Audi has launched its brand new luxury executive saloon in Australia.

The new Audi A6 is characterised by bold styling thanks to the company’s hallmark single-frame grille, clean architectural lines, luxury appointments, dynamic driving capabilities and a line-up of powerful petrol and TDI engines.

The range of engines includes a 2.4-litre V6, 3.0-litre V6, 4.2-litre V8 and 3.0-litre V6 TDI variants, with both multitronic and 6-speed tiptronic transmissions.

Unveiled for the first time to the public at the Australian International Motor Show on 7th October 2004, the new Audi A6 is set to follow in the footsteps of its successful sibling, the Audi A8, thanks to its benchmark combination of design, performance, specification and competitive pricing.

With prices starting from $83,900 for the new 2.4-litre variant with multitronic transmission, the A6 offers a high level of standard specification borrowed from its bigger brother including the intuitive MMI Multi Media Interface, standard across the range, complete with a 7-inch colour monitor.

Measuring 4.92 metres in length, 1.86 metres in width, and 1.46 metres in height, the new Audi A6 is visibly larger, yet more dynamic than its predecessor. All occupants benefit from the generous proportions of the new A6, offering an additional 10 mm of knee room, 23 mm of shoulder room and 7 mm of headroom. Even luggage travels first class in the new A6 with 546 litres of boot space – the largest in its class.

The classic proportions of Audi's sports saloon with its low-slung windows and coupé-like roofline are now elevated to a new level of excellence. The contours of the upward-curved shoulder lines and the powerful, sweeping motion of the dynamic line above the side sills give the entire body of the car a forward-moving, dynamic appearance. The powerfully-rising centre section of the front bonnet is symbolic of the muscular performance of the new Audi A6.

Seen from the front, the trapezoidal single-frame radiator grille clearly characterises the A6 as a representative of Audi's latest model generation and heralds the change in design of this new model from understated to powerful and progressive.

The interior of the new A6 also makes a clear statement that this model belongs to a brand-new generation. The central instrument panel and upper section of the centre console sweep around the driver like the cockpit of a sports car.

All driver controls and switches are within perfect reach and the newly-designed drop-shaped surrounds for the speedometer and tachometer emphasise the sporting architecture of the interior, integrating the driver as the central player. The front passenger also enjoys a luxurious comfort zone.

The new A6 also features an electro-mechanical parking brake, giving the designers extra space and freedom in the interior to position the MMI control terminal in the perfect operating position, in line with the gearshift.

The new Audi dynamic chassis, developed for the new A6, rests on proven sporting technology and, as its name suggests, ensures a more dynamic ride without compromising on refinement and comfort. The enhanced four-link front suspension in combination with the self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension is carried over from the Audi A8, resulting in a winning combination which is featured on front-wheel-drive and quattro models.

This combination ensures a standard of driving behaviour that lives up to any comparison of dynamic qualities, and setting a new standard for the competition when it comes to ease of handling and superior control.

The Audi A6’s benchmark credentials are assisted also by speed-related servotronic power steering featured as standard, supplementing the precise handling of the new A6 by even more sensitive steering precision.

The new A6 is available with two sporty and economical transmission concepts. The new 6-speed tiptronic transmission offered on all quattro versions of the A6 is 14kg lighter than its predecessor, improving acceleration, overall performance and significantly reducing noise levels and fuel consumption.

Audi’s continuously variable multitronic transmission has also been improved for the front-wheel drive versions of the new A6. The multitronic variator now spans an even wider range of gear increments to improve dynamic performance and reduce fuel consumption. Seven pre-set gear ratios are another new feature of this revised multitronic transmission, which can be operated from the gear gate or shift paddles on the new sports steering wheel of the A6.

The safety equipment featured as standard in the new-generation A6 is understandably impressive.

The A6 employs the latest generation of Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP) including hydraulic Brake Assist and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD). In a collision the occupants are effectively protected by the robust structure of the body with its specific, pre-determined deformation and the highly stable passenger cell.

Front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger, airbags for the rear passengers, plus the SIDEGUARD head airbag system, offer the highest standard of safety and protection for all occupants. The two full-size front airbags are activated in two stages as a function of accident severity. Active head restraints at the front, in turn, help to protect the occupant in a collision from behind.

Audi A6 model range and pricing

Audi A6 2.4 multitronic	$83,900
Audi A6 3.0 multitronic	$92,900
Audi A6 3.0 quattro tiptronic	$97,900
Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro tiptronic	$99,900
Audi A6 4.2 quattro tiptronic	$151,950