| Love it or hate it, it will be hard not to notice the Audi A6’s new horse-collar nose. The rest of the sheetmetal is harder to identify as redesigned; it employs Audi’s traditionally swept roofline, triangular rear quarter glass, and clean flanks. At the rear, the taillights are lower than before to give an impression of width, connected along the top by a bright strip of trim that smells faintly of Saturn L300. The result is an attractive but austere sedan that imparts a business-like no-nonsense character, which could be confused with dull and bland. At least it’s more readily appealing to the eye than the BMW 5-Series, if not as interesting. |
| Inside, the shape and detailing of the 2005 Audi A6’s trapezoidal grillework repeats on the driver’s airbag cover. Traditionally sumptuous leather, wood, and metal detailing ensures Audi’s status as creator of some of the industry’s most luxurious and tasteful cabins. The dash design is more driver-centric than before, and includes Audi’s Multi-Media Interface (MMI) system to control various entertainment, navigation and climate functions. Leg and shoulder space is increased front and rear for greater comfort and a variety of upholstery, wood and aluminum trims are available to tailor the 2005 Audi A6 to personal tastes. | Underneath the svelte new bodywork is a structure that boasts a 34 percent increase in torsional stiffness. The 2005 Audi A6 rides on a four-wheel-independent suspension employing a four-link arrangement in the front and the self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension from the Audi A8. An optional sports suspension lowers the body by 20mm, and 18-inch wheels and tires can be specified to replace the standard alloys. Starting in calendar year 2005, an optional adaptive air suspension with settings controlled via the MMI will be available. Speed-dependent Servotronic steering guides the 2005 Audi A6 to its destination. Three models are expected to be available to North American buyers. The 2005 Audi A6 2.4 features a 2.4-liter V6 that delivers 177 bhp to the front wheels through a six-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The 2005 Audi A6 3.2 has a direct-injection 3.2-liter V6 engine making 255 bhp. A six-speed manual transmission delivers power to the front or all four wheels. Audi A6 3.2 models equipped with FWD can be specified with a CVT while Quattro AWD versions are offered with a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. The 2005 Audi A6 4.2 is endowed with the same 335bhp, 4.2-liter V8 found under the hood of the Audi S4, matched to Quattro AWD with power flowing through a standard six-speed manual or optional six-speed Tiptronic automatic. Manual transmissions reportedly exhibit short, precise shifter travel while Tiptronics get seven shift stages activated by steering wheel paddles. Safety features of the 2005 Audi A6 include ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, traction control, and stability control. Inside, dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags and side curtain head airbags protect occupants. Active front head restraints help to reduce whiplash injury in the event of a rear collision.
Standard equipment includes a stereo with a CD player, automatic climate control with a humidity sensor, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and an electromechanical parking brake. Xenon dynamic adaptive headlights that track with the Audi A6’s steering to illuminate around curves are available. Notable options include keyless entry and engine starting, DVD navigation, Bose audio with in-dash CD changer, radar-based adaptive cruise control, satellite steering wheel controls, and a tire pressure monitor. Pricing and further details will be released closer to the 2005 Audi A6’s on-sale date, but we don’t expect this new version to rise dramatically in price. Instead, the 2005 Audi A6 rises dramatically in appeal, even if its looks might still relegate it to wallflower status in the mid-luxury class. |
