All-new Audi A6 Avant officially unveiled

Say hello to the Audi that was never meant to be. Perhaps that’s a tad disingenuous – this is hardly the Quattro concept, or R8 TDI – but the combustion-powered Audi A6 was meant to be a part of Audi’s past rather than its future. It was going to be EV-only for the A6 going forward, and this car was going to be the A7 Avant, until Audi’s recent volte-face and the decision to stick rather than twist. Meaning that what we have now is actually a fairly traditional new Audi: there’s been an A6 Avant with petrol and diesel power for almost 30 years now, and this is the latest in a long line. 

Of course, the reality is a little more complex than that, this car representing the most advanced, intelligent and connected A6 yet – but fundamentally it’s a large, handsome Audi wagon with an engine. And we like those. Especially with a drag co-efficient of 0.25Cd, the lowest ever for a combustion-powered Avant. Your eyes don’t deceive you, either, as this really is pretty large indeed: 4.99m long would certainly have suited the A7 badge. Although with a 5 Series bigger than ever as well, it’s perhaps of little surprise to find the A6 following suit. A 2,927mm wheelbase should ensure plenty of occupant space, although large estate buyers might have hoped for more than 503 litres of boot space – even if it is wide enough for suitcases to go side-by-side. Seats down capacity is 1,534 litres; an E-Class offers up more than 600 litres and then 1,830 seats down, for comparison. 

As befits a car that was going to be an A7 – or perhaps just reflecting the level of kit expected in big estates these days – the A6 is available with all manner of equipment. Adaptive air suspension and all-wheel steering are offered on select models (though the latter is an option denied to UK cars), the former even controllable by voice via the Audi assistant. Quattro ultra all-wheel drive can decouple the rear axle for better efficiency when required as well as send up to 70 per cent of the torque when needed. Brake by-wire is standard. A sport diff and brake torque vectoring also feature, and Audi suggests that the assortment of dynamic components ‘work together even faster and more precisely.’ 

There’s more negative camber on the front axle (which helped out the current RS3 compared to its predecessor) alongside a more rigid steering rack and stiffer control arm bushings for ‘noticeably improved steering response and more feedback from the road’, which is encouraging. The front subframe is rigidly mounted, the rear one hydraulically. It isn’t all just software that aims to improve the A6 driving experience. 

As with the other Audis built on the Premium Platform Combustion – the new Q5 and A5 – the interior is transformed compared to the old A6. It’s so digital there’s even something called a digital curtain included, which you might also call a switchable pano roof. That’s alongside the ‘digital stage’ – or how the infotainment is laid out – the digital background image for the passenger display and the inclusion of ChatGPT as part of the Android Automotive OS. 

The head-up display – now 85 per cent larger than before, alongside the 11.9-inch dash, 14.5-inch infotainment screen and 10.9-inch passenger display – can control vehicle and infotainment functions for the first time. Which all sounds a tad overwhelming, though the layout of the cabin is already familiar from models like the Q6. For the A6, seemingly aware of tech overload, Audi has introduced Softwrap – which is actually a choice of materials – for a ‘comfortable, refined ambience.’ Speaking of which, Audi will use ‘only European wood from felled trees that no longer bear fruit’ for those who want it, and something called Kaskade is synthetic but mimics wool.

The A6 will be offered as either a standard spec or S line; you’ll be able to tell the difference between the two by how closely it’s following behind. Audi says that the standard car ‘shows a lot of body colour and aluminium to highlight its elegance’, whereas S line – as seen here – ‘emphasises its sportiness’ with matt anthracite chrome accents for the front intake, sill trims and diffuser. A black pack, naturally, is optional on the S line. 

But let’s hope buyers embrace the more diverse colour range available for the A6 this time around. The Madeira Brown A6 seen here is actually an Edition one model, which will only be offered for the first year of sales and comes with 21s and the black pack as standard. A plain A6 gets 18-inch wheels from the factory, an S line 19s. Interestingly the S line gets some colour options denied to the regular model – Daytona Grey, Ascari Blue, Midnight Green – though all are available in brown as well as Firmament Blue, Florett Silver, Grenadine Red, plus greys, whites and blacks. Fingers crossed for a break from the latter trio.

Like the other PPC Audis, the engine line-up of the new A6 has been drastically streamlined compared to the recent past. At launch in the UK, there will be a brace of four-cylinders – one petrol, one diesel, both with 204hp – and that’s it. Nothing more.. The diesel is equipped with Audi’s MHEV plus technology, which has impressed already in the S5 with its intelligent integration of additional electrification. And for those wondering where the 367hp V6 is for this car, well it isn’t here. At least not for the moment. While announced as part of the international reveal, the 3.0-litre unit won’t be part of the initial launch offering here. So those who want a practical PPC Audi with it will have to make do with an S5 or SQ5 instead. 

Once engine choice has been made, there are chassis features to think about; the standard suspension promises to be ‘even more comfortable than its predecessor’, but then the standard S line suspension lowers that by 20mm for ‘distinctly sporty handling’, so buyers will have to carefully consider priorities there. Or splurge on the adaptive air for a ‘wide range of options between a very smooth, comfortable ride and sporty handling’. There are performance tyres available on the larger (20- and 21-inch) wheels. But whatever configuration of A6 is plumped for, Audi says the new car ‘perfects the synthesis of sportiness and comfort in line with driving characteristics typical of Audi: precise, controlled, solid, connected, and well-balanced’.

The A6 will continue to be made at Neckarsulm, with orders opening next month and deliveries expected in June. In the UK prices will start at £52,510 for the petrol Sport, with the equivalent diesel costing £56,780. S line spec adds £2,800 to the price of either, with Edition 1 adding another £4,900 for a top-of-the-range petrol at £60,210 and the corresponding diesel at £64,480. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner added: “The new Audi A6 unites an elegant and dynamic design with exceptional aerodynamics. Efficient yet high-performance drive systems and cutting-edge suspension technology combine sportiness with a high level of comfort, making traveling in the A6 a first-class experience.” We look forward to finding out for certain soon. And hopefully an RS6 isn’t far away…