Test drive Audi A6: reason for reflection

The Audi A6 was soon upgraded. While the design changes seem modest, the technical innovations are much greater. Foremost among these is the new six-cylinder petrol engine with forced charging via a mechanical compressor.

Behind the letter "T" in the designation of Audi models is forced filling - as it is written in the information for the press, which the company distributed during the presentation of the updated version of the A6. Until recently, "T" stood for "turbo", but with the most powerful six-cylinder engine for this model, this is no longer the case.

The company clearly didn't want to use the "K", although the new V6 has a mechanical compressor under the hood. For Audi, moving from a turbocharged compressor to a mechanical compressor means redefining the use of previously unused equipment (with the exception of Silver Arrow racing engines).

K as compressor

Anyone who knows the excellence of Audi's turbocharged engines will be amazed by this step. Of course, a mechanical compressor that is driven by a crankshaft belt has the important advantage of running at constant speed and not responding slowly due to the need to pressurize the exhaust gases, as in a turbocharger.

The new Audi engine has a 90-degree angle between the cylinders, which frees up a lot of free space. It is in this space that the Roots compressor is housed, in which two four-channel scroll pistons rotate in opposite directions and thus pump the intake air at a maximum pressure of 0,8 bar. The compressed and heated air also passes through two intercoolers.

Audi says extensive tests have proven the superiority of mechanical compression over turbocharging in terms of engine response to the accelerator pedal. The first road test with the new A6 3,0 TFSI shows that there is no room for criticism in both respects. Engine power 290 hp The village has a liter capacity of almost 100 horsepower, offers impressive acceleration from a standstill and even when gas is applied at medium revs behaves in a way that we have come to expect from naturally aspirated units with a large displacement.

However, mechanical compressors have one drawback - they are much noisier than turbines. That's why Audi's designers have included numerous soundproofing measures to ensure that only the deep sound of the six-cylinder engine enters the cabin. The specific noise of the compressor spreads somewhere far in space and does not make an impression.

V8 vs V6

Well, without a doubt, V8 units run even smoother and more evenly, which is why Audi is still in the A6 range and 4,2-liter models. However, the difference with the V6 is already so narrowed that buyers are likely to seriously consider whether it makes sense to invest in a more expensive eight-cylinder version. In terms of maximum torque - 440 Nm for the V8 and 420 Nm for the V6 - both engines are almost identical. The significantly higher power of the eight-cylinder unit (350 versus 290 hp) also does not bring him a serious advantage, because due to the longer 4,2 FSI gear ratios, acceleration from standstill to 100 km / h on both models is completely identical - 5,9 .250 seconds. There is no difference in top speed, which in both cars is electronically limited to 9,5 km / h. However, the six-cylinder engine shows significantly better fuel consumption - in the combined ECE measurement cycle, it consumes 100 l / 4,2 km, while 10,2, XNUMX FSI requires an average of XNUMX liters for the same distance.

Both units are fitted as standard with a quattro dual transmission system (which distributes 40% of the thrust to the front and 60% to the rear wheels), as well as a six-speed automatic transmission, also modified in some details. At rest, a separate clutch separates the transmission from the engine, and a special torsional damping system allows you to drive with a locked converter in a wider rpm range.

These technical changes are just a small part of the fuel consumption and CO2 reduction measures that are common across the new A6 engine range. The savings record should be the new 2,0 TDIe unit. A four-cylinder diesel engine may be weaker than a conventional two-liter TDI, but it is equipped with a generator that coasts and brakes, as well as a power steering pump that does not work constantly, but depends on the need for power. .

These details, combined with a lower two-centimeter suspension, additional aerodynamic changes and longer fifth and sixth gears, result in an extremely impressive 5,3 L / 100 km for combined fuel consumption.

Lek makeup

The various technical changes that have taken place in the A6 have been combined with a "facelift", which really deserves to be mentioned only in quotation marks. It would be much more correct to talk about light powder. Now the brand's typical grille is covered in glossy lacquer, on both sides of the car we find a thin aluminum strip, at the front there are redesigned air vents, and at the rear there are wider lights and a more pronounced bonnet edge. on the trunk.

The interior changes are also quite modest. The softer back seat should improve comfort, and the round dial graphics in front of the driver are now redesigned.

And since cars age the fastest electronically these days, even the MMI system has been redesigned. Its steering has remained largely unchanged, but now the driver sees the maps of the navigation system better. The top version of MMI Plus has a built-in joystick in the rotary knob, which makes it very easy to find the target on the screen. The system even shows interesting objects from a tourist point of view in a three-dimensional image. Their presentation is so realistic that it even raises the question of whether they should save the trip in order to save fuel and prevent global warming.

The number of pieces of equipment offered for an additional fee has increased again. Almost everything on the market can now be found in the A6. This includes automatic low/high beam switching and a lane change warning system with lamps in the exterior mirrors. If desired, this system can be supplemented with Lane Assist, an assistant that vibrates the steering wheel to warn if the driver crosses marked lines without giving a turn signal. The icing on the cake is three different parking assistants.

Even if these add-ons are not ordered, A6 buyers get a very valuable quality and finely tuned car that leaves little room for criticism - even with respect to the base price, which remains unchanged.

text: Getz Layrer

a photo: Ahim Hartman