Review of the new Audi A6

The mid-life freshening of a model range has become an automotive industry institution. The fanfare of the launch has faded to a distant echo three or four years down the line and the chances are that newer versions of rival products will have been unveiled to divert the spotlight's glare. An all new model replacement is still a good few years away but the car in question needs a shot in the arm to ensure it stays the course without flagging too noticeably. The manufacturer's role is to decide how big a refresh is required. Are we talking a new grille and headlights to keep sales ticking over or a thorough and deep-rooted overhaul? Audi went for the latter option with its latest A6.

Throwing money at an existing product can be a dangerous game. No amount of lipstick is going to rejuvenate a certified corpse but a big investment in a floundering product could put it back on terms with the class leaders. By the same token, if a model is riding high in the sales charts, do you play it safe an avoid disruption to the winning formula or go all out to press home the advantage? The people with their hands on the purse strings at Audi decided not to hold back on the A6 executive car when plotting its facelift and the resulting package or technological and aesthetic enhancements looks like money well spent.

The engine range of the latest A6 is brimming with technology. Audi's latest units rely heavily on forced induction to achieve their blend of economy and power to the extent that there are only two units in the whole line-up that do without the services of a supercharger or a turbocharger. The diesels that will constitute the major part of A6 sales open with the 2.0-litre common-rail TDI unit with 134bhp but the engine is also available in 168bhp form. Then come the two V6 TDI options, a 2.7-litre with 187bhp and a 3.0-litre with 237bhp. The mainstream petrol range opens with the acclaimed 2.0-litre TFSI engine in 168bhp form and that is followed by the normally-aspirated 2.8-litre V6 unit with its 217bhp. The final piece in the jigsaw is a supercharged 3.0-litre TFSI engine with 286bhp at its disposal. This unit can launch the A6 through 62mph in 5.9s but it pails in comparison to the S6 with its 5.2-litre V10 developing 429bhp and looks ponderous next to the mighty RS6 which bolts twin turbochargers to a 5.0-litre version of that Lamborghini engine to produce an earth-shattering 572bhp.

"Audi has left very little to chance with its latest A6."

The RS6 is an absolute monster among cars, and quite possibly shouldn't be allowed, but the technology that makes this leviathan quite so fiendishly accelerative is also available on more mundane A6 models. The V6-engined cars are available with the quattro 4x4 system in its latest guise. It delivers a 40:60 rear-biased torque split just like in the RS6 in an attempt to bring a sportier element to the driving experience. All A6 models, quattro and front-wheel drive alike, have revised suspension settings and there's a choice of manual, Multitronic CVT or Tiptrinic gearboxes to mull over.

Audi likes to maintain a strong family resemblance across its model range and the latest A6 falls into line behind its stable mates. The single frame grille dominates the front end as before but the bumpers have been reshaped so that the line of the lower edge lifts up at the centre. At the back, the tail lights have been tweaked along with the bumper while the saloon model gets a more sculpted boot lid arrangement. The daytime running lights complete the imposing effect but they're only standard on the sporty S-Line models. The classy interior of the A6 left little room for improvement but Audi have upgraded some of the materials and increased the chrome detailing. The latest version of the excellent MMI infotainment system is also included.

There are so many electronic systems in modern cars and particularly in models which compete at the rarefied level of the A6 but Audi's MMI system succeeds in the difficult task of making them reasonably intuitive to operate. The latest version is centred around the familiar 'joystick' dial with its four menu buttons grouped around it. The changes come in the navigation system which offers 3D mapping with graphical representations of major landmarks to help you find your way and the 40 gigabyte hard drive that can store up to 2,000 addresses or a good few hours worth of MP3 music files.

The A6 range is split into saloon and Avant estate bodystyles with the Avant also available in Allroad form with air-suspension and off-road styling accessories. The S-line models sit at the top of the range bringing an extra sporty element to proceedings while the SE models take a more comfort-orientated approach and the standard models prop-up the rest. As you'd expect, there's a host of equipment available with the A6 including high tech features like Audi's blind sport warning system, lane departure warning system and radar-guided cruise control.

The A6 competes in the executive car sector which means it's going head to head with its arch rivals the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5-Series. Outside of the German Triumvirate, buyers have the Lexus GS to consider and the sleek lines of the Jaguar XF. It's a competitive field but Audi will be confident that its charge is up to the task.

Economy and emissions are big issues for every car manufacturer at the moment and Audi has taken steps to ensure the environmental credentials of the A6 are up with the best in the sector. The green standard-bearer for the range is the 2.0-litre TDIe model which pairs the entry-level 136bhp 2.0 TDI engine with longer gear ratios, a brake energy regenerating alternator and various aerodynamic tweaks to achieve an outstanding 53.3mpg. Emissions are a similarly healthy and highly tax-efficient 139g/km.

Audi has left very little to chance with its latest A6. A solid collection of improvements have upped its game across the board. With a super economical entry-level model and a barnstorming supercar to top of the line-up, it's safe to say that the A6 has broad appeal. Technological innovations and an extra sporting element to the styling are added to all models and should be enough to ensure the A6 remains competitive going forward.

Not messing with a winning formula is a dangerous game when facelift time comes around and Audi's policy of introducing a raft of well-judged tweaks across its A6 line-up takes things to the other extreme. The improvements look likely to hit the right notes with buyers and can't fail to put the frighteners on the A6's rivals.

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Audi A6 2.0 TDI SE 5dr Multitronic Diesel Avant
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Audi A6 3.0 TDI Quattro S Line 4dr S Tronic Diesel Saloon
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Audi A6 2.0 TDI S Line 4dr Multitronic Diesel Saloon
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Audi A6 2.0 TDI SE 4dr Diesel Saloon
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