Photo: Automedia
The A6 allroad quattro is a car without too much in the way of competition. Neither Mercedes nor BMW have tried fitting their midsize estates with lifted suspension and protective body cladding. However, that doesn't mean that Audi can rest on its laurels. As part of a range-wide initiative, the tougher version of the A6 is getting a refresh which will go on sale early next year.
We've caught up with German engineers who were road-testing the car on the Nurburgring track and the roads around it. With huge alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile tires and a double exhaust system, you'd almost think that this is an S6 we're looking at. But on-road performance and handling are crucial since they are the major advantage of the allroad car over SUVs.
Not a lot, actually. New headlights and taillights will be installed. But since both are camouflaged and the car was photographed during daylight, it's hard to see what they will look like. Both xenon and LED systems will continue to be available with this car, and this prototype appears to be equipped with the base standard system.
We're confident the standard halogen series system will be completely dropped from the range, since no A6 facelift prototype has been fitted with the system. Considering "Xenon plus" is a €870 option, it's only 6% of the base price of the car, so a cheap feature for Audi to throw in.
The adjacent image will give you an idea of what they will look like. An LED accent has been added to the top of the system and the orange indicators will look a little different. Round the back, twin lines define a new taillight and split towards the outer edge of the bodywork.
The rest of the A6 family is getting trapezoidal exhaust tips integrated into the bumper. But because the allroad quattro is designed to be tough, not handsome, the older rounded system is being kept. About the only other thing that's different on this car is the grille, which has fewer vertical bars.
The basic V6 diesel, which currently has 204 hp, will receive 218 hp, a 14 hp increase. Torque output has not yet been revealed, but could be increased from the current 450 Nm to about 500 Nm.
An even bigger power increase will come for the 3.0 TDI with 245 hp, which will be boosted to 272 hp, 27 hp more than what is currently on offer. With this one, we are sure about the torque increase: 600 Nm instead of the current 580 Nm at 1,750rpm.
Both engines come with multiple tech upgrades which will substantially reduce fuel consumption and bring emission down to EU6 levels. Audi boasts that for the first time in automotive history, a NOx storage catalytic converter has been combined with a diesel particulate filter and SCR injection in a single assembly.
The 313 hp 3.0 BiTDI and the only petrol option, a 3-liter TFSI with 310 hp, will likely carry over unchanged.
So what's changing on the outside?
We're confident the standard halogen series system will be completely dropped from the range, since no A6 facelift prototype has been fitted with the system. Considering "Xenon plus" is a €870 option, it's only 6% of the base price of the car, so a cheap feature for Audi to throw in.
The adjacent image will give you an idea of what they will look like. An LED accent has been added to the top of the system and the orange indicators will look a little different. Round the back, twin lines define a new taillight and split towards the outer edge of the bodywork.
The rest of the A6 family is getting trapezoidal exhaust tips integrated into the bumper. But because the allroad quattro is designed to be tough, not handsome, the older rounded system is being kept. About the only other thing that's different on this car is the grille, which has fewer vertical bars.
New Diesel Engines
In typical Audi style, the true changes are under the bonnet. The automaker has already announced initial details about a pair of new 3-liter diesel engines which could be used by the A6 allroad quattro.The basic V6 diesel, which currently has 204 hp, will receive 218 hp, a 14 hp increase. Torque output has not yet been revealed, but could be increased from the current 450 Nm to about 500 Nm.
An even bigger power increase will come for the 3.0 TDI with 245 hp, which will be boosted to 272 hp, 27 hp more than what is currently on offer. With this one, we are sure about the torque increase: 600 Nm instead of the current 580 Nm at 1,750rpm.
Both engines come with multiple tech upgrades which will substantially reduce fuel consumption and bring emission down to EU6 levels. Audi boasts that for the first time in automotive history, a NOx storage catalytic converter has been combined with a diesel particulate filter and SCR injection in a single assembly.
The 313 hp 3.0 BiTDI and the only petrol option, a 3-liter TFSI with 310 hp, will likely carry over unchanged.
Google News