Friday, March 11, 2005
Audi A6
Whether based on the shape of Bernd Pischetstrieder's beard or the W of Walter de 'Silva, the new A6 grille is its most distinctive feature. Because so much attention is drawn to the front it is easy to miss the understated yet avant-garde elegance of the rest of the body.
In the UK Audi may have been seen as the poor relation to its German peers but few people realise that Audi sells more cars across Europe than BMW and that in the 1970s Audi UK sold more cars than BMW and Mercedes-Benz put together. Audi is 'on a roll' and thanks to a stream of excellent new products is, at the time of writing actually ahead of BMW on sales year-to-date for the first time in years. Car rental uk.
The new A6 can only enhance this success as Audi has taken the opportunity to leap-frog the com petition in virtually all respects. The new car is cheaper, bigger, more powerful and more sophisticated than the rivals. Not that the current A6 has been unsuccessful with over a million sold since its launch in 1997 of which more than 70,000 were in the UK
While never criticised for quality, style or image, some areas of Audi vehicle dynamics have come under scrutiny particularly ride and steering. Until the new car can be driven in this Country, the jury is out but ride and steering certainly seem much better. The car absorbs irregularities around town very well and at higher speeds there is little roll on corners with excellent body control. The body stiffness (up 34%) is evident as the overall feeling in this car is great refinement with low levels of tyre and wind noise and not a trace of vibration. The steering seems much more communicative but with a rather strange feeling around the straight-ahead and with very little self-centring. Certainly, this car can be hustled along very quickly in a way that belies its considerable size. The brakes are very reassuring without being over-servoed like some previous Audis. Car rental uk.
Audi's pioneering quattro permanent all-wheel drive has never really achieved the success it deserves, perhaps because people feel that it only really gives benefits in slippery conditions. What many people don't realise is that, on average the UK has 184 wet days a year. There is no doubt that quattro does give a great feeling of security and the fact that Audi's all-conquering A4 quattros were outlawed from the British Touring Car races for being too successful must mean something.
While there are just four engines at launch (2.4, 3.2 and 4.2 petrol and 3.0 diesel) all of them set new standards in the class. Far from struggling to move such a large car, the smallest engine gives tremendous response, wonderful smoothness and a surprisingly 'sporty', high-quality engine note. The 3.2 gives sports car performance yet with the same uncanny refinement and sporty engine note under acceleration. This is a different engine to the 3.2 fitted in the A3 and is a true 'V' configuration mounted longitudinally rather than the A3's 'VR' single-block transverse installation. The real gem in the range is the 3.0 TDI which gives even better real-world performance than the 3.2 but with better fuel consumption and Euro lV compliance will save the 3% BiK surcharge. It is all but impossible to tell that this is a diesel and at motorway speeds it is probably quieter than the 3.2 simply because it is so high geared. The 4.2 of course achieves almost supercar levels of performance, particularly in the mid range but is cathedral-quiet at cruising speeds. The familiar 2.0 litre TDI with 140 PS first fitted in the new A3 will be introduced later in the year and will undoubtedly offer adequate levels of performance with near 50 mpg economy and low emissions. Car rental uk.
Judging by the impressive safety equipment tally a good NCap result is guaranteed. Much attention has been given to protecting occupants in front-end collisions (the most common) and all hard components have been moved away from critical impact areas and the footwells cushioned by extensive padding- even the glove box release has been moved to a position high on the fascia. Twin stage front airbags, front/ side airbags and sideguard head airbags are fitted, all controlled by sensors around the car to ensure the most effective inflation.
The new A6 is a most comfortable car with excellent seats and a huge amount of space. The car is almost A8 size with an even larger boot and rear leg room is limousine-like. The car will come with all the expected equipment and the opportunity to choose from a huge option list
SummaryThis is the car that will finally allow Audi to challenge for top spot in the executive class. For middle and senior managers it has everything; size, room, performance, driving enjoyment and all at bargain price. Pleasing rates should be very competitive as the car will have class leading residuals and reasonable running costs.
In the UK Audi may have been seen as the poor relation to its German peers but few people realise that Audi sells more cars across Europe than BMW and that in the 1970s Audi UK sold more cars than BMW and Mercedes-Benz put together. Audi is 'on a roll' and thanks to a stream of excellent new products is, at the time of writing actually ahead of BMW on sales year-to-date for the first time in years. Car rental uk.
The new A6 can only enhance this success as Audi has taken the opportunity to leap-frog the com petition in virtually all respects. The new car is cheaper, bigger, more powerful and more sophisticated than the rivals. Not that the current A6 has been unsuccessful with over a million sold since its launch in 1997 of which more than 70,000 were in the UK
While never criticised for quality, style or image, some areas of Audi vehicle dynamics have come under scrutiny particularly ride and steering. Until the new car can be driven in this Country, the jury is out but ride and steering certainly seem much better. The car absorbs irregularities around town very well and at higher speeds there is little roll on corners with excellent body control. The body stiffness (up 34%) is evident as the overall feeling in this car is great refinement with low levels of tyre and wind noise and not a trace of vibration. The steering seems much more communicative but with a rather strange feeling around the straight-ahead and with very little self-centring. Certainly, this car can be hustled along very quickly in a way that belies its considerable size. The brakes are very reassuring without being over-servoed like some previous Audis. Car rental uk.
Audi's pioneering quattro permanent all-wheel drive has never really achieved the success it deserves, perhaps because people feel that it only really gives benefits in slippery conditions. What many people don't realise is that, on average the UK has 184 wet days a year. There is no doubt that quattro does give a great feeling of security and the fact that Audi's all-conquering A4 quattros were outlawed from the British Touring Car races for being too successful must mean something.
While there are just four engines at launch (2.4, 3.2 and 4.2 petrol and 3.0 diesel) all of them set new standards in the class. Far from struggling to move such a large car, the smallest engine gives tremendous response, wonderful smoothness and a surprisingly 'sporty', high-quality engine note. The 3.2 gives sports car performance yet with the same uncanny refinement and sporty engine note under acceleration. This is a different engine to the 3.2 fitted in the A3 and is a true 'V' configuration mounted longitudinally rather than the A3's 'VR' single-block transverse installation. The real gem in the range is the 3.0 TDI which gives even better real-world performance than the 3.2 but with better fuel consumption and Euro lV compliance will save the 3% BiK surcharge. It is all but impossible to tell that this is a diesel and at motorway speeds it is probably quieter than the 3.2 simply because it is so high geared. The 4.2 of course achieves almost supercar levels of performance, particularly in the mid range but is cathedral-quiet at cruising speeds. The familiar 2.0 litre TDI with 140 PS first fitted in the new A3 will be introduced later in the year and will undoubtedly offer adequate levels of performance with near 50 mpg economy and low emissions. Car rental uk.
Judging by the impressive safety equipment tally a good NCap result is guaranteed. Much attention has been given to protecting occupants in front-end collisions (the most common) and all hard components have been moved away from critical impact areas and the footwells cushioned by extensive padding- even the glove box release has been moved to a position high on the fascia. Twin stage front airbags, front/ side airbags and sideguard head airbags are fitted, all controlled by sensors around the car to ensure the most effective inflation.
The new A6 is a most comfortable car with excellent seats and a huge amount of space. The car is almost A8 size with an even larger boot and rear leg room is limousine-like. The car will come with all the expected equipment and the opportunity to choose from a huge option list
SummaryThis is the car that will finally allow Audi to challenge for top spot in the executive class. For middle and senior managers it has everything; size, room, performance, driving enjoyment and all at bargain price. Pleasing rates should be very competitive as the car will have class leading residuals and reasonable running costs.
# posted by Liz Laurie @ 3:56 AM 
