Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Wagon, Europe, Audi, Luxury

While crossovers dominate the American highway, that role is taken up overseas by estate wagons. And few are as enticing as the Audi S6 Avant.

Offering all the creature comforts of the Audi A6, the S6 Avant ups the ante with all the cargo space you’d expect in a crossover with a rip-roarin’ engine under the hood. In the case of the new model, we’re expecting an all-new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 driving some 450 horsepower to all four corners through an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive.

In other words, that Porsche driver will never know what hit him, but with this latest batch of spy shots, we now do. It’s the clearest look we’ve had at the upcoming new model yet, revealing the quad exhaust tips, full aero body kit, big-boy wheels and no cladding. All it needs are a set of S6 badges and it’s off for a record-setting school run. Check it out in our high-res gallery for a closer look.

Audi S6 Avant looks ready to smoke your crossover originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Although it’s the SLS that has been hogging the limelight these days, the Mercedes SLR McLaren still has enough credibility as a sports car to be taken seriously. Now, this chromed example is an even more incredible example of one of Mercedes’ finest.

Reportedly owned by an Arab, this car was given the full treatment, as it’s got 20-inch chrome wheels and chrome tinted windows. Since Brabus handled the modifications, we can assume that the upgrades did not stop with the exterior. Some engine tuning was also done to increase output to 650 horsepower but because this car was caught moving, no detail shots of the interior are available. It’s safe to say that it won’t be stock. With a top speed of 340 km/h and at 0-100 time of 3.6 seconds, this car should look like the proverbial silver bullet as it flashes down the road.

UK magazine CAR had the opportunity to test drive the new 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe. The model of choice? The all-new 640i powered by a 3.0 liter TwinPower engine producing 316 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. Let’s have a glance at some of their impressions, followed by the full article.

“Hardened BMW fans (I’d put myself under that umbrella) might still be coming to terms with cars like the X6 and X1, but huge sales figures render our furrowed brows rather irrelevant. Even so, it’s nice to be reporting on a niche BMW that’s not a quasi off-roader. In fact the new 6-Series should keep traditionalists very happy. Based on the excellent 5-Series chassis but tuned for a more dynamic experience and with a lower centre-of-gravity, there’s every chance it’ll be a fantastic GT with a really sporty edge.

The drivetrain is absolutely fabulous. The engine is super-smooth and the 640i easily feels good for its 0-62mph claim of 5.4-seconds. You can rachet-up the speed of shifts, tighten the suspension and alter the steering weight via the grandly titled Driving Experience Control switch. In Eco Pro mode the 640i feels like the throttle’s broken but the ride is excellent and it has the potential to deliver 36.7mpg. Shuffle through Comfort+, Comfort and then into Sport and Sport+ and it’s more BMW-like. Body control is good, there’s tons of grip and the gearbox really snaps through ratios like a twin-clutch system. There’s no need to use the paddle shifters, but you probably will because it adds just a bit more fun and control.”

Full review at CAR