My first taste of the new Audi A6 came on the press launch, then the opportunity to drive around 100 miles but later I took one across France and on to Germany to the Nurburgring to catch the action in the LMS racing series. This drive permitted almost 1,500 miles in a diesel version.
Now to my latest encounter with this handsome German car and a week behind the wheel of a three litre T Quattro in S line trim and equipped with the impressive Tiptronic transmission.
The latest generation of the Audi A6 is a saloon combining supreme driving dynamics with high technology, plus outstanding comfort and exemplary equipment, thus striving for top position within this competition segment.
For many it has become a new face in the business sector, a rival to offerings from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Audi pioneered four wheel drive and this car like so many in the family had it and it provided incredible handling; very reassuring when the road and weather conditions are less than desirable.
The new A6 has generous dimensions, 4.92 metres in length, 1.86 metres in width, and 1.46 metres in height and its lines combine the clear architecture typical of Audi with other core elements of the brand's progressive design.
Already acknowledged as classic, the fundamental proportions of Audi's sports saloon with its low-slung windows and coupe-like roofline now comes with even greater tension and dynamism: the contours of the shoulder line sweeping up and the sweep of the dynamic line above the side sills give the entire body of the car forward-pushing, dynamic thrust.
The distinctly curved dome on the middle of the engine compartment lid, in turn, symbolises the power and performance offered by the new A6.
The trapezoidal design of the single-frame radiator grille reveals clearly that the A6 represents the latest generation of Audi models. The most advanced headlight technology, in turn, is equally visible behind the clear-glass headlight covers and the new A6 is the first Audi to feature as an option dynamic adaptive light technology incorporating powerful xenon plus units that help you see around corners. This is something you must experience.
Another feature which I fully approve of, daytime driving lights and in conjunction with xenon plus as well as the active cornering lights. Very little energy is consumed by the daytime driving lights. The bonus is the benefit of enhanced safety and visibility with virtually no additional fuel consumption and, as a result, no increase in CO2 emissions.
The interior is very Audi, the high and wide centre console with controls and instruments in perfect reach accentuating the sporting architecture of the interior fully integrating the driver.
Sporting design and perfect ergonomics, these are the features that characterise the cockpit. A joint cover at the top connects the central instrument panel and the upper part of the centre console facing slightly towards the driver to form one common unit.
The new generation of Audi steering wheels is also made its production debut in the new A6. The most outstanding visible symbol of both the three- and four-spoke steering wheels is the single-frame trapezoid centrepiece with the four Audi rings on the central airbag cap.
The centre console is very neat and tidy in its look and there is an electromechanical parking brake on the new A6, giving the designers greater freedom in their creativity: with the new Audi A6 not requiring a handbrake lever, the design of both the console and the armrest is particularly generous and ergonomic.
The MMI control terminal is right behind the gearshift lever, again in perfect ergonomic arrangement: this places its display exactly in the driver's line of vision, integrated beneath the top dashboard cover.
Powering my test version the three litre petrol TFSI engine with 290PS; enough to whisk you from rest to 62mph in 5.9 seconds and onto a top speed of 155mph (where legal).
The combined fuel figure is 30mpg and the C02 figure is 219g/km. The basic price of this model is £35,820; but it came loaded with goodies, the final price tag - £43,410.
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