Audi A6 gets revised styling and powertrain updates

Audi has given the A6 an extensive update that will make it to India in 2015. Minor styling changes to the new A6 include revised headlamps, a retouched front grille, and different tailpipes. The LED daytime running lights are different too. But the most important update for the A6 is not the styling, it’s the engines and gearboxes.

India doesn’t get a manual gearbox nor is Audi planning one so let’s leave that out of the equation. The mainstay – the multitronic CVT gearbox available on the 1.8-litre TFSI and the 2.0-litre TDI will be replaced with seven speed dual clutch units. These engines are now called ‘Ultra’ units as their efficiency is quite high – 17.5kmpl and 23.8kmpl for the petrol and diesel respectively in the EU driving cycle. They also dish out more power now ranging from 193PS to 338PS for the petrols and from 152PS to 330PS (4-cyl and V6). 

The 3.0-litre engines, both the TFSI petrol and the TDI diesel have a lot more grunt. The V6 petrol isn’t sold in India but the diesel is. The diesel develops 276PS which is almost a 10 percent increase in power. There’s also a bi-turbo version that can be boosted to over 350PS. This version is called the A6 competition. This high performance A6 is mated to an 8-speed tiptronic gearbox.

Following the 4-cylinder and V6 units is the V8 TFSI petrol mill that’s more manic than before. With 456PS on tap, power has gone up by 36PS. The S6 can do the 0-100kmph sprint in just 4.4 seconds. On the inside, there’s a new infotainment system and a 8-inch retractable screen. New upholstery colours round off the interior update.