Subtle revisions and some clever engines aim to keep Audi's model family fresh, says Paddy Comyn
LIKE HOLLYWOOD a month before the Oscars, it is facelift time again in the car industry. More often than ever we are reporting not on brand-new cars, but on their visits to the motoring equivalent of the cosmetic surgeon. Four years into its lifecycle and the Audi A6 has taken its trip away for a mid-life refresh. This is, however, a car that has aged quite well - selling well in most markets, including our own and especially in emerging markets such as China.
The A6's vast range of engines and transmissions mean that there is usually something there for everyone and even our old tax and VRT system suited its smaller petrol versions.
Now that we are a CO2-based motoring society, the goals have moved a little, and BMW's 5-Series, more accurately the 520d, is set to become a common sight, ferrying the more fuel- and price-conscious executives of Ireland around for the foreseeable future.
With a new A4 on the market, as well as the handsome A5 coupé, it was time to give the A6 some of the new family styling cues that have come on stream, but also with the environment so close to our hearts and our pockets, Audi has spent time on the engines too. The results are good. Visually, the A6 has taken on some of the more attractive new family traits, with those sharp-looking LED lights front and rear, and some minor changes to the interior.
But the real changes concern the engines. Gone is the 3.2-litre V6, replaced by a 290bhp 3.0-litre supercharged petrol engine. But more relevant to us is the new 2.0-litre TDi diesel, which will account for the majority of sales in our market. There are two versions of this engine available - the first with 136bhp and a second with 170bhp.
The lower powered version, known as the 'E' version, uses front-wheel-drive and a manual gearbox to produce just 139g/km of CO2 and return 5.3l/100km/h. And it's not that slow either. Driving it, as we did after the RS6, it didn't feel that fiery, but with 0-100km/h taking 10.3 seconds and a top speed of 208km/h, it's slower than the 520d by 2 seconds.
The 520d also manages to better the car's CO2 figure - however, they both qualify for Band B, meaning €150 road tax per year. Where the Audi has the BMW licked is on its price. The 520d SE will cost you €46,057, while you can have the Audi for €42,100, a saving of €3,957. This means that the diesel marks the entry-point of the A6 range, followed closely by the 170bhp 2.0-litre turbo FSI engine at €43,100.
There are unlikely to be too many takers for the larger petrol and diesel engines, but the 2.7-litre TDi and 3.0-litre TDi with 190bhp and 240bhp respectively, offer more urgent diesel performance while retaining reasonable returns in terms of fuel economy and CO2 emissions. At the other end of the CO2 scale, Audi also presented its two more powerful versions. The first, the saloon version of their CO2 munching RS6, gives another option to those wanting to take off into hyperspace when they put their right foot down.
The RS6's 580bhp 5.0-litre V10 makes the car galactically fast, even by German autobahn standards. Here, it might feel like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but for the handful of owners who will buy one, €170,407 will seem well worth it. What we will say is that 100km/h feels like you are stopped in the RS6, so good luck keeping hold of your licence.
Finally, if there any property developers out there with any money left, then pay attention. Most of you will probably be driving an Audi Q7 or Range Rover. Well, in the first quarter of 2009, Audi will be offering you a Q7 that has the most powerful diesel engine you can buy in a production SUV, and that is the 500bhp 6.0-litre V12 diesel:this mammoth SUV has 1,000Nm of torque.
Pressing down on the accelerator hard as we did - may we add, on an unrestricted section of autobahn - and the torque is such that you feel it in the pit of your stomach. There are no details on price yet, but expect it to cost around €140,000 when it does arrive next year.
FACTFILE - Audi's family facelift
• Audi A6 2.0 TDi e DPF
Engine:1968cc, four-cyl-turbo diesel
Peak power:136bhp at 4,000rpm
Peak torque:320Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission:Six-speed manual gearbox, front-wheel-drive
Performance:0-100km/h: 10.3 seconds
Top speed:208 km/h
Emissions:139 CO2 g/km (Band B)
Road Tax:€150
Combined cycle fuel economy:5.3 litres/100km
Price:€42,100 on sale October
• Audi RS6 Saloon
Engine:4991cc, V10
Peak power:580bhp at 6,250 rpm
Peak torque:650Nm at 1,500rpm - 6,250rpm
Transmission:Six-speed Tiptronic gearbox, quattro all-wheel-drive
Performance:0-100km/h: 4.5 seconds
Top speed:250 km/h (electronically limited)
Emissions:331 CO2 g/km (Band G)
Road Tax:€2,000
Combined cycle fuel economy:13.9 litres/100km
Price:€170,407
• Audi Q7 6.0-litre V12 TDi
Engine:5,934cc, V12 twin-turbo diesel
Peak power:500bhp at 3,750 rpm
Peak torque:1000Nm at 1,750rpm - 3,250rpm
Transmission:Six-speed Tiptronic gearbox, quattro all-wheel-drive
Performance:0-100km/h: 5.5 seconds
Top speed:250 km/h (electronically limited)
Emissions:298 CO2 g/km (Band G)
Road Tax:€2,000
Combined cycle fuel economy:11.3 litres/100km
Price:€140,000 estimate
The new S4 is on the way
Audi has confirmed details of its new sports version of the A4. While previous S4 models were powered by Audi's 4.2-litre V8, the new car - in saloon and Avant format - will instead feature the firm's new 3-litre TFSI 333bhp V6. It claims a 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds, and has an official combined fuel consumption of 9.7 L/100km.
Along with permanent quattro four-wheel-drive there will be the option of a seven-speed S tronic changes gears and a new sport differential distributing the torque as needed between the rear wheels.
The new S4 will be unveiled at the Paris motor show next week. It's due to go on sale next spring.