Audi have unveiled the all-new 8th generation Audi A6 sedan. It is due to roll off the assembly line at Audi's Neckarsulm site and will launch on the German market in June 2018. It actually looks like a smaller A8, but with a little more design cues like the prominent character lines above the front and rear wheelarches. From the launch photos provided, I see a little more styling here to differentiate this new car from the other recently launched Audi A8 limousine and the smaller A4 model.
The new C8 series A6 has some big shoes to fill especially since it is Audi's full sized Executive sedan challenger. From the looks point of view, it does seem to tick a lot of boxes. It must be good timing as the car actually sports a more aggressive styling compared to the Audi cars mentioned above. Is this the first Audi that isn't fully resorting to the Russian Doll styling syndrome faced by the premium marque? It could be.
Styling - Exterior and Interior
According to Audi the eighth-generation Audi A6 is the expressive ambassador of Audi’s new design language which seems to have tauter surfaces with sharp edges and a sportier demeanor. It is 4,939 millimetres long or 7 millimetres longer than its C7 series predecessor. The new A6's width has been increased by 12 millimetres to 1,886 millimetres while the height is1,457 millimetres or just 2 millimetres more than the previous model. Its chassis features mixed-construction of steel and aluminium in the body shell, with components like the front suspension strut dome, doors, hood/trunk lids and fenders all made of lightweight aluminium. Audi also claim that the A6's weight is also optimised and body rigidity is increased to ensure quality feel and sporty handling.
In terms of exterior styling, the new Audi A6 sports a wide, low-slung Singleframe grille, flat headlights and aggressively contoured air vents in the bumper section, whilst on the side, three distinct character lines help reduce the car’s visual height, breaking things up a little and making the eyes focus lower down to the road surface for a sportier stance. At the rear, a striking chrome strip through the lights brings more presence to the rear. The whole car seems so much better in terms of proportions. Everything seems to be taut and pulled tightly until you see an A6 which sits low and wide on the road. It will look really good in real life. The photos do not show a RS model and I am already impressed by its styling.
All of the styling allows the A6 sedan achieves a minimum drag coefficient of 0.24, whilst having class-leading isolation and NVMH ratings, even at high speeds.
The new Audi A6 will have lighting available in three configurations. The top-of-the-line version will get the HD Matrix LED headlights, there are a total of five horizontal lines that form a unique daytime running light signature. Above them are the dipped beam modules that look like pupils. The optional lighting signature of the rear lights is made up of a single horizontal line and nine vertical segments for each unit. The brake light will fill the areas in between. The dynamic signalling indicator is included with the top-of-the-line equipment (with this feature in future Audi sold here next time I hope Malaysians that buy the car will use the new stylish signal lights to impress other Malaysians to use their indicators too!)
In terms of space, the interior of the new Audi A6 is even larger than on the outgoing model, also beating the outgoing model and the core competitors (you know who they are) in the key department of legroom. The all-new seats underline the character of the Audi A6 as a poised long-distance sedan. With their numerous adjustment functions, the customized contour seats, front, optionally available with ventilation and massage. The headroom as well as the shoulder room in the front and rear are also superior to the outgoing model. The luggage compartment has the same capacity as the outgoing model with 530 litres (18.7 cu ft) of space, whilst offering more loading width – two golf bags can be accommodated horizontally.
The interior of the Audi A6 combines design and technology to create a premium interior that is larger, more refined and more intelligent than its predecessor. It also continues with the digitalization strategy set by the newly launched Audi A8.
The interior design language of the Audi A6 seamlessly melds with Audi’s new MMI touch response operating concept that replaces the rotary push button and conventional buttons of before with two large, high-resolution touch displays.
The driver manages the infotainment on the top display, which is displayed over a 10.1-inch screen diagonal screen if MMI navigation plus has been specified; specifying MMI Navigation plus also includes the famed Audi virtual cockpit with a 12.3-inch display. The bottom 8.6-inch display, located in the console in the centre tunnel, is used for the climate control and for the convenience functions and text input; the driver’s wrist can sit on the selector lever of the automatic transmission. In addition, an optional head-up display projects important information onto the windshield.
With extensive intelligent personalisation options, the car is tailored to the driver: The all-digital operating system allows central vehicle functions to be placed in the required position in the MMI screen using drag-and-drop – similar to the user experience with smartphone apps. Meaning you can choose how you want the layout of the touch functions to be on the A6's MMI. Up to seven drivers can store their preferred settings in individual user profiles and set up to 400 parameters.
The MMI navigation plus when specified also offers a host of new smart navigation features. These include a self-learning function based on the driven routes, which generates intelligent search suggestions run by service provider HERE. MMI navigation plus is even more compelling with the optional add-on modules, including two sound systems, one being the top of the line Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System. This system also delivers fascinating 3D sound to the rear thanks to its height information. Telephony is also taken to a new level in relation to operation as well as the sound and connection quality thanks to the Audi phone box.
The new A6 features more inter vehicle connectivity inside of it. Audi connect online services (where applicable) also provide the car-to-X services traffic sign and hazard information. They use the swarm intelligence from the Audi fleet and network the Audi A6 with its environment. Shortly after the market launch of the A6, the on-street parking service will be added, which makes looking for a parking space easier.
Other refined driver assistance systems, include the parking pilot and the garage pilot. It will autonomously manoeuvre the sedan into and out of a parking space or garage. The driver can get out of the car before activating and monitoring the process using the myAudi app on their smartphone. The new A6 is one of those cars that are taking the next step in personal transportating closer to our doorsteps. Cars like these are the the next phase towards autonomous driving vehicles.
The parking pilot and the garage pilot form part of the Park assist package, one of three packages. The City assist package includes features such as the new crossing assist. The Tour assist package comes with the adaptive cruise assist, which supplements the adaptive cruise control by means of gentle steering intervention to keep the vehicle in lane, and the efficiency assist, which promotes an economical driving style.
Behind the extensive assist systems lies a high-tech module from Audi: the central driver assistance controller (zFAS). It calculates continuously a detailed model of the environment from a fusion of sensor data. Depending on equipment, the sensor set includes up to five radar sensors, five cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors as well as a laser scanner – another major innovation.
Powertrain and Drivetrain
The new Audi A6 is claimed by Audi to sportier than the outgoing model. The already sporty ratio of the standard progressive steering is now more direct as the steering angle increases; a new damping concept also conveys intensive, finally differentiated feedback from the road. The new Audi A6 is manoeuvrable in town, agile on country roads, and poised and comfortable on the highway.
The new A6 also features dynamic all-wheel steering. It combines direct, sporty steering response with added stability. Depending on the speed, the steering ratio varies between 9.5:1 and 16.5:1 thanks to a strain weave gearing at the front and a spindle drive for the rear axle.
At low speed, the wheels steer in the opposite direction to the front wheels, thus enhancing the agility of the A6 and reducing its turning circle by up to 1.1 meters (3.6 ft) to 11.1 meters (36.4 ft). All of which makes manoeuvring easy despite the almost five meter (16.4 ft) exterior length of the large sedan. At high speed the wheels turn in the same direction, thus optimizing stability when traveling in a straight line or changing lanes. So the Audi A6 not only offers the driver straight-line stability at high speed, but more passenger comfort since the steering movements seem much softer on the rear seats.
The redesigned wheel suspension is made out of lightweight aluminium in many areas to keep unsprung weight down despite the larger wheels (measuring up to 21 inches and tire sizes of up to 255/35). Even so, when compared to the outgoing model, the Audi A6 is claimed to have improved ride and noise comfort. Brakes with fixed calipers made from aluminium are fitted to the front axle. Audi provides a choice of four variants for the suspension setup: the conventional steel spring suspension, the sport suspension, the suspension with damper control, and the adaptive air suspension, also with controlled damping.
As part of the launch in the European markets, Audi will first offer the new Audi A6 with two engines – one diesel and one petrol powered unit. Paired with a seven-speed S tronic transmission and Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel drive, the 3.0 TFSI petrol variant is a turbocharged V6 engine that generates 340 hp and 500 Nm of torque. 0- 100km/h in just 5.1 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. The 3.0 TDI engine variant develops 286 hp and 620 Nm of torque, and is paired with an eight-speed tiptronic transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive.
In terms of fuel efficiency and emissions, the petrol engine has a combined fuel consumption of 7.1 – 6.7 l/100 km (33.1 – 35.1 mpg)* and a combined CO2 emissions of 161 – 151 g/km (259.1 – 243.0 g/mi)*, whilst the diesel version has a combined fuel consumption of 5.8 – 5.5 l/100 km (40.6 – 42.8 mpg)* and a CO2 emissions of 150 – 142 g/km (241.4 – 228.5 g/mi)*.
Both engine options for the new Audi A6 come with Audi’s new mild-hybrid technology (MHEV). Here, a belt alternator starter motor (BAS) works together with a lithium-ion battery to provide some hybrid power to the new A6. At speeds between 55 and 160 km/h, the A6 can coast in freewheeling mode with the engine deactivated and then restarted via the BAS. When decelerating, this engine is also able to achieve a recuperation performance of up to 12 kW, recharging the lithium-ion battery. The start-stop function has been significantly expanded and now activates at 22 km/h (13.7 mph), with the engine getting restarted from standstill predictively as soon as the vehicle in front of the Audi A6 starts moving. In real-world driving, the MHEV technology reduces fuel consumption by up to 0.7 liters per 100 kilometres.
The basic price as the Audi A6 Sedan 50 TDI quattro is 58,050 euros. As diesel is widely used over in Europe, this is the variant which Audi have first quoted a price. Let's hope that Audi Malaysia will bring this in soon and hope that the price is competitive.
* Fuel consumption and CO2 emission figures given in ranges depending on the tires/wheels used
No comments:
Post a Comment