New third-generation Audi A6 allroad is ready to cover new ground

The Audi A6 Avant reveals its even tougher and more intrepid alter ego this week as the new, third-generation A6 allroad quattro opens for UK order combining rugged looks with the all-weather reassurance of quattro all-wheel-drive and four-level height adjustable air
suspension. The new A6 allroad quattro with four powerful V6 engine options is priced from £43,150 OTR to £49,445 OTR and will reach its first customers here in July.

Like the saloon and ‘standard’ Avant, the A6 allroad quattro has been constructed using the latest Audi ultra lightweight construction principles, and with aluminium components making up roughly 20 per cent of its body total vehicle weight has been reduced by as much as 70 kg compared with the previous model.

This creates the best possible operating conditions for the four powerful and cultivated V6 engines that make up the range, all of which combine forced induction with direct injection, and all of which are backed up by a start-stop system and innovative thermal management, helping to improve fuel economy by as much as 20 per cent compared with the previous model.

The petrol-powered option is the 3.0-litre TFSI, which is boosted by a mechanically driven supercharger and produces 310 ps and 440 nm of torque. It powers the A6 allroad quattro from rest to 62 mph in 5.9 seconds on the way to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph, and yet can still achieve 31.7 mpg according to the combined cycle test.

Choice of three TDIs
The TDI range comprises three 3.0-litre V6 units, the first two of which deliver 204 ps with peak torque of 450 nm and 245 ps with 580 nm with the help of a single turbocharger. The 204 ps version is the efficiency champion, achieving a combined economy figure of 46.3 mpg with CO2 output of 159 g CO2/km, despite strong 7.5-second zero to 62 mph acceleration. Its 245 ps counterpart runs it impressively close, with 44.8 mpg potential and 165 g/km CO2 output combined, along with 6.6-second acceleration.

The top-ranking diesel, the new BiTDI, uses two turbochargers to inject 313 ps and 650 nm, enough to power the A6 allroad to 62 mph in just 5.6 seconds on the way to a governed 155 mph top speed. It complements this sports car-style performance with a surprisingly sports car-style engine note that comes courtesy of an innovative sound actuator in an auxiliary channel of the exhaust system, but its economy figures remain resolutely diesel-like, with up to 42.2 mpg possible equating to 176 g/km CO2 output.

The three single turbocharger engines are paired with the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission with its wide ratio spreads and rapid fire shifts. The BiTDI uses the latest eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission.

The plentiful power these refined and sophisticated units supply is expertly handled by the latest generation quattro all-wheel-drive system with 40:60 front-to-rear torque split, and the body rises or lowers on its four-level air springs according to prevailing driving conditions and speeds, ensuring that the A6 allroad quattro feels equally at home in the tightest of corners or on the roughest of tracks.

 New electromechanical power steering combines accurate feedback with minimal energy consumption as it draws no power when in the straight-ahead position, and an optional dynamic steering system is also available to adjust the steering ratio to the speed driven. This can be combined with an optional sport differential that can rapidly vary torque distribution between the rear wheels for optimum adjustability.

The rough-and-tumble capability of the A6 allroad quattro is reflected in exterior features such as extended side sills, flared wings and protective front and rear stainless steel underbody guards. The wheel arches, bumpers and sills are painted in a contrasting colour, but can be body-coloured as an option.

The interior of the Audi A6 allroad quattro offers plenty of space thanks to the long wheelbase of 2,905 mm. It combines a clean, elegant design, outstanding ergonomics and exemplary workmanship with a suitably ample quota of equipment. This includes 18-inch alloy wheels, Milano leather upholstery, satellite navigation, the Multi Media Interface (MMI) linked to a 6.5-inch retractable colour display, the Audi parking system plus, cruise control, Bluetooth mobile phone preparation, light and rain sensors and the Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system.

Audi drive select enables the driver to adjust the operating characteristics of the steering, the air suspension, the throttle, the automatic transmission, the automatic air conditioning and the lighting. It offers five modes – Comfort, Dynamic, Automatic, Individual and Efficiency, the latter configuring the most economy-focused settings for all the functions controlled. Where the optional sport differential, dynamic steering and adaptive cruise control systems are fitted these can also be fine-tuned via the drive select system.

Outstanding versatility
The luggage compartment has a capacity of 565 litres, and the standard split rear seat can be folded down to increase this to 1,680 litres. Numerous standard and optional features underscore its practicality, including 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.

A wide choice of options is also available, including a head-up display which can project important information onto the windscreen, the hard drive-based MMI Navigation plus system with touchpad operation (MMI touch) and retractable eight-inch monitor, a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, comfort seats with a ventilation and massage function and a panoramic glass roof.

In-car internet access
Technophiles can indulge themselves even more completely by specifying the Mobile Phone Preparation – High option with Audi connect. This brings online services to the car via UMTS (3G), including Google Earth mapping, Google Street View, the all-new Audi traffic information online function, which uses mobile phone signals to pinpoint traffic congestion or accident blackspots in real time, and Audi music stream web radio. It also creates a Wi-Fi hotspot within the car, enabling passengers to surf the internet and email.

The list of safety-focused systems is no less impressive, and includes radar-based adaptive cruise control, the Audi active lane assist lane departure warning system, the Audi side assist blind spot detection system and night vision using thermal imaging.

Posted in: 8-Speed,A6,All-Wheel-Drive,allroad quattro,Audi,Bluetooth,Cruise Control,Dual-Clutch,Google Earth,Luxury,Milano Leather,MMI Touch,Parking System,Satellite Navigation,V6 Engine,Wi-Fi