Audi's new A6 all class

By ALASTAIR SLOANE motoring editor

The bold new nose on the second-generation Audi A6 is a sign of things to come, says the German carmaker's design boss, Walter de Silva.

He says the new look gives the A6 an instantly recognisable face, something that until now has been missing.

"We have given the A6 greater visual confidence and added stylistic appeal," he said at the car's unveiling in Berlin. "It's something that will be reflected on all our models in the future."

The dominant grille has appeared on a handful of recent Audi concepts and stands out on a car that borrows much of its styling and technology from the bigger, all-aluminium A8.

The new A6 is expected to go on sale in New Zealand early next year. It is bigger overall than the current model, with the wheelbase stretched by 83mm to 2843mm to provide more room for rear passengers. Shoulder room at the front is up by 23mm.

The car is based on a conventional steel platform, 34 per cent more torsionally rigid than the current car, says Audi.

The A8's spaceframe aluminium construction isn't available to the A6. Audi says aluminium is viable only in volumes of up to 50,000 cars a year, less than 25 per cent of A6 production.

The interior of the A6 draws heavily on that found in the larger A8, with high-quality plastics, brushed aluminium highlights and polished wood trim.

A standard feature will be Audi's MMI (multimedia interface), which uses a rotary dial and a 10cm monitor to run the air-conditioning and sound system, along with optional items such as a telephone.

Also standard will be rain-sensing wipers, lights that automatically turn themselves on when it becomes dark, and an electronic handbrake. Safety items include twin front, side and window airbags.

The A6 is likely to be available in New Zealand initially with two engines - a 188kW/330Nm (255bhp) 3.2-litre V6, and a 246kW/420Nm (335bhp) 4.2-litre V8. The V6 is a direct-injection unit. A 165kW/450Nm 3-litre turbodiesel V6 might also be available.

"There is still much to discuss with the factory in Germany and we are a long way from deciding the specification of the New Zealand line-up," said Audi New Zealand general manager Glynn Tulloch.

The current car comes with the choice of a 2.4-litre V6, 3-litre V6 and 4.2-litre V8 petrol engines.

Buyers will be offered the choice of either front- or quattro four-wheel-drive, depending on the engine. Suspension will be conventional steel springs with an air-sprung option.

Three different gearboxes are in the pipeline: a standard six-speed manual, a six-speed DSG (direct-shift gearbox) automatic and an updated version of Audi's multitronic CVT (continuously variable transmission).

The A6 comes with a choice of 15 colours, four of which are new to Audi.

Prices are expected to increase marginally.