For this C9-generation A6, the rear windscreen is notably sloped, not unlike an 100 Avant of the 1980s, and there’s pronounced blistering to the wheel arches – Quattro, anyone? It’s also super-streamlined, with a 0.25 Cd. You will make up your own mind about the looks, but in the metal it looks rather sharp, I think.
The new A5 launched last year (to replace the A4) was a pleasant surprise, particularly in sporty S5 guise, and mechanically the A6 is effectively the same thing but bigger. It’s based on the same new PPC platform with just a few spec differences.
That means the engines are still placed longitudinally, driving the front wheels in lower-end versions or all four in higher ones.
At launch, UK buyers can choose either a conventional 2.0-litre petrol or a 2.0-litre diesel with Audi’s new MHEV Plus system, which puts a 24bhp electric motor on the seven- speed dual-clutch gearbox and a 1.7kWh battery under the boot floor.
There’s also a 3.0-litre V6 with the same hybrid system (the same powertrain as in the S5), but that won’t be offered in the UK. The aggro around the CO2 targets of the ZEV mandate didn’t make it worth it, apparently. But don’t despair: an S6, presumably powered by a more powerful V6, will be along shortly.
Naturally, a plug-in hybrid is on the way as well, supplementing the petrol four-cylinder with a 140bhp motor and a 20.7kWh battery.
One mechanical difference versus the A5 is that for £1755, you can specify air suspension on the A6. Otherwise it rides on passive suspension with steel coils in oneof two flavours: softer on Sport cars, firmer on S Line and Edition 1 cars.
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