With the new A6, Audi is presenting the eighth generation of its successful full-size Sedan and brings numerous innovations to the segment. Whether in terms of digitalization, comfort or sportiness – the elegantly sculptured Audi A6 is the ‘multitalent’ in the luxury class. The all-digital MMI touch response system provides intuitive operation. The extensive connectivity and assistance solutions demonstrate networked intelligence. The interior systematically adopts digitalization and is groundbreaking in its segment. The suspension combines smooth ride comfort and high stability with enhanced sportiness. All engines have a mild-hybrid system as standard equipment for convenience and efficiency.
MMI touch response operating system – customizable and intuitive
The MMI touch response system of the new Audi A6 sets new standards in terms of intuitive operation and personalization. With extensive intelligent personalization 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. Shortcuts and favorites buttons form the ideal basis for individual preferences and superb ease-of-use.
Ideal for frequent drivers and fleet customers: Up to seven drivers can store their preferred settings in individual user profiles and set up to 400 parameters. Thanks to its logical and flat menu structure, the system provides fast access to vehicle functions. The configurable favourites buttons help tailor the system to the user’s preferences. As an option, the lighting and multifunction buttons can be fitted with touch response technology.
The natural-language control turns the new Audi A6 into an intelligent dialogue partner and travel companion: It processes questions and commands in two ways, with onboard stored data and also – in conjunction with MMI navigation plus – with the detailed knowledge from the cloud.
The MMI touch response operating system with haptic and acoustic feedback provides rapid, intuitive operation: Users hear and feel a click as confirmation as soon as their finger triggers a function.
The driver manages the infotainment on the top display, which has a 10.1-inch screen diagonal if MMI navigation plus has been specified. 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, the head-up display projects important information onto the windshield. MMI navigation plus also includes the Audi virtual cockpit with a 12.3-inch display.
Driver assistance systems
Even more comfort, poise and safety on long and short journeys – the new A6 with new and refined driver assistance systems set new standards in the luxury class. These include the parking pilot and the garage pilot, which are set to extend the range of equipment during the course of the year: They 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. To do so, the driver must continuously hold down the relevant function key.
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.
Mild-hybrid technology – all engines electrified
All engines in the new A6 come with Audi’s new mild-hybrid technology. Here a belt alternator starter (BAS) works together with a lithium-ion battery. The Audi A6 can coast between 55 and 160 km/h.
The start-stop function kicks in up to 22 km/h. The engine is restarted from standstill predictively as soon as the vehicle in front of the Audi A6 starts moving. During deceleration, the BAS recovers up to 12 kW of energy. In real-world driving, the MHEV technology reduces fuel consumption by up to 0.7 litres per 100 kilometres.
Body and dimensions – more legroom in the business class
The body of the new Audi A6 also adds to the relaxed atmosphere onboard. One factor is the advanced aerodynamics: With a minimum drag coefficient of 0.24 (with an engine to be released subsequently) and thanks to sophisticated aeroacoustics, the Sedan remains pleasantly quiet, even at high speed.
A second factor is the high body rigidity – it forms the basis for the top quality feel and the sporty handling. Audi uses an intelligent mixed construction of steel and aluminium in the body shell. Components such as the front suspension strut dome are made of aluminium, as are the doors, hood/trunk lids and fenders.
The interior of the new Audi A6 is even larger than on the outgoing model. With regard to legroom in the rear, it beats the outgoing model and the core competitors. The headroom and shoulder room in the front and rear are also superior to the outgoing model. The luggage compartment offers more loading width – two golf bags can be accommodated horizontally. The capacity remains unchanged at 530 litres. The trunk lid can be opened electrically with a kicking motion.
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, provide superb comfort. A good interior climate is likewise ensured: The optional air quality package improves the air with two subtle fragrances, an ionizer and an effective pollutant filter. With its large glass sections, the optional panoramic glass sunroof floods the interior with light. Additional convenience features include the windshield wipers with integrated washer jets and the optional heated windshield.
The suspension – as agile as a sports car, as manoeuvrable as a compact model
The new Audi A6 is noticeably sportier than the outgoing model – thanks especially to innovative solutions for the suspension. The already sporty ratio of the standard progressive steering becomes even more direct as the steering angle increases; a new damping concept also conveys intensive, finely 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 dynamic all-wheel steering is a key component in this agility and manoeuvrability. It combines direct, sporty steering response with unshakable stability, resolving this classic conflict of aims. Depending on the speed, the steering ratio varies between 9.5:1 and 16.5:1. This is thanks to a strain wave gearing at the front. At the rear axle, a spindle drive turns the wheels as much as 5 degrees. 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 travelling in a straight line or changing lanes. Thus the A6 not only offers the driver smooth straight-line stability at high speed. Passengers also enjoy more comfort since the steering movements seem much softer on the rear seats.
The redesigned wheel suspension is also made out of lightweight aluminium in many areas. Despite the larger wheels, measuring up to 21 inches and tire sizes of up to 255/35, than on the outgoing model, the Audi A6 has improved ride and noise comfort. Brakes with fixed callipers 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.
The exterior design – technical and elegant
Like the A8 and A7 Sportback models, the A6 is the expressive ambassador of the new Audi design language. With taut surfaces, sharp edges and striking lines, the business sedan unmistakably conveys its character: sporty elegance, high tech and sophistication.
The exterior stands out with its balanced proportions – long hood, long wheelbase and short overhangs. The A6 is 4,939 millimetres long, i.e. 7 millimetres longer than its predecessor. The width has been increased by 12 millimetres to 1,886 millimetres while the height at 1,457 millimetres is now 2 millimetres more than on the outgoing model. The wide, low-slung Singleframe grille, the flat headlights and the powerfully contoured air inlets exude sportiness.
In the side view, three striking lines reduce the car’s visual height. The powerfully taut contours, which are drawn over the wheels, are testimony to Audi’s quattro genes. The taut roof line, which tapers into flat C-pillars, characterizes the silhouette. The short trunk lid ends in a curved separating edge for optimized aerodynamics. A striking chrome strip accentuates the three-dimensional sculpture of the rear and connects the rear lights.
The lighting design – technology brought to life
The lighting design emphasizes the technical character of the A6. Audi supplies the headlights in three different versions. With the top-of-the-line version, the HD Matrix LED headlights, five horizontal lines form the daytime running light signature; they emphasize the width of the front. Above them are the dipped beam modules that look like pupils. Optionally, the lighting signature of the tail lights is made up of a single horizontal line and nine vertical segments for each unit; the brake light fills the areas in between. The dynamic indicator is included with the top-of-the-line equipment. When unlocking and locking the doors, a pulsing coming and leaving home function brings to life the combination of design and technology that is the hallmark of Audi.
Audi offers two different lighting packages for the interior: the ambient lighting package and the contour ambient lighting package. Both subtly animate the space, the volume and the materials. The ambient lighting makes the dashboard and centre console appear to float. The contour lighting reproduces the clear lines of the interior architecture and can be set to 30 different colours.
The interior – futuristic design
The interior of the new A6 features a black-panel design – a cool look which expresses the technical competence and digital character of the business sedan. This creates a relaxed lounge atmosphere in a design language that comes across as reduced and matter-of-fact. The sleek instrument panel and the calm, continuous horizontal body line create an airy sense of spaciousness.
The centre console in the new Audi A6 is directed at the driver; the top MMI touch response display is also tilted slightly to the left. With its black-panel look, it almost disappears into an aluminium clip when switched off. The display is activated when opening a door; its graphical user interface appears reduced, matching the interior design.
