Audi lifts wraps on new A6 Allroad 11 | 01 | 2012

    THIS IS THE all-new AudiA6 Allroad, which Scottish dealerships will begins taking orders for next month. First deliveries are scheduled for the spring (see more official photos of the all-new A6 Allroad).

    Sitting 60mm higher than the standard car, the A6 Allroad also features a different front grille and bumper designs, skid plates, roof rails and protection around the exhaust.

    And the Allroad — being 4940mm long, 1900mm wide and 1470mm tall — is slightly bigger than the standard A6 Avant. It also runs on a wheelbase of 2910mm.

    Roughly 20% of its body is constructed of aluminium components, which has helped reduce the overall weight of the car, compared to the previous A6 Allroad, by 70kgs.

    Audi has given the A6 Allroad a range of styling cues which set it apart from other models in the range.

    In addition to the trim strips on the side sills, flared fenders and the single-frame grille with vertical slats, the underbody gets stainless steel covers which pat the front and rear of the car.

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    And the eagle-eyed will also notice that not only are the roof rails mounted on double bars and the wheel well edges, bumpers and sills painted in a contrasting colour, but the exhaust system ends in two large, flattened tailpipes. The car comes with 18in alloys, though 19in and 20in are options.

    Inside the Allroad's cabin, a black theme has been used for the new instrument panel and carpets.

    Initially the A6 Allroad will be available with a choice of four V6 engines – one TFSI petrol and three TDI diesels. All powerplants are three-litre turbo engines and are fitted with stop-start and thermal management systems.

    While the 306bhp 3.0TFSI petrol covers the 0-62mph sprint in 5.9secs and returns just 31.7mpg, it's the three diesels which will understandably dominate sales.

    The three — which produce 201bhp, 241bhp and 308bhp — includes the most economic, the 46mpg 201bhp, which also has a CO2 figure of 159g/km. Audi is also preparing a low-emissions version of the 241bhp diesel.

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    And the big 308bhp diesel is actually quicker than the petrol version to 62mph, covering the sprint in 5.6secs. While it comes with an eight-speed tiptronic transmission, the other three engines get a seven-speed S tronic gearbox.

    The newcomer also gets Audi's drive select system across the range. This allows the driver to vary the function of the steering, the air suspension, the throttle pedal, the automatic transmission, the sport differential, the automatic air conditioning, the lighting and the adaptive cruise control.

    The adaptive air suspension, which combines air suspension with controlled damping, comes as standard. It lowers the body by 15mm at high speed and raises it by 35mm at the push of a button.

    Storage on the A6 Allroad is attractive too, with 565 litres with the rear seats in position, increasing to 1680 litres with them folded flat.

    As for prices? Well you'll have to wait till nearer the launch date.

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    Jim McGill

     

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