2012 Audi A6
Audi continues to set sales records in the United States – 2011 was the best year ever for the German automaker here. For the year, Audi sales were up nearly 20 percent. With models like the 2012 A6, look for that trend to continue. The A6 had its best month ever in December, with more than 1,855 units sold, or a 124 percent increase over 2010.
And after my test week with the A6, I know why. It’s as good a car for the money as there is. I absolutely loved driving this car.
The A6 envelops occupants in sumptuous leather luxury and protects them with safety features that have earned the A6 a “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. And perhaps best of all, my better half actually loved the car too. Not a fan of fast driving but a big fan of luxury, she nestled herself into the 8-way adjustable seats, switched on the seat heater and didn’t even notice as I eased the A6 past 80 mph on a deserted stretch of Interstate 12.
Normally, my wife’s brain has a governor that limits my car’s speed to 65 or 70 mph, but the A6 is so smooth, so quiet, and so refined that she failed to detect our speed. It could be that the A6 with its supercharged 310-horsepower 3.0-liter TFSI engine is deceptively fast, and it’s pretty easy to find yourself going faster than you think. With 325 lb.-ft. of torque turning the 8-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission, the A6 can make it to 60 mph from a standstill in 5.3 seconds. Keep it at 60 for 28 highway miles, and you’ll burn only one gallon of gas. Fill the tank, and you’ll have an amazing range of more than 580 miles.
The 2012 A6 is the core vehicle in Audi’s luxury sport sedan lineup. The company’s signature quattro AWD system is standard, and it keeps A6 firm and planted on the road. Quattro normally sends 60 percent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels. A 2-liter engine that generates 211 horsepower is available.
On the outside, the body of the A6 is a hybrid construction of aluminum panels on a steel frame. At least 20 percent of the content is aluminum, which helps the A6 weigh in at 4,045 pounds of curb weight, or 78 pounds lighter than its predecessor. It’s not exactly a featherweight, but you never notice it on the road. Sure-footed and flat in corners, this big sedan drives like a sports car. The cat-eyed LED lined headlights are mesmerizing, even when they’re in daytime running light mode. And at night they light up the road like a redeye flight in a lightning storm. The blue/white light pierces the darkness in an arc that completely illuminates the road and shoulders.
When it comes to technology, the A6 is as gee-whiz as it gets: Audi’s MMI system enables the whole car to be a 3G Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight users, Google Earth is available on the nav system, and real-time weather and traffic and news are available. Seats are heated and ventilated, and a four-zone climate control system is an option. Other high-tech options include Audi pre sense and pre sense plus to help stop the vehicle if you approach an object too fast or try to back into an object, Audi’s optional night-vision assist that uses infrared to light up objects on the road, a heads-up display, Audi side assist to monitor your blind spots, and a rearview camera to show you what’s in back.
For much of this Audi luxury and technology, you’ll pay $49,900 for a base 2012 A6 3.0. For all of it, you’ll fork out more than 60-grand. But if you like fine German automobiles, you won’t find a better one at this price. With January marking 13 straight months of Audi sales increases, look for February to become No. 14.
Engine
3.0-liter TFSI Supercharged V-6
Transmission
8-speed automatic
with Tiptronic
Horsepower
310
Test model base price
$49,900
As tested price
$61,530
EPA mileage rating
19 mpg city / 28 mpg highway