Test drive Audi A6 2001 - 2004 sedan

Audi A6 3.2 FSI Quatro

It is with this map that Audi begins its new party in the car market boiling passions. At stake - ambitious plans, and on the market there are worthy rivals, so what does the trump A6 want to surprise us?
Italians are very cheerful and sincere people, and by nature they are close to us, the Slavs. They are not averse to drinking, and in their own way they are gambling, and are very hospitable. It seems that for the first time they see you, but they are already loved as their own. We are moving along the loaded Milan streets to the city center and pass the people in a hurry in our business. The faces of people who notice our car are lit up with smiles. Perhaps this is a sunny spring day brought to all the inhabitants of Milan a joyful mood or these emotions were presented to them by their favorite local football team, who had just headed the country's championship tournament? No, just people, casting a glance at the brand new Audi A6, see something close and dear in it. But it cannot be otherwise, because the lines of the car reflects the work of their fellow countryman - the Italian Walter and Silva, and besides, we are in Milan - the legislator of European fashion!
New car - new image
I wonder how, having seen it for the first time, they perceive the sixth generation A6 surrounding it? Walter da Silva was already struck by the automobile world, having developed the design of Alfa Ro -Me -156, and, perhaps, a luxurious chrome frame of a catchy trapezoid bars on A6 is one of the ideas borrowed from Alfa? No, Alfa has nothing to do with it. A6 has its own very worthy story. The front grill, embodied the image of the invincible Auto Union, is designed to remind others of the legendary past of the brand and gives the appearance of the machine a completely different emphasis.
The car became more respectable, he retained the smooth lines of his predecessor, and before the rolling lid of the trunk received an interesting solution with an acute facet. The elegance of the outlines of lateral glazing, separated by a black shine cast, is emphasized by a chrome edging, chromium is trimmed and the edge of the lid of the trunk of an unusual back of the body. All design elements look very modern and were first used on the flagship of the brand - A8 W12. Now they have found their embodiment in the appearance of a premium car, and later, they will probably be reflected in other representatives of the lineup.
After refinement in an aerodynamic pipe that simulates speed up to 300 km/h, the A6 frontal resistance coefficient decreased to 0.28 (for the previous model it was 0.31). Although when looking at the arc of a roof, the beautiful lines of which are more characteristic of the compartment than for sedans, there may be doubts: will passengers of the rear seat feel quite comfortable? But, being there, you can make sure that the place is quite enough, and the head does not rest against the ceiling. Still, because A6 is one of the most overall cars in its class! Its length increased by 121 mm - to 4916 mm, width - by 45 mm, the wheelbase - by 83 mm and is 2760 mm. Positively affected the internal space and an increase in the rut in front by 69 mm, and behind 47 mm.
Unlike the previous generation models, in which the luggage compartment of the QUATTRO version was noticeably smaller than that of the front -wheel drive, all new A6 trunk is the same. Its volume is 546 liters, and this is more than that of Mercedes-Venz E-Class, the VMW of the 5th series and even the older brother-A8. I would like to note the convenience of the seats of the new design, the other design of the instrument panel (dials are inscribed in a drop -shaped slot) and the design of the steering wheel, made in the same style as the radiator grille. The driver’s legs were added, and the ignition lock and the headlight of the head lighting for safety purposes are transferred from the knees to the upper part of the dashboard. For the same purpose, the handle of opening the glove box was replaced with a button located on the central console to the right of the display. The MMI multimedia interface and the electromechanical hand brake inherited from A8 inherited at the central console. But the ability to order an adjustable adaptive suspension for A6 will appear only in 2005.
Powerful and economical
The driver and passengers of A6 feel insulated from the outside world, and only the irregularities of Italian highways make the body tremble a little, recalling that the car is still traveling and not flying. In the movement, the new six is \u200b\u200bstriking in smoothness and dynamics. In the front suspension design, two upper and two lower aluminum transverse levers are installed, and in the design of the rear suspension, a scheme with a trapezoidal lever that is already familiar according to previous models is used, on which a short spring is based. The rigidity of the torsion body is increased by 34%, although the body of the previous model had a good indicator. In a decreased motor compartment, a V-shaped 3.2 FSI six with all-wheel drive transmission and an automatic 6-band gearbox that has a TipTronic function was compact compactly. It was this car that we chose for a test, because, according to marketers, this model will cause the greatest interest in the Russian market.
Judge for yourself: unlike a 2.4-liter 177-horsepower V6 engine in a 255-horsepower 3.2 FSI, the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber, and the mixture remains optimal in the entire working range, which allows you to achieve excellent indicators of torque. As a result, in the working range from 2000 rpm to 6000 rpm, the driver has at least 300 nm of torque at the disposal of the driver. It is hard to believe, but the average fuel consumption on anteroplative cars with engines 2.4 and 3.2 FSI is the same and is 7.1 l/100 km. A machine with a 3.2 liter engine is also proposed in the Quattro version, which is very relevant for us. True, gasoline consumption will be slightly larger, but only on a liter.
The combination of 255 horses, so far peacefully grazing, and the famous all-wheel drive transmission, somewhat resembles an energy drink for gentlemen about forty years old and quite to match the Italian temperament. But well -groomed and sufficiently loaded with cars, local roads are not the most suitable place for a powerful all -wheel drive car, a completely different habitat is more suitable for it.
As soon as it became possible to accelerate on a more or less free highway near Milan, as the new A6 3.2 FSI Quattro pleased with its dynamics. The speedometer arrow so quickly and imperceptibly approached 200 km/h, which I mentally want to thank the Audi engineers for an electronic limiter that triggers 250 km/h. Perhaps you can agree with the Audi engineers in the fact that the Multitronic variator in combination with the 3.2 FSI motor and the Quattro transmission is a too explosive combination that is not suitable for a business class car. Therefore, Multitronic will only be at the front -wheel drive A6 3.2.
The new machine has a steering mechanism with the Servotronic system, which changes the force depending on the speed of movement and is designed to ensure the ideal steering of steering. Indeed, the steering wheel is very sharp, but there is not enough information content. Too steering is unrealistic, like a PlayStation toy. Perhaps these are only the first impressions, but what is, that is.
The same car, but with a mechanical 6-speed gearbox, added me vigor. A full participation in the process of driving the machine gave even more positive emotions. True, the electromechanical hand brake began to seem somehow inappropriate. It seems to be manually, but there is some kind of key ... A mechanical box that I better like, demonstrated the clarity of work, and competently selected gear rates contributed to the effective realization of the entire power of the engine. But even on suburban routes for V and VI, no programs were found, and IV transmission remained in the city. Only the adhesion pedal move was too long, but you quickly get used to it.
The most sports and progressive
This year, it is planned to release about 80 thousand new Audi A6, as follows - about 180 thousand. The most inexpensive A6 in standard configuration with a 2.0 TDI engine with a capacity of 140 hp. And the torque of 320 Nm will cost 33 thousand euros in Germany. A completely acceptable amount compared to the cost of fellow countrymen. Moreover, it must be taken into account that the standard equipment includes air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, electromechanical hand brake, standard multimedia system, audio system with CD player, electric package and rain sensor.
Some elements of the body of the base version will not be made of aluminum, but from steel, which will increase the mass of the car by 45 kg, but will significantly save the budget in the production of 700 cars per day. For an additional fee, you can install xenon light automatically included with the onset of dusk, as well as adaptive headlights with a changing direction of the light beam. Audi A6 3.2 FSI Quattro with an automatic Tiptronic automatic box in Germany can be purchased for 44 thousand euros, and the most expensive version of A6 with a V-shaped eight with a volume of 4.2 liters and a capacity of 335 hp, offered only with all-wheel drive and -a speeding gearbox, will cost customers 60 thousand euros.
Among the V -shaped engines, I still want to note a diesel six with a volume of 3 liters with a breathtaking torque of 450 Nm. Next year, a new V6 with a volume of 2.7 liters and a capacity of 180 hp will appear, then A6 with a station wagon will enter the market. The ubiquitous British claim that on the basis of A6, the Germans want to design a compartment, and also get 500 hp from V8 using two turbo -wagons, installing this herd on RS6, and give the heat of the Mercedes E55 AMG. In addition, it is planned to implant the new A6 5-liter V10 engine from Lamborghini Gallardo. German engineers did not confirm this information, but, you yourself understand, there is no smoke without fire. The previous Audi A6 dispersed more than a million copies. The new A6, declared by the developers as the most sports and progressive, is still the main trump card of Audi in the automobile market. First of all, with a trumped six will walk in the German, Chinese and North American markets. Moreover, in China, where Audi has its own production, a new model will be produced with an increased 10 mm base. The Chinese do not differ in high growth nevertheless even more space. In Russia, the first Audi A6 with V6 and V8 engines will appear in June of this year.
Some technical characteristics Audi A6 3.2 FSI Quattro
(manufacturer data)
Dimensions, mm: 4916x1855x1459
Equipped mass, kg: 1680
Base, mm: 2843
Front/behind, mm: 1612/1618
Engine type: gasoline V6 24-valve with direct injection
Working volume, cubic meter. See: 3123
Max. Power, L.S./rpm: 255/6500
Max. moment, nm/rpm: 330/3250
Transmission: Automatic 6-band Tiptronic
Tires: 225/55 R16
Max. Speed, km/h: 250
Acceleration time 0-100 km, s: 7.1
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
In the mixed cycle: 8.1
Top volume, l: 80
 
Vadim Ovsyankin
 
 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine