Shivaum Punjabi test drives the Audi S6.
Say hello to the Audi S6. Audi’s performance-oriented version of the A6. When I drove the Audi A6 earlier, I found the drive experience quite disengaged from the driver and the car a bit slow. Even though the mid option specced A6 with a turbocharged V6 producing 340 HP should not feel like that.
This is where the S6 comes into the picture.
Can it run?
It can run. The S6 is quick in a straight line. It can do 0-100 kph in 4.4 seconds. The engine in this car is a complicated thing. It has a twin-turbo V6 engine producing 444 HP mated to an 8-speed gearbox with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system which helps with additional boost.
The acceleration is instantaneous and linear, and you barely feel any turbo lag. It comes with multiple drive modes, and dynamic mode is where I enjoyed driving the car maximum.
If it can run then can it jump?
Well by jump if you mean can it handle then yes it can handle itself. The Audi S6 comes with Audi’s legendary Quattro AWD system. It has rear-wheel steering and air suspension. Now that is a lot of tech just right there. The car feels nimble and agile enough.
The biggest and only problem with the Audi S6 is the steering feel. The steering feels overly artificial and does not communicate to you what the wheels are doing. The car may have loads of grip available, but the steering does not communicate that.
Hence you do not get the confidence to push the car through the bends. If Audi brings in more real feedback into the steering, then this might just be the perfect car on sale today.
Did you say Tech, what else does it have?
Other than the above-mentioned driving aids, it comes with Audi’s semi-autonomous driving aids such as adaptive cruise control with speed limiter, efficiency assist, swerve assist and turn assist, head-up display, lane change warning including Audi pre-sense rear, exit warning system and rear cross-traffic assist. For the music lovers, it has a superb Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system.
The complete AUDI MMI dual digital infotainment screens with a larger 10.1-inch touch screen on top and the secondary 8.6-inch display at the bottom. The upper screen handles navigation, audio controls, and other entertainment features, while the lower one provides access to vehicle settings, climate control, etc. The S6 also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Audi’s prized gemstone, which is standard in the S6 is Audi’s brilliant Virtual Cockpit.
It is almost impossible to complain about Audi’s interiors. There is nothing to complain about in the S6. There is leather everywhere. If there is no leather, then it has twill designed carbon fiber in those areas.
The interior of the S6 is a perfect place to be in. Extremely spacious and luxurious it can easily fit five people in comfort and style.
The seats have a diamond quilted design on the leather which is reserved for Audi’s performance-oriented models. Audi has also perfected the gear lever. I do not think currently there is a better gear lever to rest you hand on than an Audi one.
Is it a looker?
The Audi S6 builds on the handsome profile of the A6. The S6 has a broad, muscular silhouette. There are a few telling differences between the A6 and the S6, namely the rear quad pipe setup with a rear diffuser. More aggressive front lip, side skirts and bigger 21-inch tires and rims.
Obviously, the S6 comes with an exterior blacked-out design pack that turns all the chrome bits to black and S6 badges on the car’s front and back.
All in all, look wise only a discerning few will know that this is an S6. For the rest of them, it is a regular A6. I like that kind of stealth wolf in sheep’s clothing kind of vibe.
The Verdict
All in all, it is a good car. Perfect for a family or an individual who enjoys fast, efficient cruises. The S6 is priced at $ 109,000 or AED 404,000. This leaves the mid optioned six-cylinder car stuck in between the S6 and the 2.0 ltr variant. I would go for either the 2.0 ltr or the S6 as the S6 feels better value for money than the regular V6.
Images and text courtesy of Shivaum Punjabi and The Cornea Impression
