Brawn & Black Boxes

Audi puts the “S” to its A6 Sedan.
By Bill Heald

European sports sedans have many characteristics that make them unique when compared with their Asian and American counterparts, including high-performance versions of what are already very potent cars. Mercedes-Benz has the AMG editions, BMW has the M-series cars, and Audi soups up its equipment with an S designation. Several Audi models (in fact most) can be had with this application of supersport components, but a particularly interesting one is the S6 sedan (based on the midsize A6 platform, which is quite a fine driver in its own right). This is a car with relatively compact dimensions for less mass and high agility, yet it’s big enough for both comfort and the inclusion of a true ground-pounding drivetrain. The S6 is also large enough to be loaded with the latest technology, including performance, safety, and entertainment advancements. Oh, and let’s not forget the latest in information hardware, including a navigation system that uses Google Maps to deliver a visual display that is as striking as it is functional. This is just a sample of what the S6 has to offer, for we discovered this embarrassment of riches is beautifully integrated into a solid, entertaining whole. Given the standards of the class, that’s high praise indeed.

To create the S6, the basic A6 chassis is first fortified with a four-liter V-8 engine with twin turbochargers that pump out 420 horsepower. Amazingly, this mill offers better performance than the previous S6’s larger 5.2-liter V-10, proving that bigger isn’t always better when innovative engineering is involved. The efficiency of this approach translates to 25 percent better fuel economy, yet the power is available instantly without any of the lag that plagues many turbocharged engines. This, along with the sedan’s lightweight aluminum hybrid construction, means the car is wicked-quick off the line, and the S6 repeatedly thundered us to 60 mph in less than five seconds. This impressive performance is largely the result of getting the power down effectively, and while the car is enabled by a seven-speed S-tronic automatic transmission (with manual paddle shifters on the steering wheel), that’s only part of the story. In order to effectively transfer the engine’s might, Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system is standard equipment, and is reinforced by a sport rear differential that transfers more power to the outside wheel during aggressive cornering. And you will drive this car hard, because it makes challenging roads so effortless and exhilarating. The standard air suspension adjusts damping depending on driver input and road conditions, and drivetrain performance can be tweaked using Audi’s Drive Select, which includes auto, dynamic, comfort, and individual modes. The electromechanical steering is light in effort but gives good feedback, and changes depending on the drive mode selected. The ride is on the firm side, but never jarring enough to be considered harsh. The S6 also has some pizza-size brake rotors and response is superb, helping you to stay in control at all times.

All this is accompanied by S6’s gadget résumé. If you’re into the latest tech, you will be a happy camper, because when you settle into the Valcona leather sport seats you are in the command center of an electronic Oz. From wonders like a head-up display, night-vision assistant, and a connectivity suite that makes the car a Wi-Fi hot spot for up to eight devices, this car rivals the microchip inventory of an Intel factory.

Additional favorites include “bird’s-eye view” parking cameras, adaptive cruise control (with a stop-and-go feature that can apply full braking below 19 mph), and Enhanced Audi lane assist. The powerful Bang & Olufsen sound system has tweeters that rise out of the dashboard at start-up, like an invasion of tiny flying saucers. All these features would be pure geek bait if not for the fact that everything assimilates so well, and is found in a car with such satisfying performance.