This is the new, combustion-engined Audi A6 Avant. You’ll note it is not called the Audi A7 Avant. Or Audi A6ICE Avant. Or Audi e=MCEstate. Or… well, you get the drift.
Ingolstadt’s binned its strategy of using even numbers for its models powered by electricity, and odd numbers for the dirty, oily combustion versions. Though, this being a new generation of Audi, they’re obviously less dirty than before.
That’s because the gas-powered A6 Avant gets a slightly tweaked version of the venerable 2.0-liter 200hp four-cylinder that drives the front wheels via a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. This car offers up a 0-100kph time of 8.3s and 240kph top speed.
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There’s another engine on offer at launch, too – a 200hp 2.0-liter diesel – that arrives with a mild-hybrid system on board; a 1.7kWh battery, belt alternator starter, and a powertrain generator. That means the diesel A6 is a hybrid, allowing for partial electric-only running, brake-energy regeneration, 0-100kph in 7.0s flat, and a 238kph top speed.
The diesel’s the only one available at launch with quattro – at least until the big swinging S6 comes along – and comes with a dual clutch gearbox too. Both cars sit on the Group’s ‘Premium Platform Combustion’. Which is a premium platform designed for… combustion.
You’ll spot this one is a PPC car because the grille is functional and allows both four-pots to breathe, versus the closed-off ‘Singleframe’ on the nose of the A6 e-tron. Looks as good as that car: a sharp (LED infused) headlight signature, massive air intakes carved out of the front bumper, a wide track, strong shoulders, and a swoopy, long roofline.
So swoopy in fact, it’s the most aerodynamic combustion-engined Audi Avant in history, with a value of 0.25Cd. The airflow is being thoroughly micro-managed and shepherded around the new estate, as has the noise inside the car, because Audi’s upped the insulation by 30 percent).
Audi has also upped the size, too, so the new A6 Avant is slightly longer than before, with a claimed improvement on long-distance comfort. Part of that is the aluminium suspension setup, available in either standard or sport setup – the latter 20mm lower – while you can option adaptive dampers.
The steering’s been reworked, there’s brake torque vectoring, and in the diesel hybrid, something called ‘integrated brake control system’ which – if the car deems it necessary – decouples the hydraulic brakes if you can stop using just regeneration friction. If not, and you need Brake Brakes, then the A6 will use its… brakes. Simple, really.
A massive 14.5in central MMI touch display dominates the interior, while an 11.9in virtual cockpit is there for the driver. A head-up display is an option. To make sure passengers aren’t feeling left out, there’s yet another 10.9in MMI display available for ‘Edition 1’ cars only.
Something called ‘Softwrap’ has been deployed across the entire width of the instrument panel and in the seats, too, though you can option in ‘sustainable’ materials if you so wish. There’s also a fancy light display inside, Audi clearly celebrating its return to logical names via an interior disco. A disco powered by an optional Bang & Olufsen stereo, which is a box you should probably tick on the big list.
NOTE: This story first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
