BMW and Mercedes have had their new mid executive saloons out for a while now while Audi has been slow to deliver a replacement. The latter two have naturally fallen into their usual slots and played their typecast roles beautifully.  The e-class is the more luxurious offering while the 5 series is the sportier offering. The only question here is whether the Audi betters either of them in their respective roles or is it the best compromise of both worlds.

The outgoing generation of the Audi A6 has always been very appealing in terms of looks. I know that this is quite subjective but I do feel that in terms of Audi’s design language this was their sweet spot. It was neither aggressive nor too conservative. Sort of like the golf R. The new Audi A6  has inherited the sharp lines and angles from the rest of Audi’s revamped range. The car looks bulkier than before while still maintaining that distinct Audi A6 look. The front grille has been revised and is now as wide as the A8 and the A7s. The front and rear lights have also been updated  and so have the front and rear bumpers. Audi claims a drag coefficient of 0.24 which should aid in minimising wind noise at speed.

With emissions and fuel economy at the forefront of every manufacturer’s agenda Audi is proving to be a class leader in this regard. Like the A8 and A7 before it all models will receive mild hybrid tech. Audi has used its Belt Alternator Starter(BAS)technology in tandem with all the engines on offer. The BAS runs the engine when the car is coasting between 55-160 kph. This has helped improve fuel consumption across the range by a claimed 0.7 l/100 km.

At launch, like the new Audi A7, two engines will be available on offer.. A turbo charged petrol V6 and a turbo diesel V6. Both engines have a 3.0 litre capacity. The petrol delivers 250kw(340hp)and 500Nm of torque while the diesel makes do with 210kw(286hp)and a formidable 620Nm of torque. The diesel engine comes paired to Audi’s 8 speed automatic gearbox while the petrol is paired to Audi’s 7 speed dual clutch transmission. Quattro all wheel drive is standard for these two variants while rear wheel steering is optional.

The car is longer than the outgoing model by 7 mm, wider by 12 mm and taller by 2 mm. This seemingly minute changes have endowed it with more leg room and head room than than the old A6. There is also 530 litres of stowage space in the boot. Large enough for two sets of golf clubs.

The interior has been completely revised and features the same dual screen set up present in the new Audi A8 and A7. However, in the A6, like the A7, the centre console has been angled towards the driver. The interior of the outgoing model was the best in the business. The wrap around cockpit made the car feel so special and sporty. And I admit the multimedia display that came out of the dashboard gave the interior some drama. Also the fact that it could be tucked away when not needed was a bonus. The new display fades back into the dash when not in use but its still there. The cockpit has also been cleaned up with fewer buttons and no rotary knob. Their functions have been relegated to the touch screen displays.

The new Audi A6 will have its market launch in June. Its market launch in South Africa will be a few months after that.