Audi: U2 will be impressed (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

U2 will be impressed with the new Audi A6 Avant

9:00pm Tuesday 18th October 2011 in Road Tests By Steve Teale

Audi certainly know how to do things in style.

Neil, the VIP driver who picked me up at Cheltenham railway station to take me to a driving day to launch the new A6 Avant, had only recently chauffeured Mikhail Gorbachev and Bono from U2. Now here he was transporting Yours Truly.

Neil is part of an army of chauffeurs at Audi who make sure their vehicles appear at celebrity-packed awards, conferences and the like. Where once Mercedes-Benz S-classes reigned supreme, now you’re more likely to see an Audi.

It’s part of a plan to raise the profile of the most upwardly mobile car brand in the world. Another more conventional part of this campaign to dominate the motor market is the A6 Avant.

It’s bigger, lighter, more economical and better equipped than the outgoing model. The fact that it’s more expensive seems not to matter for Audi’s stock is rising.

Recession? What recession? This firm seems to be coping nicely with the downturn. Sure, many people are feeling the pinch, but there are still enough folks out there earning enough to put Audis on their wanted lists.

And the company is turning out model after endless model to cater for every need.

The A6 Avant is the estate version of the A6 saloon. A6 Avant – Audi have long preferred to use that name rather than estate – first appeared in 1994 and it is now the best-selling estate car in its class.

That’s astonishing considering Audi used to be considered the minor partner of the three big German brands. Not any more.

So, what are the downsides? Well. If you were being picky you might say that this isn’t the most dynamic-looking new Audi but it stands comparison with rivals. Rear headroom is better, but still not perfect. And the Mercedes holds considerable more luggage.

Having said that the A6 Avant has a wonderfully flat and wide loadspace and the car has the best aerodynamics in its class. Audi’s image is sky-high among the elite.

One glance is all you’ll need to recognise that it’s an A6, though you'd be forgiven for mistaking one for its bigger brother, the A8.

With a more prominent grille and wider front wheelarches the front of the A6 has more presence, and looks like a more muscle-bound machine. There’s a sweep towards the rear, and the details are finished with the precision and attention to detail you would expect. It looks smarter but not vulgar.

The fact that such time and effort has been spent on aerodynamics reflects the other big factor in the A6’s rebirth: efficiency. Every new car must offer improvement in terms of emissions and fuel economy compared, and the A6 does so regardless of the powerplant.

Grabbing the headlines is the 2.0-litre TDI model, likely to be the best seller. Although it does without the quattro four-wheel drive that delivers superior traction and handling, the more modest 175bhp and 280lb.ft of torque of the 2.0-litre TDI manages fine without. Not that it is a slowcoach: 0-62mph takes nine seconds and 137mph is more than sufficent.

But this front-wheel drive version is lighter as a result, helped by the use of aluminium in the bodyshell for the first time. Alongside greater use of high-strength steels, Audi claims the A6 is much, much lighter.

Combined with the efficiency measures including stop/start, the A6 is capable of remarkably economy and emissions: a C02 rating of just 132g/km is comparable with much smaller cars and attracts modest annual Vehicle Excise Duty, while the combined economy of 57.5mpg is one that will please everyone apart from filling station owners.

This balance of performance and economy is obvious out on the road. The instant torque means there's no need to stir the gearlever frequently to make progress, and even when pushed the four-cylinder diesel is quiet and smooth.

Although many will choose an automatic the manual is sufficiently slick, and even though the steering now uses electronic power assistance, it still maintains sufficient feel that you don't feel divorced from the action. In SE specification the A6 is designed for comfort over handling, but it tackles bends without fuss in a reassuring fashion.

The good news on the inside is that A6 inherits much of the fine cabin design and materials from the bigger A7 Sportback and A8. An Audi cabin is rarely anything other than pleasant, but the A6 is packed with kit even on the humblest model, works with precision and is finished with taste. There are the usual wealth of options too, including Audi Pre-Safe collision protection, wireless connectivity and an infra-red camera.

All of which gives the impression that the A6 represents a considered and through evolution of the old car rather than a major departure. While that might seem like a conservative course of action, it’s hard to argue.

The A6 saloon is commendable. And the A6 Avant, more so.