Audi A6


The Audi A6 is an executive car manufactured by the German company Audi since 1994. Now in its sixth generation, the successor to the Audi 100 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany, and is available in saloon and estate configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant. Audi's internal numbering treats the A6 as a continuation of the Audi 100 lineage, with the initial A6 designated as a member of the C4-series, followed by the C5, C6, C7, C8 and the C9. The related Audi A7 is essentially a Sportback version of the C7-series and C8-series A6 but is marketed under its own separate identity and model designation.
All generations of the A6 have offered either front-wheel-drive or Torsen-based four-wheel-drive, marketed by Audi as their quattro system. The A6 has also been used as the basis for the company's Allroad models since 1999.

C4 (''Typ'' 4A, 1994)

's executive car was previously named the Audi 100, and was released in three successive generations. In 1994, the latest generation of the Audi 100 received a facelift and was renamed as the Audi A6, to fit in with Audi's new alphanumeric nomenclature. The exterior was changed only slightly from the "C4" Audi 100 – new front and rear lights, new radiator grille, similarly with chassis and engine and transmission choices. The United Kingdom was the first market to receive the A6, as stock of RHD Audi 100s had run out before expected, and before the rest of mainland Europe.
The new engines for the A6 were 1.8-litre 20v inline four-cylinder, 2.0-litre 8v inline-four, 2.6-litre 12V V6 and 2.8-litre 30v V6 petrol engines, with the 2.3-litre inline-five engine being dropped on most markets. For the diesel engines, an inline-four 1.9 Turbocharged Direct Injection, and the inline-five 2.5 TDI with were available.
Most of the engine options were also available with Audi's Torsen-based quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system. The A6 was available with saloon and Avant bodies.

C4 engines

The C4 design was available with the following engines:
NHTSA Frontal impact; Driver side:
NHTSA Frontal impact; Passenger side:
Folksam overall frontal crash test:Good

S6

Upon introducing the C4 series A6, Audi made small revisions to what was previously known as the Audi S4, renaming it the Audi S6; the S4 name would eventually be re-used for a completely different model derived from Audi's smaller Volkswagen Group B platform-based Audi A4. As this was the first S6 model from Audi, it is commonly referred to as the Ur-S6, derived from the German augmentative, "Ursprünglich". It was available as both a saloon/sedan, and an "Avant" to European and United States customers, but only as a saloon in Canada, Asia and Australia.
From its launch in late 1994, the Audi S6 was powered by a turbocharged inline five-cylinder petrol engine with a Bosch Motronic electronic engine control unit, producing a motive power output of at 5,900 rpm and at around 1,950 rpm, on high octane "Super Plus" 98RON unleaded petrol. This engine gave the S6 a top speed of, and allowed it to accelerate from 0 to in 6.7 seconds; with being reached in 17.5 seconds. The vehicle was available with a standard six-speed manual transmission, and Audi's dynamic Torsen T-1 Quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system.
Audi made a high-performance, 4.2-litre V8 engine with a Bosch KE-Motronic ECU available as an option in the original European S4s, and made the decision to continue to do so with the S6, making a version of the 4.2 available as an optional upgrade over the 2.2-litre inline five-cylinder turbo. Unlike the five-cylinder turbocharged version, the V8-powered S6 was supplied with a four-speed automatic transmission as standard but kept the Quattro four-wheel-drive. A six-speed manual gearbox was also available as an option.

Audi S6 PLUS

As a swan song to the C4 platform, an even more powerful, and very limited-production Audi S6 Plus was briefly available to European customers. The S6 Plus, developed by Audi's wholly owned high-performance subsidiary, quattro GmbH, was available for sale during the 1997 model year only. A total of 952 cars were produced; 855 Avants and 97 saloons.
It was powered by another version of the 32-valve 4.2-litre V8 engine. Audi's performance division reworked key parts of the engine, increasing the maximum power to. It was only available with a revised six-speed manual transmission , with a final drive ratio of 4.111.
Further revisions were made to the suspension, brakes, and wheels. The front brake discs were enlarged to in diameter by thick. Standard wheels were 8Jx17 "Avus" cast aluminium alloy wheels, with an optional 7Jx16 alloy wheel for use with winter tyres was also available.
The S6 Plus saloon could reach from a standstill in 5.6 seconds, with the Avant a tenth of a second slower at 5.7 seconds.

C5 (''Typ'' 4B, 1997)

In February 1997, the introduction of a new A6, based on a new design automobile platform – the Volkswagen Group C5 platform, with a new range of engines was announced and appeared in March at the 1997 Geneva Motor Show. This A6 was marketed in the same categories as the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The redesigned body had a coefficient of drag of 0.28.
In 2000 and 2001, the "C5" A6 was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list. This A6 was available with 30-valve 2.4- and 2.8-litre V6 engines, with numerous other engine configurations available globally. As an alternative to the manual transmission, a five-speed tiptronic automatic transmission was also available.
The C5 saloon variant arrived in mid-1997 in Europe, late 1997 in North America and Australia, and the Avant in 1998. In Canada, there was no Avant available at all in 1998 – Audi dropped the C4 Avant at the end of the 1997 model year, and jumped straight to the C5 Avant in 1998 in conjunction with its release in the US. In compliance with federal standards, North American models were equipped with front and rear bumpers that protruded several inches further than their European counterparts, with modified brackets and bumper suspension assemblies as result, and child-seat tethers for occupant safety. In compliance with Canadian law, Canadian models received daytime running lights as standard equipment. North American C5 A6 models received the 2.8-litre, 30-valve V6 engine, the 2.7-litre "Biturbo" V6 also found in the B5 platform S4, developing, and the 4.2-litre 40-valve V8 petrol engine with ; the two more powerful engines were only offered with quattro permanent four-wheel drive. The V8 models arrived with significantly altered exterior body panels, with slightly more flared wheel arches, revised headlamps and grille design, larger wheels, larger brakes, and Torsen-based Quattro permanent four-wheel-drive as standard.
In 2002, the A6 received a facelift, with revised headlight and grille design, exposed exhaust tips, and slight changes to accessory body moldings, and tail light colour from red to amber in North American models. A new host of engines were also introduced. The 1.8-litre engine was deleted and replaced by a 2.0-litre powerplant with. The 1.9-litre Turbocharged Direct Injection was tweaked to produce a maximum power output of, and of torque, and was mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The 2.4-litre V6 was named the BDV 30 valves and gained an extra 5 hp and better balancing, and the 2.8-litre V6 engine was replaced by a 3.0-litre engine with. The turbocharged 2.7-litre was revised, resulting in and, controlled by standard quattro system. The V6 diesel was also slightly modified resulting in and. A new more powerful V6 diesel was also introduced with and. The 4.2-litre V8 engine which arrived in 2001 remained unchanged.
Also new was the multitronic continuously variable transmission, available in most front-wheel drive models. All models, except the 2.0-litre petrol and 1.9-litre TDI, were available with Audi's trademark four-wheel-drive system, Quattro. A four-wheel-drive version of the Avant, with raised ground clearance and slightly altered styling, was sold as the Audi allroad quattro.
The second-generation A6 was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 2000 and 2001. The updated 2005 A6 won the World Car of the Year award for 2005. In addition, the facelifted third-generation A6 3.0T won two Car and Driver "comparos" that pitted it against other sedans like the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Jaguar XF, and Infiniti M.
A long wheelbase version of the A6 C5 was available in China for the first time, making this model the first stretched German sedan developed especially for that country.
EuroNCAP adult occupant:
IIHS overall frontal offset crash test:Acceptable

S6 and RS 6

The Audi S6 was a high-powered variant of the A6, featuring a modified version of the 4.2-litre V8 engine producing and. It was available as a saloon and Avant although the Avant version was the only one sold in North America.
In the late years of the A6 C5 design, an ultra-high-performance limited-run Audi RS 6 model was presented. Weighing in excess of and producing and, the RS 6 was capable of 0- in 4.5 seconds, and on to in under 17 seconds. Initially available as only an Avant, a saloon variant was later added; the saloon version being the only version available to the North American market. The RS 6 saloon finished first in a May 2003 Car and Driver comparison test against the BMW M5, Mercedes-Benz E 55 AMG, and Jaguar S-Type R.

allroad quattro (1999–2005)

Audi's C5 series A6 Avant formed the basis for a semi-offroad model in 1999, labeled "Audi allroad quattro". Compared to the regular A6, the allroad featured an advanced air suspension system, allowing for increased ground clearance; larger diameter all-terrain tyres, and flared fenders and bumpers with matte finish, giving it a distinct appearance and more overall flexibility over varying terrain. The allroad's ride height was also increased with 25 mm subframe spacers; and overall frame stiffness increased with reinforced welds on the subframe mounts and A, B, and C pillars, the floor pan being produced with 20% thicker steel. As the name "allroad Quattro" suggests, Audi's Torsen-based quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system was standard equipment for all versions.
The standard adjustable air suspension system can lift the car high enough to provide of ground clearance; a low-range mode, absent from other Quattro-equipped vehicles, can be selected with the touch of a button. When used together, the two systems made it possible for the allroad to complete an official Land Rover test-course, thus far it is the only car-based SUV that has been proven capable of doing so in testing. Conversely, the air suspension can lower the vehicle down to only above road level, and simultaneously stiffen the spring and damper rates to provide a sporty driving experience, much like that of the conventional A6 with the sports suspension.
Audi's 2.7-litre, biturbo V6 petrol engine with and of peak torque was available initially, alongside the 2.5-litre TDI diesel unit with and of torque. A variant of the corporate 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine was made available in 2003, and a less powerful TDI followed in 2004.
Audi stopped production of the allroad in July 2005. Although the model continued to be available for sale throughout 2006 in Europe, there was no 2006 model year for North America.
With the return of the "allroad" nameplate to North America, in the form of the 2013 A4 allroad Quattro, the C5-Platform allroad Quattro has begun to take the name "Ur-allroad." The 'Ur-' is used in the German language, as a prefix to signify 'ancient' or 'early ancestor', and is used informally by car enthusiasts worldwide to refer to the original Audi Quattro that was produced from 1980 to 1991. The use of the term was then extended to the original S4 and S6 models to differentiate them from later models with the same name, and more recently to the C5 allroad models.