Behind the wheel Audi A6

AUDI has been on a crusade in refreshing its top-end luxury machines of late. Last year saw a new A8 and A7 grace the market and now there’s the new A6, the latest fresh face joining the German firm’s line-up. Much like its larger siblings, it’s more an evolution of the luxury saloon concept than a revolution, but there’s a lot to shout about.

With the recent release of an updated BMW 5 Series and a now two-year-old Mercedes E-Class, Audi could be playing something of a game of catch up here.

Is the A6 up to that task?

As to be expected, there’s a lot of new stuff going on, most noticeably in the looks department. The A6 takes on the bolder design language introduced on the A8, bringing a sleeker appearance along with a much wider grille and fresh headlights. Under the bonnet, the A6 is the first-in-class to offer mild-hybrid technology across all of its engine choices as standard, while new suspension options have been introduced in an effort to create a more agile car.

As for technology, self-learning navigation aims to create an optimal route based on your driving history, while centre consolebased physical controls for functions such as air conditioning and audio controls have been replaced with touchscreen, utilising haptic feedback.

At its launch, the A6 will be available with a choice of engines: one petrol and three diesels, all of which utilise mildhybrid technology. Our test car was fitted with the sole petrol option on offer. It’s a 3.0-litre V6 engine, producing 335bhp and 500Nm of torque, here paired up with a seven-speed automatic gearbox that sends power through all four wheels. It’s capable of taking the A6 from 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds and can power the car on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. Official figures for MPG and CO2 emissions have yet to be confirmed, however.

It’s an extremely potent unit, delivering impressive and usable performance for a car weighing in at 1,825kg. Don’t expect supercar-levelling speed, but it’s enough for most needs, while the gearbox pairs perfectly for a smooth experience under heavy acceleration or at a gentle cruise.

At its most comfortable when cruising for long distances, its plentiful power combines well with the introduction of air suspension to create a relaxing ride when eating up the miles, aided by little in the way of wind noise. It handles well and doesn’t kick up a fuss when pushed hard, but the overall experience feels pretty uninvolving. It will undertake town driving with little fuss for a car of this size thanks to the addition of

The Audi A6 has been revamped and comes with a choice of petrol or diesel power