Third generation versatile four-wheel drive quattro allroad launched by Audi
HERE’S one vessel that can cruise close to the shoreline but take boulders and rocks in its stride: the new Audi A6 allroad.
This is the third generation allroad, Audi’s A6 Avant endowed with beefier looks and greater off-road four-wheel drive quattro versatility, and it goes on sale in February.
There will be three choices of engine for the Audi A6 allroad. There’s a a 310PS 3.0 TFSI petrol six-cylinder engine with 440Nm of torque and plenty of zip. It will accelerate to 62mph in 5.9 seconds while fuel economy is 31.7mpg.
There are also two diesel choices, which are likely to be more favoured by business users and small business owners: a 204PS six-cylinder diesel 3.0 TDI (450Nm of torque), which has fuel economy of 46.3mpg.
Audi says to expect CO2 emissions of 159g/km which places it neatly under the 160g/km tax break for writing down allowances and full business car leasing relief. Benefit in kind company car tax will be at 25% for this model.
And the same six-cylinder 3.0 TDI diesel but this time tuned for more power (245PS) and a whopping 580Nm of torque. No word yet from Audi on fuel consumption or CO2 emissions.
This third generation Audi A6 allroad – the first two allroad models were launched in 2000 and 2006 – takes a familiar formula that won’t rock the boat for fans of the versatile allroad.
The elegant and sophisticated styling of the A6 Avant is given a more aggressive and purposeful look suitable to its off-road terrain capability.
There are side sills that have been extended, wheel arches are flaired and the grille has a single frame incorporating vertical slats. Some upgrades have a practical as well as visual purpose: the underbody is protected by stainless steel guards both at the front and rear of the allroad, while the exhaust features two oval shaped exhaust finishers. Even the roof rails get the allroad treatment and are mounted on double bars.
The latest A6 allroad measures 4.94 metres long, 1.90 metres wide and 1.47 metres tall, which gives it a 6cm height advantage over the standard A6 Avant.
The interior of the new Audi A6 allroad blends Audi’s usual sophisticated refinement with some additional allroad touches, such as aluminimum finish to the Multi Media Information (MMI) operating keys, along with a pitch indicator on the Driver’s Information System.
Among the features that will attract business buyers of the new A6 allroad included a head-up display which projects essential information onto the windscreen, a panoramic glass roof to let in the light, while at night there’s soothing ambient lighting thanks to LED illumination.
Internet on the move is also available with the Audi option of Mobile Phone Preparation – High. Other benefits of the wifi connectivity include Audi traffic information, a system that identifies impending congestion by using mobile phone signal densities in real time, web radio streamed to the interior, and Google Earth navigation to help in the rockiest of terrains.
Prices of the new Audi A6 allroad start from £43,145 on the road; business users can expect to take delivery of their allroad in spring.
