Will give the competition a mid-range crisis!

I must admit it was quite distracting to be reminded that Bollywood actress Gul Panag was driving the car ahead of mine. Swerving into the turn and exiting wide, Gul, like yours truly, was obviously enjoying our day at the race track.

If the image of Gul's dimpled smile wasn't bad enough, there were even more distractions that lay all around. We were testing the all new Audi A6 at the Yas Marina Formula One race track in Abu Dhabi. Located on the Yas Island, a reclaimed patch of land that has been turned into a playground for the rich and famous, the 5.5-km long track is both visually stunning and a sheer delight to test on.

At the circuit, a world-class luxury hotel with a unique façade, imposing grand stands and a marina with luxury private yachts anchored can together be distracting enough to give you a sore neck. But, within the cool confines of the new A6 counter-distractions abound, keeping me riveted to the task at hand.

Unfortunately though, it was already too late by the time I realise that the new-gen A6 is so loaded up to its gills with safety tech that I could afford to be distracted, while the car's on-board systems did the driving for me. But, the good news for the enthusiastic driver in us is the fact that the A6 is an equally fun car to drive too.

Design

Audi seems to have on purpose built the A6 to be a stronger draw than its competitors in the executive sedan category. Buyers who are young and new to the segment, and the older buyers currently owning the previous-gen A6 will be equally attracted towards the successor.

There is enough to excite the A6 fan. A design that borrows from the outgoing generation's philosophy and yet completely alters the image and age of the car, the new A6 stands out despite the Audi DNA, especially from bigger brother A8, being all together obvious.

For me it looked like the new A6 had lost some of the puppy fat of the previous-gen and has now become a trimmer, sharper model. Crisp clean lines, sharp edges and the signature front-side design touches like the tapering headlamps, the hexagonal bonnet grille and of course, the LED strips.

The other striking Audi design feature is the low, coupe-like greenhouse of the new A6, the visual-effect of which has just been accentuated by the slightly lowered roofline. The new generation model has also gotten sportier proportions with the overall length being tightened a bit, though, by shortening the overhangs by 8 centimetres, Audi engineers have still managed to increase the wheelbase by nearly 7 centimetres.

Giving it the sharper look, the A6's shoulder line (Audi calls it the Tornado line) is a deeply creased stripe that runs from the headlamp to the rear of the car. At the rear, the typical wraparound Audi taillamp design and the twin exhaust pipes catch the eye. The over-square overall design again gives the new A6 a sharper look. The spoiler integrated on to the boot lid adds to a sporty rear end.

The extended wheelbase of the new A6 has enabled Audi to offer more space inside the passenger cabin; felt no where better than at the rear seat. The cabin is also very well lit and offers excellent visibility to all passengers thanks to a really thin construction for the A, B and C pillars, likewise their claddings. Visibility is also better due to the large, nearly flat rear glass.

One of the key positives of the new A6 is its lightweight construction. New materials including composite steel and the extensive use of aluminium, has resulted in significant weight reduction in the new A6 ranging from 30 kgs to 80 kgs depending on the model.

Interiors

Inside the cabin of the new A6, the quality and choice of materials used is likely to give it a clear edge over competing models from the other two German brands – BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Some of the most luxurious and unique trim elements like layered wood inserts (for the wraparound inlay) and premium, comfortable leather seats will pamper buyers in this segment like never before. The car's wide, asymmetric centre console is oriented toward the driver. The sporty seats in the A6 are mounted low, yet most drivers can see the entire engine hood thanks to the low front end.

The new A6 also gets a good helping of top-end features like Audi's famous MMI (multimedia interface), teamed along with the pop-up information display located at the top of the centre console and the numbered touch interface pad that we first saw in the A8. There is also an option for a head-up display that can be chosen, if the buyer desires. The system projects key information onto the windshield in the form of symbols and digits.

Engine

When it is launched in September this year, the new A6 is likely to be offered with a wide choice of four engines. The most attractive for the average buyer in the segment is likely to be the 2.0 TDI – two-litre, turbocharged diesel engine with a peak power of 130 kW (about 174 bhp) and peak torque of 380 Nm.

The other diesel engine option – a 3.0 TDI V6 turbocharged diesel engine – will be offered with Audi Quattro all-wheel drive tech and will generate a peak power of 245 bhp and maximum torque of 500 Nm.

The petrol engine options will include a 2.8 FSI, which is a V6 with Audi's own valvelift system, and will put out a peak power of 204 bhp and peak torque of 280 Nm. The other more powerful option that will be offered for buyers in the petrol segment will be the 3.0 TFSI Quattro. This supercharged direct injection petrol engine generates a huge 300 bhp of peak power and 440 Nm of peak torque.

All the engine options come standard with a start-stop system for better fuel efficiency and are also fitted with battery assist and regenerative braking as standard. During the on-track testing I obviously wasn't experiencing the start-stop system, but while driving the A6 around Abu Dhabi, the system did lead to a bit of jerky acceleration. The benefits to be had are obvious, but the start-stop can be a bit annoying until you get used to it.

The engines are classically Audi units – refined, quick reacting and quiet. The cabin insulation techniques have also been completely revamped for the new A6, making it extremely quiet inside the cabin. Choice of transmissions is likely to be a CVT multitronic or the 7-speed S tronic with electrohydraulic control.

The new A6 also features a new electromechanical steering system. Together with the new more rigid body structure, you can technically squeeze out a more aggressive on road performance from the new-gen model compared to the outgoing one. The new A6 proves itself to be a thoroughly enjoyable driver's car. The only observation here being that the steering could have offered more feel, though it is clearly more comfortable to use in city conditions compared to competing models in this segment.

Feature-rich

There are a number of optional additions and other safety features that take the new A6 close to the A8 territory in terms of sheer tech on-board. The new Navigation plus system that integrates the route data to the control units for the headlights for optimal road illumination, the Google maps integration, the Audi pre-sense safety system that can effectively even stop the car if a accident situation is detected in conjunction with inputs from the adaptive cruise control system and the high-tech Bang & Olufsen with the pop-up tweeters that first saw in the A8 are all there in the new A6.

To take safety to new (almost driver elimination) heights, Audi has also integrated the active lane assist and park assist systems into the new A6. These systems will enable you to keep the car within the lane you are driving in and also enable you to park automatically and your hands can effectively not be on the steering wheel for both manoeuvres. Incidentally, don't try them at home; I tried both the systems on the track.

Audi's move with the new A8 was clear… make it the most luxurious flagship sedan and bump up its appeal with tech and high-end features. It flanked its flagship with the A7 Sportback and will soon launch the new A6 to straddle the position in between the A4 and the A7.

The seventh generation of Audi's executive luxury sedan will find its own footing even in the Indian market where the customer has fast matured. Priced upwards of about Rs 40 lakh, the new A6 will prove to be a tough competitor in the segment.

Gul would vouch for it.

muraliswami@thehindu. co. in

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