Review of the new Audi A6 3.2-Litre V6 FSI Range

Audi make great play of the advanced technology that they manage to pack into their products and well they might. Take the A6 3.2-litre FSI we feature here with its Fuel Stratified Injection engine, adaptive air suspension, the option of front-wheel or quattro four-wheel drive and the choice of three different gearboxes. That's before we even get into the options list where wonders like in-car televisions, voice command systems and distance-sensing cruise control reside. Find a big enough budget, tick the right boxes and an A6 resembling a mobile episode of Tomorrow's World is well within the realms of possibility.

If you like your engines clever as well as powerful, the 3.2-litre FSI unit will be right up your alley. The FSI set-up injects unleaded directly into the cylinders at a rate that's adapted According to the demands being placed on the engine by the driver. A variable intake manifold and variable camshaft adjustment provide faster response to even the slightest tweak of the throttle while helping to maximise fuel efficiency, torque and the width of the powerband. The engine actually generates 255bhp and 330Nm of torque which help to deliver 0-60mph acceleration of 6.9s along with an artificially limited top speed of 155mph. On the road, it feels fast and responsive with a muffled growl growing in the engine bay as the revs rise higher but drive the car more sedately and you'd hardly know it's there. It's an impressive piece of work from Audi, all that complex technology combining to provide simple driver enjoyment.

The 3.2-litre FSI engine is the only one in the A6 Range that's available with either quattro four-wheel drive or standard front-wheel drive transmission. Both SE and S-Line trim levels are offered with both drive options so there are effectively four different A6 3.2 FSI models for buyers to decide between or eight if you allow for the saloon or Avant estate bodystyles. Quattro versions cost £1,600 in addition to the standard A6's price but it's a premium that many will want to scrape around for. With BMW and Mercedes sticking resolutely to rear wheel drive set-ups on all their models, front wheel-drive Audis can feel a little less composed on the road in comparison. The introduction of quattro all-wheel drive alters that balance with the permanent 4x4 set-up giving greater stability, better traction and an all-round boost to the car's driving dynamics. Quattro is always going to be the way for keen drivers to go if they can muster the requisite budget but even with just two wheels driven, there's plenty to enjoy about the A6.

"It's an impressive piece of work from Audi, all that complex technology combining to provide simple driver enjoyment"

Your choice of gearbox will have a lot to do with how you use the car: options extend to six speed manual, Tiptronic automatic and the Multitronic CVT. The manual set-up is one of Audi's next-generation Manual/Longitudinal or ML type and without going into the ins or outs of it, drivers can expect to experience a short throw action and a precise feel. If you must have an automatic with your A6 3.2 FSI, the one you get will depend on your preference for front or all wheel drive. The quattro models get a 6-speed tiptronic set-up, with everyone else settling for the multitronic CVT unit with its seven shift stages.

Styling-wise, the A6 probably lacks the visual dynamism of the latest BMW 5-Series models but given the furore caused by its rival's unorthodox lines, that may well be a good thing. What the A6 has is an understated elegance and the lack of any discernable stigma that a more aggressively-styled car might attach to its owners. Drive a BMW or a Mercedes and certain preconceptions about you will be formed, however inaccurately, in the minds of others. Audi manages to remain usefully aloof from all that. The current A6 is certainly a more distinctive car than its predecessor with that elongated Audi family grille but it remains inconspicuous with its clean lines and simple sleek shape. Buyers seeking more of an on-road presence can get one through the S-Line specification with its lowered suspension and bigger wheels but there's still nothing overblown about the A6.

It's inside where Audi really do set the pace in the executive saloon sector. The cabin of the old A6 was supremely well finished but an over-reliance on dark plastic was starting to date the car. The latest model, by contrast, is multi-textured and thoroughly modern beneath the skin. The imposing grille that defines the car's nose is echoed by the design on the steering wheel hub and the controls curve around the driver so that everything falls to hand. It all fits together superbly but there's an emphasis on function over form. The buttons and switches you use most are prominently located with only the car's more idiosyncratic functions confined to the computer system which is controlled by one all singing, all dancing knob behind the gearstick.

Interior space is class leading with ample rear legroom and no rival offering a larger boot than that found in the saloon version. Go for the Avant estate and although others can match or exceed the size of its load area, few can match its practicality. The flat 105cm wide load area features numerous handy innovations from a clever load securing system based around sliding rails in the floor to under floor storage compartments and a series of storage boxes which can be fitted to the rails.

There's a lot of technology contained within the A6 3.2-litre FSI but the big Audi isn't the sort to crow about it. You know there's a lot going on under the skin to produce the car's polished driving experience but externally it looks a classy operator and the interior is a cocoon of tranquillity. Buyers paying upwards of £31,000 for the privilege can rest assured that few corners have been cut.