The new 2019 Audi A6 was mostly telegraphed.
The luxury four-door sedan that was revealed Tuesday (
although
leaked earlier) follows the same jabs that the larger
2019
Audi A8 and
2019
Audi A7 threw first with a mid-size uppercut from Ingolstadt. The A6
combines technology found in the opulent full-sizer and sultry sportback with a
raft of fuel-saving features.
Whether the looks of the new sedan are a knockout, we'll
have to wait to see.
Power, planted
Audi detailed two engines for the A6, although only one is
likely headed to the U.S. A 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 likely will be the first
available engine in the States, rated at 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of
torque. A 7-speed dual-clutch automatic will be standard in Europe for the new
A6, although it's possible that an 8-speed unit is swapped when it makes the
trip overseas. According to Audi, the A6 will sprint to 62 mph in 5.1 seconds
when equipped with the gas engine. A turbodiesel initially will be offered in
Europe, but it's not likely in the U.S. because reasons.
All-wheel drive is standard equipment on the A6, and an
optional sport differential will be made available for certain models. For the
first time, the A6 will feature four-wheel steering that can dial in up to 5
degrees of counter-steering at slow speeds for better maneuverability, or in
concert with the front wheels at high speeds for better handling.
The new A6 rides atop a stiffer frame, with a mixture of
steel and aluminum in body panels and suspension components for lighter weight.
Audi will offer its variable steering ratio system in the A6, which can vary
quickness from an impossibly fast and agile 9.5:1, to a lax 16.5:1 for
comfortable long-distance cruising.
Like the A7 and A8, the A6 should arrive in the U.S. with a
standard mild-hybrid powertrain that cuts fuel consumption in several ways,
including "sailing" up to 100 mph, or a start/stop system than can
cut idling while braking at speeds up to 13 mph.
Smartphone tech
The A6 features Audi's newest MMI infotainment system,
cribbed from the A7. A 12.3-inch driver information cluster will be available
in the A6 and can complement a 10.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment and an
8.6-inch touchscreen for climate controls, when equipped.
Screen size isn't the only trick in the A6; in Europe, the
sedan can be started without a key—just an Android smartphone.
It's unclear if that last feature makes the trip across the
pond but it's worth noting that when the 2019 Audi A8 was announced, it
included self-driving features
that
weren't yet entirely legal for U.S. roads. Audi, along with other
carmakers, led a congressional push for exceptions that paved the way for those
features in the A8.
Aside from acts of Congress, the A6 includes available
safety features such as active lane control and adaptive cruise control,
parking assist, vehicle-to-infrastructure hardware, and a raft of sensors and
cameras that could help the A6 avoid crashes.
Inside, the A6 is larger with more room for passengers and
cargo, and interior lighting in up to 30 different shades. Audi notes that the
trunk of the A6 will hold two golf bags simultaneously.
Looks to chill
The A6 sports conservative styling next to the A7, and the
overall look is evolutionary for the sedan. Following cues from the A4 and A5,
the A6 is sharper than its predecessor with deeper creases and a bulging hood.
Audi skipped the A4/A5's clamshell hood opening for the A6,
but the larger sedan offers exterior lighting borrowed from tonier models. The
A6 has its own lighting "signature" in the front and rear that takes
cues from the larger cars, although it's unclear if the A6 will offer the same
startup routine as the bigger sedans.
The A6 should make its first appearance at the 2018 Geneva
auto show next month and will go on sale in Germany in June.
source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1115508_2019-audi-a6-revealed-the-keyless-to-new-luxury
by Aaron Cole
http://www.boscheuropean.com
