Better infotainment and safety features in new package for A6 and A7 Sportback

HERE’S a way to upgrade your driving experience with the new Audi A6 range and A7 Sportback.

Audi has packaged together key connectivity and safety options into a simple Technology Package upgrade costing £3,250.

Audi says that taken together, the Technology Package saves a business car driver £1,085 if all the options were chosen individually (and £1135 for the A7).

The Technology Package is not open to all though. It’s only available on the six-cylinder Audi A6 model range (Saloon, allroad and Avant) –the A7 range is all six-cylinder anyway, although the Technology Package is only available on the SE and S line grades.

So what do you get?

For Audi A6 business drivers the Technology Package combines nine key technology and safety features for a package price of £3,250. These include Google Earth navigation, in-car Internet connection forwi-fi on the move, Audi Music Interface iPod connection, pre-sense plus accident avoidance, blind spot and lane departure warning systems.

If you pay company car tax, the benefit in kind difference is £650 on, for example, the Audi A6 3.0 TDI SE 204PS Multitronic saloon; for a 40% marginal rate tax payer that’s a monthly difference of £22 in the 2012/13 tax year (£260 a month with the Technology Package, £238 without).

If you step up to the Audi A7 Sportback, the Technology Package also includes head-up display, although the cost is slightly higher at £3,750.

The new Technology Package Advanced is available for all automatic six-cylinder A6 Saloon and Avant SE and S line models, and for the recently announced A6 allroad quattro, with prices starting from £39,140 OTR.

The Audi A7 Sportback range of SE and S line models are available with the Technology Package Advanced, costing from £47,510 OTR.

What’s in the Audi Technology Pack then?

Online services from Google such as Google Earth map navigation, internet and e-mail functionality. Requires Mobile Phone Preparation – High option.

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) hotspot – get front and rear seat passengers connected to the internet.

MMI navigation plus – a tuner and sound system and a main unit incorporating a DVD drive, two SD card readers and a 60-GB hard disk containing navigation data. NVIDIA 3D graphics for three-dimensional images on expanded eight-inch high resolution colour monitor. Evendisplays cover art for audio titles.

MMI Touch system with black panel technology – fingertip functionality. Enter a destination or a telephone number by drawing letters and numbers on the touch-sensitive control panel with a finger. The system provides brief acoustic feedback after each character so that eyes don’t have to be diverted from the road. Alternatively, use advanced voice control.

Audi Music Interface – integrates MP3 or iPhones into the on-board audio system, and enables tracks to be displayed on the in-dash monitor.

Audi pre sense plus – conveys warnings to the driver using visual and acoustic signals. Audi pre sense plus constantly monitors driving conditions and initiates preventive protective measures – tensioning ofseatbelts, window and sunroof closure, cautionary illumination of the adaptive rear brake lights – if its sensors detect an imminent collision.

Audi side assist blind spot warning system – operates from 9mph. Two rear-mounted radar sensors monitor activity behind the car and provide yellow LED warning displays to the driver.

Audi active lane assist – works above 40mph, and detects the markings on the road using a video camera in the base of the interior mirror.If the system senses the driver is deviating – possibly losing concentration – it gently steers the car back into the lane.

Adaptive cruise control (ACC) with stop & go function – regulates car’s speed and distance from the vehicle ahead by accelerating and braking in a range from zero to 155mph, and brakes it automatically within certain limits. Also includes stop-and-go city traffic, in which it is capable of slowing the car down to a stop. It is then able to set off again by using signals supplied by the ultrasound sensors for the park assistance system located in the front bumper.

Head-up display – key information projected onto the bottom of the windscreen in the driver’s field of vision.