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In
Depth: The New Audi A6 allroad quattro |
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Feb 28,
2006 |
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Introduction |
Design |
Interior |
Drivetrain |
Safety & Comfort |
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The A6 allroad quattro is available with
four powerful, longitudinally installed
engines, two petrol and two diesel. All
four are direct-injection power plants;
they come from the leading-edge Audi
V-engine family, notable for a compact
basic design – a 90° cylinder angle, a
distance of 90 millimetres between
cylinders, four-valve technology and
maintenance-friendly camshaft drive by
means of chains. For the petrol engines,
mixture preparation is optimised by the
continuous adjustment of all four
camshafts and a variable intake manifold.
FSI petrol direct injection is also
characteristic of the Audi brand.
Following numerous victories in the Audi
R8 Le Mans racing car, this technology has
been introduced on a broad scale in
standard production vehicles. The FSI
engines, where fuel is injected directly
into the combustion chamber under a
pressure of up to 100 bar, deliver more
performance and dynamism than conventional
power units with manifold injection – and
at the same time achieve excellent fuel
economy. This improvement in efficiency
illustrates yet again the Audi principle
of Vorsprung durch Technik.
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The 3.2 FSI develops 188 kW (255 bhp). Its
maximum torque is 330 Nm, available at
3,250 rpm. On the version with six-speed
manual transmission, the V6 accelerates
the A6 allroad quattro to 100 km/h in 7.2
seconds and enables it to reach a top
speed of 242 km/h.
Values in conjunction with the six-speed
tiptronic are 7.7 seconds and 240 km/h. On
average the powerful V6 is content with
11.2 (with tiptronic 11.0) litres of fuel
per 100 km.
The 4.2 FSI, which is being introduced
here for the first time in the A6 model
series, has even more power at the ready.
The V8 with direct injection musters up
257 kW (350 bhp) and 440 Nm, the latter
being available at 3,500 rpm. The
masterful eight-cylinder with its sonorous
tone is available with tiptronic only. The
A6 allroad quattro 4.2 FSI completes the
standard sprint in 6.3 seconds and if
necessary can accelerate further up to an
electronically governed top speed of
250 km/h.
Its consumption of only 11.2 litres of
fuel per 100 km effectively demonstrates
the outstanding potential of FSI petrol
direct injection made by Audi.
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Both V6 diesel engines combine superb
efficiency with impressive power and
ultimate refinement. The mixture
preparation is handled by a
latest-generation common rail system which
pushes fuel into the combustion chambers
at a pressure of up to 1,600 bar. The high
injection pressure ensures extremely fine
atomisation and therefore particularly
precise mixture preparation. Thanks to the
rapid-action piezo injectors the control
electronics can vary the number of
injection processes per cycle within a
wide range. On the 3.0 V6 TDI there are up
to five injection processes – these
drastically reduce noise and exhaust
emissions. Particulate filters are fitted
as standard in Germany.
The 2.7 TDI develops 132 kW (180 bhp) and
380 Nm. Its maximum torque is available
from as low as 1,400 rpm, i.e. just above
idling speed. It remains constant up to
3,300 rpm; this high torque guarantees
impressive pulling power in practically
every situation. The 9.3 seconds needed to
sprint up to 100 km/h and the top speed of
215 km/h underline the dynamic character
of the diesel engine, which is coupled
with the convenience of the six-speed
tiptronic. A fuel consumption rate of only
8.7 litres per 100 km illustrates its
efficiency.
The 3.0 TDI is available with manual
transmission or with the six-speed
tiptronic. Across a wide range between
1,400 and 3,250 rpm it applies 450 Nm of
torque to the crankshaft; its maximum
output has increased to 171 kW (233 bhp).
The standard sprint takes only 7.5 seconds
(with tiptronic 7.8 s) and it can reach a
top speed of 231 km/h (with tiptronic 230
km/h). The mighty TDI is extremely thrifty
when it comes to fuel – it uses a mere 8.4
litres (with tiptronic 8.8 l).
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Transmission: precise and efficient
The manual versions of the new Audi A6
allroad quattro will take advantage of the
ML gearbox generation. The abbreviation
stands for the “manual/longitudinal”
configuration. This sporty transmission
with closely-spaced ratios offers ultimate
shifting comfort with short, clearly
defined gearshift travel. The resulting
reduction in internal friction enhances
efficiency.
The six-speed tiptronic is distinguished
by its particularly fast gear shifts and
by a wide spread of gear ratios – up by 18
per cent on average compared with a
five-speed automatic transmission. This
means more accelerating power in low
gears, thanks to considerably higher
starting torques, and a decrease in engine
speed in the upper speed range, leading to
a reduction in noise levels and fuel
consumption.
Traction and agility: quattro drive
quattro permanent four-wheel drive,
featured on all A6 allroad quattro models,
has a decisive influence on driving
characteristics. Its self-locking centre
differential operates purely mechanically
and so without delay. It splits the drive
torque variably between front and rear
axle – as a rule 50 % to each; if
necessary, up to 75 per cent of the power
goes to one axle. On loose terrain the
quattro drive provides excellent traction;
on the road it ensures sporty agility, a
firm grip when accelerating out of bends
and maximum driving safety in all types of
weather.
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