New Audi A6 unveiled at Geneva Motor Show

New Launches 

Anyone choosing the new Audi A6 executive saloon could be forgiven for thinking they've bagged a bit of a bargain.

The wraps came off the new A6 with a promise of a sporty performance, comfort, spacious interior, great design, and enough technology to found a colony on Mars. According to Audi the new A6 offers “A first class journey with a business class ticket”.

You may not fall for marketing ploys - and rightly so - however this may actually be one of the more accurate descriptions in the history of advertising. The reason for this is that the new A6 integrates many of the refinements and innovations so widely acclaimed in the latest A8 luxury flagship. An A8 for A6 money? If that's not a bargain we don't know what is.

When designing the new A6 the aim was to develop the sportiest and most aggressive car possible. There's no body kits, or massive exhausts big enough to hide a small elephant to be found here though. What you get is a new larger grille, sharper angles, and a sleek and attractive shape. The new Audi A6 is a seriously good looking car.





The A6 will initially be available with four engine choices - three diesel and a barnstorming petrol engine. All the evidence suggests most A6 drivers still favour diesel but Audi is keeping a close eye on the market and could introduce a 2.0-litre petrol alongside a plug-in hybrid version at a later date.

The entry level A6 40TDI comes with a four cylinder 2.0-litre unit offering just over 200bhp, a seven-speed S Tronic transmission, and either front wheel drive or the Quattro all-wheel drive system. The 45TDI and 50TDI variants both have a 3.0-litre, six cylinder engine, eight speed transmission, and Quattro system. The only difference appears to be the engine tuning - the 45TDI offers 228bhp while the 50TDI squeezes out 282bhp. If you want real performance opt for the 55TFSI petrol variant with its 3.0-litre V6 and 335bhp.

On the inside you get a high quality as standard. The brilliant Virtual Cockpit features, as does Audi's new twin-screen MMI Touch infotainment system. Add lots of leather and other premium materials and you have a very refined cabin.

In terms of technology the new Audi A6 boasts level 3 autonomy - not actually available in the UK but it essentially means all of the radar, cameras, and sensors are ready and waiting to take over the act of driving at some point in the future. The new A6 can literally drive itself, all it requires is the necessary legislation to allow it to do so. You also get the usual array of comfort and driver aids associated with a luxury car.





Although the new Audi A6 isn't available at the moment it will officially launch in Europe from June so you won't have to wait too long to place your order. Unless you want the Avant estate in which you may have to wait until the end of the year. Likewise the range-topping RS6 is unlikely to appear until the late 2018 or early 2019.

Prices are yet to be announced but expect the entry-level A6 40TDI SE to start from around £35k so lease deals will be highly competitive. Watch this space for more details closer to the time.

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