Driving Impressions
reviewed by
Under the hood, there's a 2.8-liter, 30-valve V6. The five valve-per-cylinder design lets this engine breathe
deeply, and on the open road it loves to wind out. Its 200 hp is delivered almost silently, though at full
acceleration there's a reassuring roar. It's more powerful than previous Audi powertrains, though it isn't quite
as quick off the line as some comparably priced sedans.
The V6 is mated to a 5-speed Tiptronic transmission based on a design from Porsche. It can be operated either
as a silky-smooth automatic or switched to manual mode. Moved into a special gate, the driver upshifts or
downshifts for enhanced control. It's entertaining and particularly useful on winding roads and in the mountains.
A6 buyers have a choice of the front-wheel-drive configuration or Audi's legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive
system. A few years back, you had to have a big bank account to drive a Quattro, but since Audi reduced the price
on the basic Quattro package, we'd say it's a must. Quattro is a full-time all-wheel-drive system that is
constantly at work putting power to the pavement through all four wheels. It brings a sense of control and security
to the driver like nothing else.
Audi calls its Quattro system an "enabling" technology, referring to traction control systems on two-wheel-drive
cars as "disabling" technology because they work by reducing engine power until wheel spin is under control.
Now in the fourth generation of the Quattro system, Audi is way ahead of other companies in all-wheel-drive
technology. The key to Quattro has always been the use of three differentials that vary power distribution to all
four wheels, all of the time, at any speed. The latest system uses an electronic differential lock that operates on
both the front and rear differentials. This feature detects and limits wheel spin and redistributes drive torque
from side to side to take advantage of any available traction. This operates with the Torsen center differential
that distributes up to 65 percent of the traction to whichever axle has the most traction.
Quattro comes with a double-wishbone rear suspension, while front-wheel-drive A6s are equipped with a torsion-beam
rear suspension. The front-wheel-drive (non-Quattro) A6 models use Audi's FrontTrak traction control system, which
operates at all speeds to reduce wheel spin.
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