Audi A6: Roadtest

There have always been three distinct lines of thought within the German automotive army - barring the sports car manufacturers that is. While Mercedes loves going the full-on luxury way with a twist of practicality, they generally appeal more to the middle-aged crowd than true blue youngsters. Ask what a young guy wants though, and the more sportier BMWs will catch that elusive twinkle in the eye. And then there are the Audi fanatics - people who want the best of everything rolled in one good-looking, sinister package. And that is what the new A6 is all about!

Germans with a 'Made in India' tag- how does that work?

Yes, there's a factory in Chennai that is dishing out these fabulous cars from their assembly line. Rest assured, Audi hasn't compromised on build quality and everything is exactly like you would have found it in any other country. It's been going around for quite a while actually, with Mercedes being the first ones to set up an assembly unit in Pune, followed more recently by BMW as well. Indians' buying power has reached an all-time high in recent times and we love to flaunt that bit. With an increasingly aware and comparably younger market to play around in now, Audi has probably entered at the right time. And with the quality of products they bring in, it's time for the rest to watch out.

The A6 has been spearheading Audi's sales revival story all over the world and it is truly one of the best cars in its class. Time to take a closer look then...

Characteristically Audi - in your face!

Spend a good, long moment to soak in those perfectly crafted lines that are the A6. From the classy front end all the way to the slick boot is all visual nirvana. The A6 is extremely good to look at and with a low, curvy flow to the design theme it looks rather sinister. The grille that dominates the front end straddled by characteristic rectangular headlights is typically Audi. Dead in the center is the quad-circle logo of the marque with a tiny Quattro badge hanging around that very sedately warns onlookers what this machine is all about.

The glass house rises smoothly out of the bonnet and continues in one, seemless arch all the way to the rear - very effectively disguising the car's huge proportions to bridge the gap between the front and the rear. Slightly flared wheel arches lend just the right amount of muscle and a sharp crease running between them low down along the sides marks a nice edge to the profile.

Isn't that rear too plain Jane?

It actually is! Compared to the lines on the front and even on the rather toned down side profile, the rear is very simple. Taillights resemble the pieces on the front, though they're obviously clothed in red clear lens lamps. Boot lid is the subtlest piece of metal sculpture seen on a car yet and a strip of chrome running between the tail lamps breaks the monotony. But all that is an absolutely forgivable sin on the part of Audi's design team just for the act of having provided those two beautiful, oval end pipes that stick just the right length out from under the big Audi's bumpers. It's probably the only bit of design cue apart from the Quattro badge that harks at the car's performance oriented spec-sheet from the outside and we love it!

That's a big engine, isn't it?

2967 cubic centimeters of Audi-perfected engine technology that has been heavily influenced by the R10 TDI Le Mans winner of 2007 is what lurks quietly beneath that long A6 bonnet. The V6 oil burner is capable of 236PS of power that peaks just as the red tacho needle crosses the 4000rpm mark. In fact, the power delivery is so smooth that at most times you won't even feel like you're driving a diesel! Add to that the massive torque figure that are complimentary with diesel engines and you know that's a strong mill under the hood. To top it off, the V configuration of the cylinders aids things further to achieve a whopping 450Nm of lugging ability that makes its way to the wheels to make for some awesome acceleration figures. All of those figures may seem a bit much for most Indian driving conditions, but take the A6 out on the highway and they translate into some very quick timings. Even at city-paced crawls through rush hour traffic, the oodles of torque has its inherent advantages.

Why don't they have a manual option?

Simply because the automatic itself is so good, you'll probably never even miss the manual! You see, the A6 comes with Audi's DSG transmission system - expanded, that stands for Direct Shift Gearbox. The technology has been widely used in most auto gearboxes doing duty across various models in the Volkswagen group's product portfolio and is a simple, yet effective method of getting lightning quick gearshifts out of an automatic transmission. In layman terms, the system comprises of two sets of clutch plates and drive shafts - one taking care of the even gears and the other of the odd gears. The system keeps the next gear engaged but in stand by mode with the help of the clutch system and makes a quick shift to the other pair when the optimum rpm has been achieved. Add to that a slick pedal shift system on the steering wheel, and you can play around all day.

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Lots of acronyms, Quattro and more!

The A6, with its high powertrain credibility also comes loaded with a highly applauded safety package. Stringent manufacturing processes that guarantee a strong monocoque are coupled with some great active and passive safety features such as the countless airbags, parking assistance system, ABS, EBD and a whole lot of other acronyms. The suspension is well tuned and adapts well to Indian road conditions. Comparatively high profile tyres (when compared to the European spec A6) do well in damping out most minor undulations on the road. Mounted on five-spoke alloy wheels, the 225/50 R17 Pirelli P7s that the car is offered with here are sticky and well suited to the car's suspension setup.

What the A6 is all about though, is the amazing Quattro system - a full-time four-wheel drive system that keeps things firm in real life. With power distribution optimized to the four individual wheels, it makes for an extremely safe driving experience even in tricky conditions to make the most of the powerful engine package as well.

Good for a Mafioso getaway?

Tipping the scales at 1765 kg the A6 has a mouth-watering power to weight ratio of 133.8 PS per tonne. Needless to say, that translates into some really quick forward movement. You can be at a standstill one moment and just 7.8 seconds later you could be doing a 100km/h blast and gunning for even more. The 400m mark comes up in just 15.5 seconds and a kilometer can be downed at a little over 28 seconds. The best part about the 3.0 litre TDI that powers the A6 is in the roll on department. The DSG works its magic by engaging a lower gear without wasting any time at all during a kick-down and the bucket loads of torque ensure that you'll be propelled forward faster than you had imagined you would. Overtaking was never so easy! In fact, if you've got an open stretch of road ahead of you long enough to hold that right pedal down for a while the A6 will reward you with a top whack of close to 250 km/h. Unlike most other cars, the Audi doesn't really struggle to get there either - all the time working those horses to pull cleanly and confidently.

Great acceleration, but will it stop?

Ventilated discs both fore and aft means that yes, it will stop - and how! Aided by some very sticky Pirelli rubber on all four wheels, the A6 will come to a halt from 80 km/h in just 26 metres and from 100km/h in 44 metres. The Anti-lock Braking System will further ensure that the car is perfectly stable and in a straight line when the anchors are dropped - even in the wet.

With a kerb weight of 1765 kg, the A6 actually does well in the fuel efficiency department as well. With an overall figure of 9.4 kmpl for a car of the A6's size and performance, what more could you ask for! Dragging along in the city will return around 8 km to a litre of diesel and if you're going to be sticking it out on the highway for a long time you can expect just about 14 kmpl. Generally fuel consumption isn't really a cause for concern with buyers of this category of cars but even if the A6 lands itself in the garage of a few environmentally conscious buyers, they sure won't be disappointed.

All that rally experience shows, right?

There's probably just one word that governs how good this car behaves out on the tarmac - Quattro. Audi's rally-perfected foul-wheel drive system takes full credit for eliminating even the faintest hint of wheelspin during the performance runs. Torque is transferred precisely to all four wheels making sure that none of it is wasted on smoking rubber. This also translates into very confident cornering with the A6 holding its line through any kind of steering wheel torture that is thrown at it. Again, the high quality rubber forming that last link between the road and the car plays a very important role in keeping things under control as well. The 50-profile P7s work in unison with the well-tuned suspension to offer great ride quality.

Ok, so you can't go off-roading in an A6 but that's not what this car is meant for. The A6 will absorb most undulations on Indian roads well and smoothen out minor bumps and grinds effectively. Pitch and roll are next to absent and the car remains firmly planted even when at close to top speed. Judging by the way the A6 handles, it is quite evident how much of Audi's rally experience with the earlier Quattro's of the 80s has gone into development of their road cars.

Great to drive then but what about the interiors?

Since most A6 owners will sadly be spending more time in the back seat than in the driver's, the car's cabin offers high standards of luxury that are second to none. Though the interiors are predominantly dark with hints of chrome and red, the car will appeal to a more young market. Space is of no issue at all in a car of this size and with creature comforts that abound in the air con and entertainment system department, the A6 is a very nice space to be confined in. Materials used are top notch and every component is just bliss to operate. Boot space is huge and more than adequate for a weekend out of town

The real fun though, will be had by whoever is driving the A6- be it chauffeur or owner. The sight of the twin pod instrument cluster with red speedo and tacho needles playing around to the slightest movement of you right foot is an experience in itself. Add to that a delightfully responsive steering wheel that is great to hold and has a host of controls to operate makes the driver's seat the place to be in. Anyplace else in the A6 is just second best!