Audi A6

AUDI A6

2005-2008 Audi A6 3.2 saloon (U.S.)
Manufacturer	AUDI AG
Production	C4: 1994 - 1997, C5: 1997 - 2004, C6: 2004 - present
Assembly	Neckarsulm, Germany
Predecessor	Audi 100
Class	Executive car
Body style(s)	4-door saloon/sedan, 5-door Avant (estate/wagon)
Layout	Longitudinal front engine, front-wheel drive, or quattro permanent four-wheel drive
Platform	Volkswagen Group C platform series
Related	Audi S6 Audi RS6

The Audi A6 is an executive car produced by the German automaker AUDI AG at their factory in Neckarsulm, Germany. It is available in both saloon, and Avant (Audi's term for an estate) body styles.

All generations of the A6 were available as either front-wheel drive, or with Audi's trademark Torsen-based quattro permanent four-wheel drive (4WD) system.

The second and third generation A6 were also used as the basis for the "Audi allroad quattro" and "A6 allroad quattro" models respectively.

C4 (Typ 4A, 1994-1997)

Audi A6 (C4)

Audi A6 (C4)
Production	1994-1997
Predecessor	Audi C3 100
Successor	Audi C5 A6
Platform	Volkswagen Group C4
Engine(s)	1.8 L I4 20v Turbo 2.4 L V6 2.8 L V6 1.9 L I4 TDI 2.5 L I5 TDI
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase	2,760 mm (108.7 in)
Length	4,796 mm (188.8 in)
Width	1,810 mm (71.3 in)
Height	saloon: 1,452 mm (57.2 in) Avant: 1,479 mm (58.2 in)
Related	Audi C4 S6

Audi (C4) A6 saloon

Audi (C4) A6 Avant (U.S.)

Audi's mid-size car was previously named the Audi 100 (or Audi 5000 in the United States), and was released in three successive generations (Audi C1, Audi C2 and Audi C3).^[1] In 1994, the latest generation (C4) of the Audi 100 was facelifted and re-badged as the Audi A6, to fit in with Audi's new alphanumeric nomenclature (as the full-size A8 had just been introduced). The exterior was changed only slightly from the "C4" Audi 100 – new front and rear lights, new radiator grille, similarly with chassis and engine and transmission choices. The United Kingdom was the first market to receive the A6, as stock of right-hand-drive Audi 100s had run out before expected, and before the rest of mainland Europe.

The new engines for the A6 were 1.8 litre 20v inline four cylinder, and 2.8 litre 30v V6 petrol engines, with the 2.3 litre inline five engine being dropped on most markets. For the diesel engines, an inline four 1.9 Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI), and the inline five (R5) 2.5 TDI (103 kW (140 PS; 138 bhp)) were available.

Until 1997, the A6 came with several different engines, two of them turbodiesel, and most of them available with Audi's Torsen-based quattro permanent four-wheel drive system. The A6 was available with saloon and Avant bodies.

C4 engines

The C4 design was available with the following engines:

C4 S6

A higher performance version of the C4 A6, called the Audi S6 was produced. It included the 4.2 litre V8 engine, which was uprated to 213 kilowatts (290 PS; 286 bhp), and a new limited edition 240 kW (326 PS; 322 bhp) version was added: the S6 PLUS made by quattro GmbH.

C5 (Typ 4B, 1997–2004)

Audi A6 (C5)

Audi C5 A6 2.8 Avant (U.S.)
Production	1997-2004
Predecessor	Audi C4 A6
Successor	Audi C6 A6
Platform	Volkswagen Group C5
Engine(s)	1.8 L I4 20v 1.8 L I4 20v Turbo 2.0 L I4 20v 2.4 L V6 30v 2.8 L V6 30v 3.0 L V6 30v 2.7 L V6 30v Turbo 4.2 L V8 40v 1.9 L I4 TDI 2.5 L V6 24v TDI
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 5-speed automatic multitronic CVT
Wheelbase	2,760 mm (108.7 in)
Length	4,796 mm (188.8 in)
Width	1,810 mm (71.3 in)
Height	saloon: 1,453 mm (57.2 in) Avant: 1,479 mm (58.2 in)
Related	Audi C5 S6 Audi C5 RS6 Audi allroad quattro

Audi C5 A6 saloon

Audi C5 A6 Avant

In late 1997, the introduction of a new A6 (Typ 4B), based on a new design automobile platform - the Volkswagen Group C5 platform, with a new range of internal combustion engines was announced. This new A6 moved up a notch in quality, and was marketed in the same categories as the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The Italian-redesigned body presented a modern design, with a fastback styling which set the trend for the Audi lineup, and gave the relatively large saloon an aerodynamic shell with a low coefficient of drag of 0.28.

In 2000 and 2001, the "C5" A6 was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list. This new A6 was available with a wide range of engines and configurations. The 30-valve 2.4 and 2.8 litre V6 engines represented the bulk of the A6's development programme, with a multitude of other engine configurations available throughout the globe. As an alternative to the manual transmission, a five-speed tiptronic automatic transmission was also available.

The C5 saloon variant arrived in late 1997, and the Avant in 1998 in Europe. In the United States, the C4 continued for 1997, with the C5 saloon available in 1998, and the C5 Avant available in 1999. In Canada, there was no Avant (Audi's name for a estate/wagon) available at all in 1998 - Audi dropped the C4 Avant at the end of the 1997 model year, and jumped straight to the C5 Avant in 1999 in conjunction with its release in the US. As a result of complying with FMVSS, the North American models were equipped with front and rear bumpers that protruded several inches further than their European counterparts, with modified brackets and bumper suspension assemblies as result, and child-seat tethers for occupant safety. In compliance with Canadian law, Canadian models received daytime running lights as standard equipment. North American C5 A6 models received the 2.8 litre, 30-valve V6 engine, the 2.7 litre "biturbo" V6 (also found in the B5 platform S4), and the 4.2 litre 40-valve V8 petrol engines. The V8 models arrived with significantly altered exterior body panels, with slightly more flared wheel arches (fenders), revised headlamps and grille design (before being introduced in 2002 to all other A6 models), larger roadwheels (8Jx17"), larger brakes and Torsen-based quattro permanent four-wheel drive as standard.

In 2002, the A6 received a facelift, with revised headlight and grille design, exposed exhaust tips, and slight changes to accessory body moldings, and taillight colour from red to amber in North American models. A new host of engines were also introduced. The 1.8 litre engine was deleted and replaced by a 2.0 litre powerplant with 96 kilowatts (131 PS; 129 bhp). The 1.9 litre Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) was tweaked to produce a maximum motive power output of 96 kilowatts (131 PS; 129 bhp), and 310 newton metres (229 ft·lbf) of torque, receiving a six-speed manual gearbox in the process. The 2.4 litre V6 gained an extra 5 hp and better balancing, and the 2.8 litre V6 engine was replaced by a 3.0 litre engine with 162 kilowatts (220 PS; 217 bhp). The turbocharged 2.7 litre was revised, resulting in 184 kilowatts (250 PS; 247 bhp) and 330 newton metres (243 ft·lbf), controlled by standard quattro. The V6 diesel was also slightly modified resulting in 120 kilowatts (163 PS; 161 bhp) (after the second modification) and 350 newton metres (258 ft·lbf). A new more powerful V6 diesel was also introduced with 132 kilowatts (179 PS; 177 bhp) and 370 newton metres (273 ft·lbf). The 4.2 litre V8 engine which arrived in 2001 remained unchanged.

Also new was the revolutionary multitronic continuously variable transmission, available in most front wheel drive models. All models, except the 2.0 litre petrol and 1.9 litre TDI, were available with Audi's trademark four-wheel drive system, quattro. A four wheel drive version of the Avant, with raised ground clearance and slightly altered styling was sold as the Audi allroad quattro, Audi's first crossover SUV.

Regarding this C5 generation, Car and Driver magazine stated, "It is one of the most winsome mid-sizers to meet pavement, with some of the nicest handling this side of a BMW. In 2000, the moderate performance of this otherwise excellent, 3.0 litre V6-powered, sedan was improved by the addition of two higher-performance versions: the 250 PS (180 kW; 250 hp), 2.7 litre bi-turbo V6 and the 300 PS (220 kW; 300 hp), 4.2 litre V8, both with Audi's quattro permanent four-wheel drive system. In mid-2003, major muscle came along in the limited-run RS6 - powered by a 450 PS (331 kW; 444 bhp), twin-turbo V8 engine - which immediately finished first in a C/D comparison test".

The C5 design was replaced in 2004 by a new C6 model.

Crash testing

EuroNCAP adult occupant:[2]
IIHS overall frontal offset crash test:[3]	Acceptable

C5 engines

The C5 design was available with the following engines:

C5 S6 and RS6

The Audi S6 was a high-powered variant of the A6, featuring a modified version of the 4.2 litre V8 engine producing 250 kilowatts (340 PS; 335 bhp) and 420 newton metres (310 ft·lbf). It was available as a saloon and Avant.

In the late years of the A6 C5 design, an ultra-high performance limited-run Audi RS6 model was presented. Weighing in excess of 1,840 kilograms (4,057 lb) and producing 331 kilowatts (450 PS; 444 bhp) and 560 newton metres (413 ft·lbf), it propels the RS6 from 0-100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) in 4.5 seconds, and on to 200 km/h (124.3 mph) in under 17 seconds. Initially available as only an Avant, a saloon variant was later added.

C6 (Typ 4F, 2004-present)

Audi A6 (C6)

Audi (C6) A6 quattro saloon
Production	2004-present
Predecessor	Audi C5 A6
Platform	Volkswagen Group C6 platform
Engine(s)	2.0 L I4 Turbo 2.4 L V6 2.8 L V6 FSI 3.2 L V6 FSI 4.2 L V8 2.0 L I4 TDI 2.7 L V6 TDI 3.0 L V6 TDI
Transmission(s)	6-speed manual 6-speed tiptronic automatic 7-speed multitronic CVT
Wheelbase	2,843 mm (111.9 in) LWB: 2,945 mm (115.9 in)
Length	4,927 mm (194.0 in) LWB: 5,035 mm (198.2 in)
Width	1,855 mm (73.0 in)
Height	saloon: 1,459 mm (57.4 in) Avant: 1,463 mm (57.6 in) LWB: 1,485 mm (58.5 in)
Kerb weight	1,520–1,845 kg (3,351.0–4,067.5 lb)
Related	Audi C6 S6 Audi C6 RS6 Audi A6 allroad quattro
Designer	Walter de'Silva

Audi (C6) A6 saloon rear view

Audi (C6) A6 3.2 Avant (U.S.)

Centre console of C6 A6, showing tiptronic gear shift lever, Multi Media Interface (MMI) controls, and electronic parking brake

Audi (C6) A6

The new C6 generation A6 was released in 2004. Designed by Walter de'Silva, the new model is visually an evolution of the C5, but is lengthened to 492 centimetres (193.7 in), incorporates the new Audi trademark "single-frame grille", and features more sophisticated technology. Most notable is the Multi Media Interface (MMI) which is a system controlling in-car entertainment, satellite navigation, climate control, car settings such as suspension configuration and optional electronic accessories through a central screen interface. This has the advantage of minimising the wealth of buttons normally found on a dashboard by replacing them with controls which operate multiple devices using the integrated display.

On the internal combustion engines, the new Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) direct injection technology was introduced. Although the line of engines represents the same progression as the former model, all engines were new. The multitronic continuously variable transmission continues as an alternative for front-wheel drive models, alongside a new six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission available in the four-wheel drive models. Audi's "trademark" Torsen-based quattro permanent four wheel drive is available in most of the lineup, and standard in the most powerful models. quattro is not available on the multitronic variants of the A6, but is available on the manual and tiptronic gear systems. Conversely the tiptronic system is not available on the front-wheel drive variants of the car. The six-speed manual gearbox is available with the 3.2 litre V6 engine, but not for the North American market.

In 2005, the new Audi A6 won the World Car of the Year award, and has recently won its class in the Practical Caravan "tow car of the year" awards, due to its array of towing features such as adjustable suspension height and damping, and the presence of a Trailer Stability Programme.

Like the previous model, the A6 is available with other body options. The Avant arrived during the course of 2005, while in China, a long wheelbase version was introduced in the same year, named A6L.^[4] The allroad variant (now called A6 allroad quattro) made its debut in 2006, and as before, is an off-road ready version of the Avant, available with either a 2.7 litre V6 or 3.0 litre V6 Turbocharged Direct Injection diesel engines, or a 3.2 litre V6 or 4.2 litre V8 petrol engine.

Crash testing

EuroNCAP adult occupant:[5]
EuroNCAP child occupant:
EuroNCAP pedestrian:
IIHS overall frontal offset crash test:[6]	Good
IIHS side crash test:[7]	Good

C6 engines

The 4.2 FSI V8, one of the many engines offered in the C6 A6 range

The C6 design was available with the following internal combustion engines:

C6 facelift

Audi (C6) A6 Avant (facelifted)

LED taillights of a pre-facelift A6 Avant

Audi unveiled a facelifted "C6" Audi A6 on 12 August 2008, at the Moscow International Motor Show. It features some minor cosmetic changes to the front and rear areas, and a new internal combustion engine variant, a 300 PS (221 kW; 296 bhp) 3.0 litre V6 TFSI with a supercharger. This is one of six petrol and four diesel engines available for the upgraded A6.^[8] All petrol engines now feature cylinder-direct Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) technology, and all diesel engines now feature common rail (CR) and Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) technologies.

C6 S6 and RS6

The sporting S6 was introduced in the Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales beginning in early 2006. It is powered by a 5.2 litre Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) V10 engine producing a 320 kilowatts (435 PS; 429 bhp) and 540 newton metres (398 ft·lbf). The S6 reaches 100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) from a standstill in 5.2 seconds, and the quarter mile 13.5 seconds.^[9]

The latest version of ultra-high performance Audi RS6 was launched in September 2008. It features an all-aluminium alloy 5.0 litre (4,991 cubic centimetres (304.6 cu in)) 90° V10 twin-turbocharged ("biturbo"), Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI), with a dry sump lubrication system. It produces a power output of 426 kilowatts (579 PS; 571 bhp), and 650 newton metres (479 ft·lbf) of torque. Initially available only as an Avant, the saloon version was released in late 2008.

Awards

The second-generation A6 was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 2000 and 2001. The updated 2005 A6 won the World Car of the Year award for 2005.

See also

• Audi S6
• Audi RS6
• Audi allroad quattro
• Volkswagen Group China

References

External links

• Audi.com corporate website
• Audi UK A6 microsite
• Audi New Zealand: 100 and A6 official history