Test drive Audi A6 1997 - 2001 sedan

Full forward

Surprising the car world has become a good tradition for Audi. For many years, each novelty of the firm from Ingolstadt has spreads the scope of requirements for cars of its class, it becomes a kind of breakthrough into the future. The new Audi A6, first shown at the Motor Show in Geneva last spring.
 

The model continues the line of the legendary Audi 100, which at one time made a genuine revolution in the automobile world. Sixteen years ago, many constructive and technological solutions used here, which have become familiar today, seemed to some simply fantastic ones. Today, for example, you will not surprise anyone with glasses, flinted with body panels, and then this was struck by the imagination of not only ordinary inhabitants, but also some automobile engineers. The 100 -sample of 1982 came from a prototype, in which specialists of the German (then West German) company tried to indicate the ways of further development of the design of the future serial machine.
 
The correctness of the progress of design thought was confirmed by the title of a car of the year, assigned by the international jury, the first serial Audi 100, as well as very popularity all over the world of subsequent releases of the hundredth series, which replaced the designation to A6 in the penultimate embodiment, which was born in 1994. From the foregoing, it follows that fertile soil was prepared for the new Audi A6. The novelty met the most daring expectations, once again opening the door to tomorrow. We got the opportunity to touch the future with the help of Audi A6 2.8 V6 30V Quattro Tiptronic (isn't it - sounds like the title of some important person), and in this we were helped by Alexei Vasiliev, the test -pilot of the motor magazine.


Separate copies of the new Audi A6 appeared on Moscow streets last summer, but its unusual appearance makes a strong impression so far. According to the modern stylistic concept of the shape of the bodies of cars, known as Cab Forward (literally - the cabs forward), the salon visually moved closer to the front wheel axis. It complements the picture smoothly turning into the rear window, and then in the lid of the trunk, the roof panel. It seems that we have not a sedan, but a hatchback.


The series is equipped with three gasoline engines and a direct injection turbodiesel. It opens the gamut of gasoline engines in a line four-cylinder power unit with a working volume of 1.8 liters (with turbocharged), then two atmospheric V-shaped sixes with volumes of 2.4 and 2.8 liters follow.


The latter stands under the hood of the hero of our story today, the silver handsome Audi A6 2.8 V6 30V Quattro Tiptronic. More precisely, its working volume is 2771 cm cube. Two camshafts rotate in the head of each row of cylinders, jointly controlling the movement of thirty valves, five in each cylinder - hence the designation 30V in the name of the model. With the help of such a respiratory system, the motor develops 193 hp. at 6000 vol./min. and gives out the torque of 280 Nm at 3200 rpm. All this allows a car with an equipped mass of 1575 kg to develop a maximum speed of 229 km/h and accelerate from a place to hundreds in 10 seconds.


We distract from dry numbers and return to the day of Moscow morning, when we went to try Audi in one of our most favorite places - the flight field of the central airfield, in the colloquial - Khodynka. To begin with, we admired a little from the side of the car shining on the bright sun - they looked literally every part of it. I especially liked the connectors of the front and rear bumper, the continuation of which form the side faces of headlights and rear lights.


Under the hood - a longitudinally placed engine with intertwined pipes of the intake manifold. Everything is removed and hidden from the eyes, only the filled neck of the engine systems and the windshield washer are within reach. I wonder what to do if something breaks down? Audi, the wide -known reliability of Audi cars, is soothing, and the High Tech motor is as if hinting: do not touch the equipment, and it will not let you down.


We open the trunk lid - and its impressive dimensions immediately suggest the possibility of sitting in it for the night. Open doors of the cabin are recorded in three positions. Having passed a wide doorway, we find ourselves inside.


Leather upholstery of the seats, expensive plastic torpedo with natural wood inserts, good quality manufacturing and fitting parts - everything speaks of a high class of the machine. The internal door panels are made in the same style with a torpedo and visually combine it with the rear seat, creating a feeling of comfort and safety. Due to the possibility of vertical movement of the steering wheel, as well as a large range of standard adjustments at the site of the driver with complete comfort, a person of almost any height will be located. This also applies to the front passenger, which can manually regulate the angle of inclination of the back and its position in length. The electric drive is used for vertical movement and rotation of the entire chair.


In addition, with its help it is possible to control the position of the lumbar support, while the movements of the support inside the back are very well felt by the back, so that the idea of \u200b\u200bits use as a massager suggests itself. Being in the back row is as comfortable as in front - the car’s interior passed the standard exam for the simultaneous placement of high passengers on the front and rear seats five with a plus.


The objects of luxury include air conditioning and a chic music center Audi Concert, which are controlled from the central console. There is a cruise control (rare for European cars). For him, as well as for indicating turns, the left steering wheel switch is responsible; The right, according to tradition, is entrusted with control over wipers. As for the two pedals (the box - automatic), their location, efforts, moves and information content do not cause any negative emotions. Not much of this, the brake pedal is somewhat shifted to the gas pedal, which allows you to stretch and relax the left leg, driving a car with one right.


The steering wheel is with a convenient rim and a compactly built -in airbag. Its shape and location allow without interference to see a combination of devices made in the Audi A4 style. It consists of large shirts of a tachometer and speedometer, analog watches, a coolant and oil thermometer, a voltmeter and a fuel level indicator. The center has a display, which displays information about the instantaneous fuel consumption, the presence of a liquid in the windshield washer tank and the transmission operating modes.


As follows from the name Audi A6 2.8 V6 30V Quattro Tiptronic, a permanent all -wheel drive is used in the model. Tiptronic transmission was developed by Porsche specialists. Initially, it was intended for racing cars, but soon appeared on serial sports machines of this brand, from where, as part of technical cooperation, she migrated to Audi products. These are family affairs (the Audi -Volkswagen concern is headed by Ferdinand Pah - relative of Ferry Porsche).


The box operates in two modes - like a regular machine and as a mechanic with a sequential gear shift. To include the latter, the lever from position D (drive) is transferred to the right into a special slot. A guide made of metallized plastic immediately attracts attention.


Not a Tomi soul, ”an impatient reader can say. There are no objections - we try the Audi A6 on the go. The key to the start - and the engine barely audibly earned at idle. First - automatic mode. There is nothing easier - the leg for the brake, as it urges, the special light indicator on the guide backstage, the lever on Drive, a little gas, and now we are moving smoothly and leisurely move. Accelerated. The dynamics is excellent, despite the very large weight of the machine. The gear shift occurs almost imperceptibly, and the sharp pressing of the accelerator pedal leads to an instant reaction from the transmission - the Kick -Down mode works excellently. There is practically no one inherent in other automatic transmissions here.


Stop. Now - the Tiptronic mode. We translate the lever to the right from the Drive position. The display changed the indication: instead of numbers 1, 2, 3 and letters d, n, p, r (automatic mode), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (Tiptronic) appeared. Light press on the gas pedal - the car is soft, like on the machine, touches.


At first, due to excellent sound insulation, it was difficult to determine the moment at which the transmission should be switched. Plus, this is very unusual by the lever. All this gave birth to a feeling of some uncertainty. However, it has passed quickly, and from the transmission management we have already enjoyed. Without reducing engine speed, we switch to the second, for which we slightly push the lever up, from ourselves. It returns to its place, and the number 2. No jerks in the transmission stand out on the display, it acts as a whole. Similarly, switching to other transmissions occur. To our delight, it turned out that you can effectively slow down the engine, only sipping the lever on yourself. Note that in general, it was very convenient to work in Tiptronic mode. And how will Tiptronic behave if the driver does not interfere? The experiment continues! Again on the first, pedal to the floor and all attention to the tachometer. The red zone begins at six and a half thousand revolutions (according to the tachometer, the maximum speed is 8000). When the arrow showed approximately 6200 revolutions, the gear shift mechanism came into effect, which was confirmed by the number 2 on the display. And so on, growing. When reset gas, the transmission was automatically switched in the reverse order and - amazing! - With sharp braking, the engine has never stalled!
 

We were carried away by the transmission, and this is understandable. We continue the conversation.
 

Audi confidently moved along solid hung snow with naked ice spots, despite the summer rubber Michelin Pilot dimension 205/60WR15. By the way the car raked with all four wheels, it was felt that the four -wheel drive was working with might and main. In the turns of the Audi A6 Quattro Tiptronic, rear -wheel drive cars were more like. This was expressed in a noticeable tendency to the initial breakdown of the rear wheels, but everything was under control, and there were no fears that there were no inadequate reaction from the machine in such cases by the steering wheel and gas. The handling is magnificent. The steering wheel with an amplifier is very accurate and a bit. So much so that it seems that there is no amplifier at all, but at the same time there is no load on the front axle. This allowed the car without straining, with one finger. At the same time, there was no feeling of stiffness that arises when you are afraid to twist the steering wheel. The suspension coped with her business perfectly. Small irregularities in the form of joints, seams, chips of asphalt and ice on the road were almost not felt, and larger and noticeable height changes did not cause sudden swinging of the body and pendants. The brakes are good, the effect of ABS with sharp braking on the mixed coating is above all praise.


We liked the work of cruise control. The algorithm for his management is understandable even to the child. It is enough to press the button on the left steering wheel switch - and you can remove the leg from the gas pedal, and to change the speed of movement, you only need to move the key located on the same switch to the side + or -.


That, in fact, is all. Audi A6 2.8 V6 30V Quattro Tiptronic made an amazing impression. Bright memorable appearance, excellent running qualities, a high level of equipment and comfort will allow it to take a noticeable place among the magnificent Audi 100 -A6 models. And one of the oldest automobile companies in Germany once again has something to be proud of.
 

SPECIAL OPINION
 

Alexey Vasiliev, Miller-Pilot team racer, champion of Russia in Shossey-Koltsov Rounds.
 

Workplace of the driver
 

Very convenient, a combination of devices with a well -readable display. The steering wheel switches are invisible, but located where necessary, and there is no need to look for them.
 

Landing
 

No problem. It is important that the longitudinal adjustment is mechanical - the seat can be quickly set.
 

Seat
 
Comfortable, perfectly regulated. There is an electrical adjustment of the position of the lumbar support, which is very pleasant.
  

Review
 

Without comments. The situation around the car is easily controlled from the driver's place, the racks do not interfere with the view and in the lateral direction.
 

Steering wheel
 

Successful. A small but optimal movement sector during adjustment does not block the combination of devices. Compact airbag.
 

Pedals
 

I’m used to working on machine guns with two legs, and here the pedals are component to control one foot, and you can half relax. I really liked the gas pedal, it seems that the connection between it and the injection system is electronic, not mechanical.
 

Box lever
 

Large full move, which is quite natural for the automatic box. The lever when driving in manual mode is located where it follows.
 

The overall impression of the salon
 

Very high -quality finish, the selection of materials is carefully made. On the doors are comfortable armrests and pockets for objects, an abundance of stands, drawers and pleasant little things.
 

Suspension
 

For our roads, what is needed is moderately soft and quite tough. It is quite corresponded to the weight of the car.
 

Engine
 

Smooth and elastic, more powerful. You feel a big torque.
 

Controllability
 
For all -wheel drive, good. The machine is controlled without much difficulty, there is practically no effort on the steering wheel. The boundary of the controlled wheels in the bend is perfectly felt.
 

Dynamics
 

Just crazy - due to all -wheel drive.
 

Brakes
 

Good, excellent work ABS.
 

Bliss
 

Just a buzz, a buzz in a square. Kaif is when you have such a car, and if it is not, then this is an anticaif.
 

General impression of the car
 

A wonderful car, Audi has not made such a high -quality jump in design and design for a long time.


Sergey Ivanov
 

 

 

Source: Magazine Motor