The German manufacturer has implemented a number of changes under the skin of the new A6 designed to provide a sportier yet more comfortable ride, in a body that has grown 7mm longer, 12mm wider and 2mm taller with a 12mm longer wheelbase.
It is underpinned by Volkswagen Group’s'MLBevo' platform shared with the A4, A8and Q7, as well as the mechanically-similar A7 revealed in October last year.
Precise Australian launch timing and specification is yet to be finalised, however Australian customers can expect the new A6 to arrive in Australian showrooms by the end of the year with a mix of petrol and diesel powertrains on offer.
The new model sports a longer bonnet, shorter overhangs and Audi’s ‘Singleframe’ grille with a choice of headlight options. The design language is closely related to the new A7 and A8 upper-large sedan.
Highly-specified variants will receive Audi’s HD Matrix LED headlights with five horizontal lines making up the daytime running light signature.
Headlight design is rounded out by the 'dipped beam modules' that, according to Audi, resemble pupils, while optional LED tail-lights feature a single horizontal line with nine vertical segments for each unit.
Inside, the new A6 features a similar layout to the A7 with a “relaxed lounge atmosphere”, centred around its all-digital MMI touchscreen operating system consisting of a 10.1-inch screen handling multimedia, an 8.6-inch display housing climate control, and a 12.3-inch virtual cockpit digital instrument cluster.
Vehicle function thumbnails can be dragged and dropped like on a smartphone with up to seven preferred settings able to be stored, while the A/C cluster uses haptic and acoustic feedback for ease of use.
As with the A7, a host of advanced driver assistance systems will find their way into the new A6, including parking pilot and garage pilot on some variants, adaptive cruise control with lane keep assist, and the new crossing assist feature.
Managing the driver assistance systems are five radar sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors and a laser scanner that continuously monitor the road and surrounding environment.
All powertrains on the new A6 will feature a mild-hybrid set-up that mates a lithium-ion battery with a belt alternator starter that allows the vehicle to coast between 55 and 160km/h.
According to Audi, up to 12kW of energy can be recuperated by the starter during deceleration, and can result in up to 0.7 litres per 100km of fuel savings.
In Europe, initial offerings will consist of a 250kW/500Nm 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission, and a 210kW/620Nm turbo-diesel unit of identical displacement teamed to an eight-speed auto.
Quattro all-wheel drive will come as standard on both launch variants, while four-wheel steering will be offered on select versions.
Four different suspension set-ups – steel springs, sport suspension, suspension with damper control and air suspension – will be on offer, while 14 paint hues and differing exterior trim packages will be available.
It is expected that more potent S and RS versions will be revealed in the future, while Audi has yet to confirm whether Avant and Allroad wagon versions of the A6 will be made in new-gen guise.
Audi is now catching up to its German rivals, with the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class both launching in all-new form in the past 18 months.
This article originally appeared on CarsGuide.
