Light Speed

Audi seems to be on top of its game as far as design is concerned and its designers have got it right with the fabulous LED headlamps,the tightly cropped grille and the large inlets that give it an unique identity. Dimensionally,this car has a longer wheelbase and is wider than the previous version. In the new car,Audi has used plenty of aluminium: the bonnet,fender,doors and the boot lid are all made of the light metal and under the skin,the cross members,suspension towers and even the bulkheads are made of the same. The result of these weight-saving measures is a car that weighs 80 kg less than the outgoing one,which gives it an advantage as far as performance,handling and even fuel efficiency are concerned.

The A6 also comes equipped with Audis Quattro four-wheel-drive system that gets a 60:40 rear bias. Adaptive air suspension in the whole car is a first in this class. Audi Drive Select allows the driver customisable settings for systems like dampers,steering and engine mapping. On the inside,the dash has a stunning wraparound wood design,and features from the A8,like the fabulous instrument cluster,the touchpad phone control and the MMI screen find space on the board. There is acres of space for the driver,the rear seat has loads of legroom and headroom.

From behind the wheel,Audis new-generation 3.0 TDI or Diesel is nothing short of a gem. A thoroughly reworked motor,with reduced levels of internal friction,this V6 diesel engine could be a game-changer for Audi. For a start it doesn8217;t feel like a hulking big diesel,either in the way in which it revs up or performs. There is no diesel clatter,only the faintest of vibrations filter through the bulkhead and this motor feels so smooth when you tap the accelerator that it all but purrs. And its very responsive as well. Accelerate away from a standstill and it responds almost petrol-like but with plenty of additional torque tossed in for good measure.

Devastating is an overused word,but performance for the most part is just that. The motor just catapults you forward and the push in the back stays firm all the way to 200kph. And with approximately 245bhp being unleashed at this engine speed,the scenery comes flying at you with a vengeance. Zero to 100kph takes just 6.3 seconds,making this one of the fastest four-door cars in our market. Overtaking is merely a tap of the throttle away,and the massive bursts of power that are unleashed when you go full throttle are truly gratifying.

With its new stiffer chassis and adjustable air springs and dampers,Audi has found a happy compromise as far as ride and handling are concerned. The dampers set in Comfort are extremely indulgent and make for a smooth ride. Helping the ride in no small measure are the 225/55-R17 tyres whose relatively high profile provide considerable cushioning over bad roads. The A6 glides over rough sections silently and with little movement of the body,and low speed ride is better than expected from an air suspension system. Large potholes,however,do result in a sharp thunk due to the short-travel suspension and the lightweight A6 does shudder a bit over particularly bad patches.

Audi,however,has done well to make the Sport setting on the suspension comfortable and useable. Its not as hard-edged or bone jarring as you would imagine and can be used in markets such as ours as well,where the roads are horrendous.

This is Audis most serious assault on Mercs E350 CDi and the BMWs 530d. Youd be nuts to ignore this car if you are looking for a diesel luxury saloon at around Rs 50 lakh.

The writer is deputy editor,Autocar India