In Audi, Cars, International News / By Gregory Sze / 4 September 2014 7:21 pm / 35 comments

Audi has officially revealed the facelifted version of the current generation A6, with a raft of changes across the entire range. Main exterior changes include a redesign of the Singleframe grille – similar to the latest Audi TT, bumpers with a diffuser-like one at the rear, more pronounced side sills, updated rear lights design, exhaust pipes and headlights – which now feature Matrix LED technology, matched to dynamic turn indicators. For the non S and RS models, the wheels now come in sizes ranging from 17 to 20 inches.

The interior more or less stays the same but with a few key elements improved upon. The Audi Multi Media Interface (MMI) – which is standard along with an automatic air conditioning system, receives an upgrade, with the flagship navigation system now coming with a power-retractable eight-inch monitor. It employs a new technology platform that uses the Tegra 30 graphics chip, provided by Audi’s partner Nvidia. The front seats are now available with optional ventilation and massage functions.

Driving assistance systems now include adaptive cruise control, stop & go function, Audi side assist – which uses radar technology to warn the driver of potential vehicles behind when changing lanes. The system works in tandem with the Audi active lane assist to prevent unintended lane changes. An updated night vision assistant now comes with extra functions, along with Audi’s pre sense basic safety system – which is now standard. A head-up display which enables drivers to call up important information is available as an option.

Practicality-wise, the A6 Avant offers a luggage compartment that boasts between 565 and 1,680 litres. An optional automatic sensor-controlled feature for the tailgate, paired to a power luggage compartment cover makes loading of luggages that much easier for consumers.

The Audi A6 all road quattro – based on the Audi A6 Avant, receives a different variation of the Singleframe grille with vertical slats instead. A raised body and stainless steel reinforcements for the underside of the front and rear ends further marks it out from the rest of the A6 range.

On the mechanical side of things, Audi decided to bring in updated engines along for the facelift. All engines now comply with Euro 6 emission standards with a drop in CO2 levels as high as 22%, according to Audi. A total of eight engines are available internationally with three TFSI petrol-powered ones – the base engine producing 190 hp right up to 333 hp in the strongest variant, and five TDI diesel choices – starting with 150 hp to 326 hp.

The base petrol model with 190 hp and 320 Nm is now badged as the A6 1.8 TFSI ultra, with the last suffix now adorning the most efficient models (both petrol and diesel). Audi’s homegrown multitronic CVT transmission has been dropped, in favour of a reworked seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic gearbox. An updated six-speed manual box is still available in some markets, but either way, it gets to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. Fitted with the S tronic ‘box, it uses just 5.7 litres per 100 km, while emitting 133 grammes of CO2 per kilometre.

Of course, the diesel ultra model is even more efficient – the 150 hp/350 Nm A6 2.0 TDI ultra averaging 4.2 litres per 100 km and 109 grammes of CO2 per kilometre. This one will get to 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds with the S tronic options, while the standard manual is quicker by a tenth of a second. A 190 hp/400 Nm version of the same engine does the deed in 8.3 seconds.

Back to the petrol range, the mid-range 2.0 TFSI gets a new state of tune – 252 hp and 370 Nm of torque, up from 180 hp and 320 Nm. Zero to 100 km/h is done in 6.7 seconds. Meanwhile, the A6 3.0 TFSI model gets a revised engine too, now with 333 hp instead of the outgoing model’s 310 hp. Torque stays at 440 Nm. Available exclusively with quattro all-wheel drive and S tronic, the 0-100 km/h sprint is done in 5.1 seconds.

Audi, however, is more interested in pushing its new 3.0 TDI diesel engines. Single-turbo versions have either 218 or 272 hp, with the former output accompanied by either 400 Nm in standard front-wheel drive form (0-100 km/h in 7.1 seconds), or 500 Nm as a quattro (6.6 seconds). With 580 Nm, the 272 hp version gets to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds.

On the other hand, the bi-turbo variations get 320 hp/650 Nm as standard, or 326 hp/650 Nm (can be further boosted to 346 hp briefly) in the special-edition competition models. With such numbers, they get to 100 km/h in 5.0 and 4.9 seconds respectively. These two high-performance diesel models are paired to an eight-speed automatic tiptronic transmission.

On the chassis side, Audi drive select dynamic handling system is standard across the board, with two sport suspensions and an adaptive air suspension setups available as options. The A6 Avant 2.0 TDI ultra, in particular, gets glass-fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) springs, which save around 4.4 kg alone. Meanwhile, the high-riding Audi A6 allroad quattro gets adaptive air suspension as standard. As before, the base models have a front-wheel drive layout, which can then be upgraded to quattro all-wheel drive. High-performance models can even be had with a sport differential, which actively distributes power between the rear wheels.

Audi A6 facelift