The games have begun with Audi back on the Malaysian luxury sedan battlefield with an all new A6 S-Line sedan which is fully imported and with high specification to do battle with the current champions, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (E350 AMG at RM399,888.00), BMW 5-Series (530e M-Sport at RM338,800.00) and Volvo S90 (T8 Inscription Plus at RM386,223.00).
Priced from RM589,000 this all new fully imported Audi A6 (the Benz, Volvo and BMW are all locally assembled) is more versatile than ever before – with end-to-end digitalization, enhanced comfort, more sportiness and a technical, elegant design. The all-digital MMI touch response system provides intuitive operation and even more personalization. The extensive connectivity and assistance systems demonstrate intelligent automotive connectivity. The suspension combines smooth ride comfort and unshakable stability with enhanced sportiness. All engines use an efficient mild hybrid system.
MMI touch response operating system – intuitive and customizable
MMI navigation plus also includes the Audi virtual cockpit whose high-resolution display measures 12.3 inches. Operation is via the multifunction buttons on the steering wheel. There is also a head-up display which projects information relevant to the driver into the driver’s field of view on the windshield, for instance a detailed junction map for the navigation.
Besides the MMI touch response operating system the A6 also offers the online voice control system. This allows a wide range of vehicle functions, such as controlling the air conditioning system, to be performed using everyday speech commands. The Audi A6 is thus an intelligent dialog partner and travel companion.
Electrified powertrain
To further enhance comfort and efficiency, all available engines in the new Audi A6 are fitted with a mild hybrid system. This signifies that, after the A8 and the A7, Audi has now fully electrified a third model line. A belt alternator starter (BAS) works together with a lithium-ion battery with 10 Ah capacity. In combination with the six-cylinder engines, a 48V mild hybrid system is used. The A6 can coast between 55 and 160 km/h (34.2 and 99.4 mph) and the start-stop kicks in right from 22 km/h (13.7 mph). During deceleration, the BAS recovers up to 12 kW of energy. In real-world driving, the mild hybrid technology based on 48V reduces fuel consumption by up to 0.7 liters per 100 kilometers.
More legroom in the business class
Long journeys are the domain of the new Audi A6. With a generous amount of space, many convenience features and minimal interior noise, the business-class sedan pampers driver and passengers alike. Its interior is even larger than on the outgoing model – the A6 beats the core competitors in important criteria such as legroom in the rear.
The A6 is perfectly equipped for long journeys with new convenience functions. The seats are all-new. The top-of-the-line options include the customized contour front seats with numerous adjustment functions, optionally fitted with ventilation and massage function. The optional air quality package provides a subtle fragrance and improves the air with an ionizer. The luggage compartment, with its capacity of 530 liters will accommodate two golf bags crosswise, while the trunk lid can be closed electrically with a kicking motion as an option.
The low noise level of the Audi A6 also makes it an ideal long-distance specialist. The body structure is a major factor in achieving this.Designed with a mixed steel and aluminum construction, the body is extremely rigid. It provides the basis for high torsional stiffness, minimal body movement and the sporty, precise handling. With a drag coefficient of 0.24 (with an engine to be released subsequently) the new Audi A6 cuts effortlessly through the wind. Thanks to its sophisticated aeroacoustics, including acoustic glass, it remains very quiet in the interior, even at high speeds.
Suspension technology
Maneuverable in town, sporty on country roads, and poised and comfortable on the highway – the new Audi A6 handles even more dynamically than its predecessor model. The reason is the different suspension components – from the centralized control of all systems via control strategies, newly developed axles through to new features such as optional dynamic all-wheel steering.
The standard progressive steering generally has a direct ratio, with the increasing steering angle it operates even more sportily. Its electromechanical power assistance transfers useful information to the driver, yet eliminates unpleasant jolts. This provides a direct connection between steering wheel, wheels and road. As an option, Audi delivers the new A6 with the dynamic all-wheel steering. With this setup, the A6 handles more compactly than a midsize model and with greater maneuverability than any other model in the segment, despite its exterior length of almost five meters (16.4 ft). The combination of a superimposed steering and a rear-axle steering thus resolves the classic conflict of objectives in the field of suspension. It combines direct steering response with unshakable stability. Depending on the speed, the overall ratio varies between 9.5:1 and 16.5:1.
In the front-axle steering, a strain wave gearing operates; at the rear axle a spindle drive turns the wheels up to 5 degrees – unrivaled in the segment. At speeds up to 60 km/h (37.3 mph) they turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels, thus reducing the turning circle by up to one meter (3.3 ft). At high speeds from 60 km/h (37.3 mph), the wheels turn in the same direction, thus increasing stability when traveling in a straight line or changing lanes. And in turn improving handling safety. At the same time, passengers enjoy enhanced comfort as steering movements when changing lanes are felt much less in the rear in particular.
The upgraded wheel suspension of the Audi A6 is made extensively from lightweight aluminum. Despite the larger wheels compared with the predecessor model – up to 21 inches with 255/35 size tires – the ride and noise comfort is top-class. Brakes with fixed calipers made from aluminum are fitted to the front axle. Audi provides a choice of four variants for the suspension setup, thus extending even further the spread between sportiness and comfort. The steel spring suspension is the basic specification; customers can also choose from the suspension with damper control as an all-round suspension, the sport suspension also with steel springs and the adaptive air suspension with controlled damping.
In addition to the shock absorbers and the air springs, the electronic chassis platform (ECP) also controls the dynamic all-wheel steering and the updated sport differential, which actively distributes the drive torque as needed between the rear wheels during fast cornering. The driver can adjust the settings for all controlled suspensions in the Audi drive select dynamic handling system – in the modes comfort, auto and dynamic. The dynamic all-wheel steering varies its steering ratio and the degree of feedback, for example.
Exterior design
The wide, low-slung Singleframe grille with chrome trim, the flat headlights and the powerfully contoured air inlets exude elegance and sportiness at the front. In the side view, the powerfully taut contours above the wheel arches are testimony to Audi’s quattro genes. The taut roofline flows into the steeply raked C-pillars. A chrome strip accentuates the rear and provides a link between the lights. The paint range includes a choice of 14 colors. In addition to the basic version, customers have a choice of the sport and design trim lines as well as the S line exterior package.
Technology brought to life
The lighting design emphasizes the technical character of the A6. Audi supplies the headlights in three versions, through to the HD Matrix LED technology with high-resolution, dynamically illuminating high beam. Five horizontal lines draw the daytime running light signature – above them are the dipped beam modules that look like pupils. The equipment with the top-of-the-line headlights and rear lights also includes the dynamic indicators; the lights stage the pulsing coming and leaving home functions when unlocking and locking the doors. The contour ambient lighting package is available for the interior. The ambient lighting makes the dashboard and the center console appear to float. The contour light also traces the lines of the architecture and the customer has a choice of 30 different colors for the interior lighting.
Assistance systems
The new Audi A6 reduces the driver’s workload with up to 39 assistance systems, setting the benchmark in the premium class in terms of comfort, convenience and safety. All engines incorporate as standard an MHEV system to enhance efficiency. The business-class sedan offers lots of space and new features for extremely pleasant traveling. With its low interior noise, the A6 is an expert for long journeys.
Driver assistance systems
The assistance systems make driving even more convenient, effortless and safe. They are bundled into the “Tour,” “City” and “Park” packages. A highlight in the “Tour” assist package is the adaptive cruise assist (ACA). It uses the adaptive cruise control and enhances this with a lane guidance function over the entire speed range and the traffic jam assist. As a supplement, Audi offers the bottleneck assist, which makes steering corrections in roadworks if the car gets too close to the edge of the road. The bottleneck assist also automatically maintains a safe distance to vehicles which invade the car’s lane, and automatically continues the overtaking maneuver once the lane is free again.
An ideal upgrade for the adaptive cruise assist is also the efficiency assist. This brakes and accelerates the vehicle predictively by analyzing Car-to-X information, sensor information and navigation data as well as traffic signs. Other modules in the Tour package include turn assist, collision avoidance assist, high-beam assist, camera-based traffic sign recognition and the Audi pre sense front safety system.
Audi pre sense basic comes standard in all Audi A6 sedans; another highlight, crossing assist is included in the “City” assist package. If the mid-range radars at the vehicle’s corners, which can look roughly 75 meters (246.1 ft) ahead, detect crossing traffic in front of the car, the system warns the driver; if necessary it applies the brakes. Cross traffic assist rear, the exit warning and the lane change warning are based on the signals from the rear mid-range radars. The Audi pre sense rear and Audi pre sense front safety systems are also part of the assist package.
Behind the new assistance systems in the Audi A6 lies a portfolio of sensors, which supplement each other in their particular characteristics and are designed redundantly to provide maximum system safety. The major innovation in this respect is the laser scanner.
Fully equipped, the set includes 24 sensors:
· a laser scanner up front,
· a long-range radar up front,
· four mid-range radars at the corners,
· an infrared camera up front.
· a front camera at the top of the windshield,
· four 360 degree cameras at the front, rear and exterior mirrors and
· twelve ultrasonic sensors at the front, flanks and rear.
· All sensor data comes together in the central driver assistance controller (zFAS) – the central computer that fuses all sensor data. It continuously computes a differentiated image of the surroundings; as a result, the assistance systems respond even more precisely and earlier than in the predecessor model. The navigation too is even more precise.
