to a top speed of 228 km/h (141.67 mph). In the EU cycle, it requires 4.9 liters per 100 km (48 US mpg) and emits 129 g CO2 per km (207.61 g/mile).
Next up in the diesel family is the 3.0 TDI V6 with 204 hp and 400 Nm (295.02 lb-ft) of torque. Paired with a multitronic transmission, it accelerates the A6 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 7.2 seconds and achieves a top speed of 240 km/h (149mph). Its average consumption is 5.2 liters per 100 km with a CO2 emissions level of 137 g per km (220.48 g/mile).
The top-of-the-line version of the 3.0 TDI churns out 245 hp and 500 Nm (368.78 lb-ft) of torque allowing the A6 to hit the 100km/h mark in just 6.1 seconds, continuing on to a limited top speed of 250 km/h (155mph). On average, this diesel powerplant uses 6.0 liters of fuel per 100 km (39US mpg) and emits 158 g CO2 per km (254.28 g/mile).
Depending on the engine version, power is transferred to the front wheels or to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system through a manual six-speed gearbox, the continuously variable multitronic, or the brand-new, sporty S tronic.
Shortly after the arrival of the first batch of A6 models, the range will be expanded with the A6 hybrid, the firm's second hybrid model after the Q5 hybrid quattro. The A6 hybrid employs a parallel hybrid concept combining a 211 hp 2.0 TFSI with an electric motor that delivers 33 kW (45 hp) and 211 Nm (155.63 lb-ft) of torque. The electric motor sits directly behind the TFSI, occupying the space of the torque converter upstream of the modified 8-speed tiptronic that drives the front wheels.
The hybrid system's compact lithium-ion battery that provides 1.3 kWh of nominal power and generates 39 kW is stored under the luggage compartment.
Audi says the A6 hybrid can achieve speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph) purely on electricity, but not for very long as at a constant speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) the range in this mode is limited to 3 km. It can also operate with the combustion engine only or in hybrid mode.
In terms of performance, the A6 Hybrid accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 7.3 seconds and tops out at 238 km/h (148 mph), while returning an average fuel consumption of 6.2 liters per 100 km (37.9 US mpg) and a CO2 emissions level of 142 grams per km (228.53 g/mile).
A more practical Avant model (Audi talk for estates / station wagons), as well as more potent S6 and possibly an RS6 models will be gradually introduced into the range.
Further details including pricing and U.S. availability will be announced at a later date.
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25 Comments:
The styling is confusing, and I like it.
People should stop criticizing Porsche about style, Audi its getting a lot worst in the matter of "one-style-fits-all".
Every car maker should maintain a certain design language but some variation its needed. Most people can't even distinguish a A4/A5/A6/A7/A8.
PS: I can distinguish them and probably you can too, but we are petrol heads:)
ugly shiet rear end , cant take it .
this is going to be a real sad mess 5 years down the line hahahahahahahahahah go VOLVO AND SAAB AND JAGUAR AND PORSCHE
it's ugly like the A7 and A8 oh wait a minute, they all have the save face and butt... Save Audi, fire the head of design, he is killing the brand.
WOW..... amazing looking car. W O W
However, I have to agree that it's not the best looking car from the rear. BMW 5-series is way better. But I guess overall it's better than the f10.
Thanks Audi!
Love it! +++++
I love it.
This is beautiful, I love it. Looks much better than the the BMW 5 Series and waaaaay better than the Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse. This is truly the first A6 that looks better than its competitors.
who wants an A4 that is harder to park? :D
this audi is dog turd. its the 5 series for me.
Audi should have A4,A4 hatch, A6, A6 coupe(get rid of A5), A7(Merc CLS equivalent), and A8. This will simplify the model range and make their production more efficient.
There are too many models and variants. I'm not sure this actually increases the cost of production.
Think thats the point = immediate brand recognition... Those who even care are into cars .. . they do have a pretty sexy 'family' of cars
Nice. Very evolutionary styling, which is normally a good thing, but in this case, I think it is excessive. Differentiating the new offerings might be a tad difficult for non enthusiast, which, in the grand scheme of things, works very well for AUDI's resale value. But it also means it might have a hard time selling the new models.
To make waves in the USA, AUDI needs to offer a diesel with a stick shift. Same for the Avant model. Check the resale value of stick shift BMW wagons, they are typically very high.
No compromiss look.
I`m wating for a Maserati in this class...
nice,but hopefully audi improves quality!!! A6 is unreliable in testing of many motor magazines!!!, it has like many electrical problems, drive axels, ball joints, trannsmissions, etc... too many people complains about reliabillity in rewievs ...
The interior design, where Audi used to be far and away the best in the world, is pathetic. It's confused and non-integrated.
yeah its really awesome...especially the front. But it doesnt get close to even the BMW 5-series...except for the front that is.
Bland, Boring, Tedious , Uninspiring.... yep I suppose Walter Da Silva is proud of this one
Looks great - more handsome and has more presence than the A4 and can hold its own against A5. That is as it should be, but this A6 might eclipse the A8, which is the one that really has been styled too conservatively IMHO.
I prefer Audi's design to their competitors. Recent BMW and Merc I simply cannot find beautiful. Jaguar has had some nice designs of late, but this A6 looks clearly better than the XF and at least as good as the XJ IMHO.
What a shit rear end design
Very sharp and classy looking. Unmistakably a beautiful looking audi with clean lines and interior design. For those who don't get it, too bad.
The design is too safe, too traditional, which for some is good. My vote goes to F10.
BMW dash and console?
I love the front!
Love it
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