Audi A6 Allroad: Smooth and versatile

You all know how much we love the Audi A6, especially the Audi A6 Avant. We believe it's one of the most beautiful cars Audi has ever built.
If you don't like "real" SUVs, then the Audi A6 Allroad is definitely the right car for you bringing all the nice stuff from the Audi A6 to off roads.

The rough-roader, however, has a lot more ground clearance – up to 175mm depending on the suspension setting – and special bumpers sprayed a contrasting colour to the body or, as on the car on the show stand, in body colour but with a matte finish.

There's a stainless-steel bash-plate under the body, bigger mirrors (for towing) and a slightly different version of the brand's signature "single frame" grille with chromed vertical bars and no background for the number plate holder that seems to float in the air just ahead of the car.

It's bigger than its predecessor, 124mm longer at 4934mm and 10mm wider at 1862mm; it's 1519mm high with the suspension jacked up.

The interior trim is straight A6, apart from the suspension setting controls; it's focused on the teardrop-shaped major instruments and the multimedia interface (MMI) knob on the centre console.

Motivation is provided by a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines – all based on the same aluminium 90° V-block with 90mm cylinder spacing.

The petrol versions have FSI direct fuel-injection, variable cam timing on all valves and variable intake manifolds.

Audi quotes 188kW for the 3.2-litre V6 with 330 Nm available at 3250rpm, sufficiently muscular to accelerate the Allroad to 100km/h in 7.2sec an on to 242km/h.

The 4.2-litre V8 is being used in South Africa for the first time in an A6; it claims 257kW and 440Nm at 3500rpm; Audi say's it'll reach 100km/h from rest in 6.3sec and is electronically limited to 250km/h.

The V8 is offered only with a six-speed Tiptronic transmission; the V6 is also available with a six-speed manual box.

The 2.7-litre V6 diesel cones only in Tiptronic flavour; Audi quotes 132kW and 380Nm from 1400 to 3300rpm. That equates to 9.3sec for the standard sprint and a maximum velocity of 215km/h.

The three-litre TDI is available with manual transmission or with the six-speed Tiptronic. It delivers a claimed 450Nm from 1400 to 3250rpm with peak power of 171 kW at 4000rpm.

Audi claims a 0-100km/h time of 7.5sec and top speed of 231km/h.

The power is transmitted to all four wheels via a self-locking centre differential; under normal circumstances the torque is split 50:50 between front and rear axles but up to 75 percent of the power can be channelled to one axle if the other begins to slip.

Related news: GermanCarBlog, Audi A6 Allroad

Source: Motoring

Watch more TV. The German Car TV.

Read more