Fuel economy improvements with A6 upgrade

Audi has upgraded its top-end A6 saloon and Avant estate models from the beginning of this year. The improvements to the car include the introduction of new, more environmentally friendly engines that give the brand a stronger foothold in the lower VRT tax category. The improvements in fuel economy and emissions control have averaged 12 per cent, courtesy of new or updated engines. The improved fuel economy rating have allowed the entry prices to be a shade more competitive than in the past with the saloon entry models starting at €42,310, before delivery charges. By modifying transmission ratios, employing a power steering pump which operates only on demand and an alternator capable of regenerating energy during coasting, the A6 2.0 TDi is able to earn the economy-focused 'e" designation seen first in the A3 1.9 TDie. Audi claims that aerodynamic modifications to the new A6 along with a 20mm reduction in ride height also further the cause by helping the A6 to slip through the air with an impressively low drag coefficient of 0.28. Despite the 53.3mpg and 139g/km CO2 these modifications make possible, the A6 2.0 with six-speed manual transmission is on the pace, its 320Nm of maximum torque arriving at 1,750rpm to propel it to 100km/h from rest in 10.3 seconds. This car has a top speed of 208km/h. The 136bhp 'e" model with a CO2 figure of 139g/km means that the annual road tax cost is just €156. The all new 170bhp version of the 2.0TDi carries emissions of 149g/km which results in a road tax sum of €302 per annum. The two new engines are offered as even more efficient replacements for four outgoing units - the 2.4-litre V6, the 3.2-litre FSI V6, the 4.2-litre FSI V8 and the pump jet-injected 2.0-litre TDi. The restructured petrol engine range with modifications to further reduce CO2 output, starts with the 170bhp 2.0 T FSi, followed by the 220bhp, 2.8-litre FSi V6 with Audi valve lift technology and the new 290bhp 3.0 T FSi. The two V6 TDi units which share the new four cylinder"s sophisticated common rail injection - the 190bhp 2.7 litre and 240bhp 3.0 litre - are latest generation versions of these engines which have also been re-engineered in the interests of efficiency. Progress has also been made in the S quattro series - economy and emissions from the 435bhp V10 powering the S6 have also improved. The gearbox options are as before. The manual gearbox is a six-speed unit, while six-speed tiptronic automatic and economy-maximising seven-speed multitronic CVT automatic transmissions are available. Audi claims to have modified the standard suspension. There are new, optimised spring settings and new large-diameter front shock absorbers operating within a revised valve system. An update of the quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system to the latest generation 40 per cent/60 per cent rear biased version is also claimed to bring greater agility. Audi offers an adaptive air suspension as an option.