Audi A6 allroad quattro

Luxury off the road

The four-wheel-drive scene is a fickle market but German luxury car manufacturer Audi has found a gap and hopes to win over a new set of buyers with its second generation A6 allroad quattro by providing improved off-road ability with its customary urbane quality.

At $106,000 the 2007 A6 allroad quattro will be limited in its appeal to the top end of the market but for those that can afford it, it does try to bridge the gap between a family wagon and the much larger SUV/4WDs, without the bulkiness, looks and fuel consumption of the latter.

The all new A6 allroad quattro has evolved from the A6 Avant wagon but with extra features to give it more off-road ability such as height adjustable air suspension, full-time 4WD, new engines, transmission, stainless steel under-ride protector, and LED brake and tail lights to mention a few.

Audi Australia’s managing director Joerg Hoffmann said: “This new model exists in a very popular niche with those customers who find themselves wanting all-terrain flexibility but don’t need a vehicle quite as rugged as an SUV,” he said.

The first Audi allroad quattro was released in 2000 but apparently failed to win over enough customers from the BMW X5 and Mercedes M-Class 4WD equivalents, which is one reason why the new A6 allroad quattro is available in Australia with only one powerplant, although four (two V8 petrol and two V6 diesel) are available in Europe.

The new A6 allroad quattro offered to our market comes with a new 3.0-litre V6 twin turbo diesel – with a maintenance free diesel particulate filter - coupled to a new 6-speed triptonic automatic transmission which provides enhanced acceleration down low while decreasing engine revs on higher gears which cut noise and fuel consumption.

According to Audi, the V6 diesel produces V8 like qualities with 171kW at 4000rpm and 450Nm of torque at 1400rpm for an average fuel consumption of 8.8lt/100km, with best consumption being 7lt/100km, and acceleration of 7.8 seconds from 0 to 100kmh.

Also available on the A6 allroad quattro are 17-inch alloy wheels (225/55 tyres), permanent four-wheel drive with self-locking centre differential, adaptive air suspension (four modes that raise the ground clearance from 125mm to 185mm), electromechanical parking brake, light and rain sensors, headlight washers, Multi Media Interface with seven-inch display screen, rear acoustic parking system, auto air-conditioning and Xenon plus headlights that angle turn into corners above 10kmh.

The interior is expectedly luxurious with Italian leather seats for five people and leather steering wheel. The front seats and mirrors are electrically operated, as is the front and rear windows, while a twin rail system and tie-downs take care of cargo in the luggage area.

There are airbags for the driver and front passenger - including side airbags - while a large-area head level airbag system unfolds over the entire length of the side windows protecting front and rear passengers from side impact.

The new A6 allroad quattro is bigger overall than its predecessor with its length extended by 124mm, width by 10mm and wheelbase by 76mm, providing luggage capacity between 565 to 1660 litres (with the rear seat folded down).

Audi says improved ride comes from a highly complex four-link front suspension – built primarily with aluminium components – and a self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear axle, while an Electronic Stabilisation Program networks traction control, differential locking, electronic brake force distribution and ABS with brake assist.

This latest A6 allroad quattro is, said Audi, a hit in Europe and they obviously hope it can be here too. The alpine set are an immediate target but this vehicle does have a good towing weight of 2510kg for the upmarket trailerboat fishos.

» Click here for CarPoint's road test of the Audi A6 Allroad Quattro

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