Audi A6 Avant Fourth Generation

2012 Audi A6 Avant

Following the footsteps of the fourth-generation Audi A6 C7 sedan, the Audi A6 Avant C7 provides the same level of the new A6 sedan with the added luggage space that what you should expect for a premium sport tourer in Europe. The 4th generation Audi A6 Avant targets the likelihood of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate S212 and the BMW 5-Series Touring F11 as the main rivals but the road ahead is not going to be easy for the new Audi A6 Avant C7.

In the exterior design, the new A6 Avant carries the look from its sedan counterpart but as a wagon, the styling of a German station wagon looks a little bit redundant. It needs a bit more stylish and reasonably mannered like the Honda Accord Tourer (Acura TSX Sport Wagon) but the side view seems to be grateful in the eyes of the businessmen. The biggest mistake of all is the rear view of the new A6 Avant because borrowing the rear lamps from the sedan version looks more overactive and overrated if you know what I mean.

As a sports tourer, the new Audi A6 Avant has a progressed luggage compartment with the capacity of 565 liters (19.95 cu ft). The rear seats can be folded down to make room with lots of items you have in mind, like for instance, a shipment of firearms, a giant statue to fit inside your mansion, several groceries, and other stuff you can fit in. It may be a family wagon, but the Audi A6 Avant focuses more on its premium status. What completes this is the Multimedia Interface (MMI) navigation plus with MMI touch that cooperates with a variety of driving aids and a Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System that brings high-definition audio from 15 speakers, which is great to listen to your favorite songs in high quality.

What's the next BIG THING for Audi is the internet connectivity. The available Wi-Fi Hotspot takes full advantage of mobile devices that connects to the internet like the iPhone, great if you want your iPhone go foursquare-ing while riding inside the new A6 Avant. Also, you can Google search points of interest - particularly conveniently via voice control. Those big advantages really made it progressed and the Audi A6 Avant has been progressed to make lots of friends and enemies in the luxury car industry.

Available engines for the Audi A6 Avant were the same as the sedan version such as 2.0 TFSI, 2.8 FSI, 3.0 TFSI, 2.0 TDI DPF 3.0 TDI DPF 204 PS and 3.0 TDI DPF 245 PS. A high performance 3.0 TDI DPF engine with 313 PS will be offered later. Depending on the engine choices, the transmissions offered on the new Audi A6 Avant are multitronic (CVT), 6-speed manual, and 7-speed S tronic. The 8-speed tiptronic will be offered later as well. Most versions come with the Audi drive select driving dynamics system that adjusts the key drivetrain, chassis, and driving aides within four modes such as comfort, auto, dynamic, and individual. For a lightweight feeling, a new "aluminum hybrid body" is placed on the new Audi A6 Avant, the first of its kind since the sedan, to make it more rigid, safer, and lighter than other premium wagons and depending on the engine types, the new Audi A6 Avant weighs 1,715 to 1,865 kilograms.

Safety is a top priority for luxury sport tourers and the new Audi A6 Avant has been progressed to be more safer unlike any other. Thanks to the MMI navigation plus, it makes full use of its safety features such as adaptive headlights, adaptive cruise control with stop & go function and something similar to Toyota's NAVI-AI-SHIFT technology. FF models of the new A6 Avant will receive Electronic Stability Program with electronic LSD (Limited-slip Differential) to make handling more convenient.

The color variation on the new Audi A6 Avant includes Brillantschwarz, Ibisweiß, Aviatorblau Metallic, Dakotagrau Metallic, Eissilber Metallic, Havannaschwarz Metallic, Mondscheinblau Metallic, Oolonggrau Metallic, Quarzgrau Metallic, Daytonagrau Perleffekt, Granatrot Perleffekt, and Phantomschwarz Perleffekt.

My comment:
The new Audi A6 Avant is now ready to take on the big leagues of the premium wagon category because of its advanced features and the aluminum hybrid body armed and ready to show who's the best among the rest. The introductory price of the new Audi A6 Avant is 40,850 Euros, making the cheapest premium wagon of its class, toppling against the BMW 5-Series Touring and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate. What about on the performance side? As surely known, the new A6 Avant can be the biggest loser on its class because only the V8-powered BMW 5-Series Touring and MB E-Class Estate can achieve that.

It's up to the driver to decide the outcome of the new Audi A6 Avant

Photo: AUDI AG