Test drive Audi A6 1997 - 2001 sedan

A6 changes the look

Audi emphasized the sports character of the popular model in Russia
 
What the company from Ingolstadt has done with the A6 model is called facelift (from the English Face Lifting). What in translation means lift the face. Plastic surgery, let's say, was carried out subtly and successfully. The innovations do not scare, the seams are not noticeable. Only a true fan of the brand is able to catch and appreciate the essence of changes.
 
Simply put, in front, the grille of the radiator and the bumper, which became closer to the ground and acquired its own chrome bars, was modified in front. So now A6 is easier to confuse with sports S6. No, this is done for reason! And if you look at the ass of the car, how you are strengthened in this thought. If before the exhaust pipes modestly hid behind the bumper, now two chrome pipe sticks out like feathers in the Tyrolets hat, proudly and independently shimmering in the sun. And in general, the backbone became less heavy, possibly due to the new form of the bumper and its location: it is also omitted. Yes, there are still headlights - it seems to be the same, but with new faces. All these seemingly minor metamorphoses led to the fact that the business class sedan gained a more dynamic look.
 
The development of the image
 
It seems that in the person of the new head of the Volkswagen concern, Bernd Pishtsrider Audi found a faithful defender of his sports interests. He has already stated that a good portion of adrenaline would not hurt in any way, but only strengthen the image of this luxury brand. The changed A6 fits well into this philosophy.
 
However, there is another word luxury, which means first of all comfort. With this before, A6 had everything, it seems, in order. Now a new system of separate climate control for the driver and front passenger has appeared, and the headlight control unit has become more convenient. The front seats with an electric heating function have good lateral support, the adjustable steering wheel has exactly the diameter that is necessary for active driving. And the model has this.
 
A machine with a 2.4 -liter engine was taken for the test and with a company's branding system of Quattro. The first thing that immediately, honestly, was somewhat alerted is brakes. Even a slight press on the pedal leads to a monstrous slowdown. And this is alarming because in Russian conditions you should remember the cars that follow, and not necessarily each of them boasts an equally effective brake system.
 
On the other hand, a dynamic car should be able to stop in time. Despite a relatively small volume, the motor guarantees confident acceleration.
 
The transfers of the automatic checkpoint switch clearly and without special jerks. True, this is in normal mode. The fact is that A6 received a modified Tiptronic box. Now it, in addition to manual switching, has a sports regime. To activate it, you do not need to press any buttons. It is simply that you should translate the lever to one division down to the mark S. In this design, if desired, you can see a secret meaning: when you quickly translate the lever from the Parking position, if you do not monitor it, it is easy to slip through the mark D. Of course, by This will affect the digital scoreboard of the instrument panel, but will you want to change it? Personally, I did not want at all. It’s just that in this transmission mode they switch noticeably faster and when braking the electronics itself encourages a reduced gear, which, when pressed on the accelerator, provides immediate acceleration. Very comfortably.
 
An all -wheel drive also provokes a dynamic riding, which allows, say, to pass at higher speed. In these cases, the driver is insured by the ESP stabilization system, which is now standardly installed on A6. So, we can say, in front of you is an athlete in an expensive suit. And its abilities depend only on the motor you have chosen and the type of drive.
 
However, all good money costs. Audi A6, of course, is not cheap. The tested car costs $ 51,000. True, we should not forget that the version of Quattro is always more expensive than the front -wheel drive options for the car. In general, the prices of the novelty start from 32000.
 
A guarantee for one year is provided for a car without limiting a run.
 
In the Russian market, the model, one might say, feels very confident. This is facilitated by aggressive marketing and advertising policy of both the company itself and its dealers. Plus - a new credit program, leasing, the exchange of any car for a new one in just one day. In a word, for good reason, Audi increases sales from year to year.
 
Andrey Osipov
 
Brief technical characteristics Audi A6 2.4 Quattro Tiptronic
Engine volume, cubic meter. See: 2393
Number of valves per cylinder: 5
Power, l. With. at about./min.: 165/6000
Max. Torque, Nm/at about. min.: 230/3200
Acceleration to 100 km/h, p.: 11,1
Maximum speed, km/h: 214
Average fuel consumption l./100 km.: 11.2
Fuel tank volume, l.: 70
Dimensions, mm.: 4796x1810x1453
 

Source: "Automobile Izvestia"