A compelling marriage of looks, brawn and brains, the new Audi A6 has arrived in Australia, throwing out a challenge to competitors in the executive class.

With first customer deliveries imminent, the A6 Sedan brings with it fresh, distinctive styling, serious performance and also a suit of new technology – including new Audi connect plus, that will change the way you think about and indeed interact with your car.

Elegant, but with an edge, the A6 has a very real presence, from its wide Singleframe grille and distinctive Matrix LED headlight signature, to its sculpted rear. Riding on huge 19- or 20-inch wheels depending on the model, the A6 is all business, with quattro permanent all-wheel drive as standard. But despite its impressive performance, this is a luxurious car, where the attention to detail and equipment are truly first class.

Initially available with a 3.0-litre V6 engine producing 250kW and 500Nm of torque, the A6 55 TFSI quattro will be joined before year’s end by the A6 45 TFSI quattro, producing 180kW of power and 370Nm of torque between 1600 and 4500rpm.

Both of these engines feature Mild-Hybrid Electric Vehicle technology (MHEV), with the 55 TFSI and the 45 TFSI utilising 48- and 12-volt systems respectively. Both are mated to Audi’s seven-speed S tronic transmission and feature progressive steering as standard.

This combination makes for a car that is as stately and refined as the situation dictates, but delivers in spades for those wanting to ‘push on’ and test the limits.

But while the A6 will impress the driver, it likewise caters to all occupants, with an impressive array of the veery latest technology seamlessly integrated into its elegant interior.

Clean, calm and uncluttered define the A6 interior which manages to capture the finest traditions of a luxury conveyance, but has managed to reinterpret them for the modern day.

Audi’s reputation for producing the most stunning interiors in the business step up again in the A6 – with stunning finish and materials. Craftsmanship of the highest order is evident everywhere, balanced perfectly with the new technology.

From the new MMI operating concept with its dual touchscreens (10.1- and 8.6-inch) to the Audi virtual dash, everything is beautifully presented to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Haptic and acoustic feedback bring a familiar feel to new technology, while voice recognition and the multifunction steering wheel provide the driver with even more options to control the A6 Sedan’s myriad functions. 

Add to this the newly introduced Audi connect plus, and the very way you interact with the car and the world around you will take on new dimensions not possible before in Australia.

Audi's standard-setting safety and driver assistance systems are standard across the A6 range which has already been awarded a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Adaptive cruise assist with traffic jam assist, 360 degree camera (with kerb view), Audi pre-sense parking sensors, Audi pre-sense front and pre-sense rear, Audi active lane assist, Audi side assist with cross traffic assist, Intersection assist and Exit warning are all standard equipment.

The A6 range starts with the Audi A6 45 TFSI quattro which will go on sale in Australia for $95,500*, but boasts $13,000 worth of additional features over the previous generation. 

Step up to the A6 45 TFSI quattro S line ($105,200*) and A6 55 TFSI quattro S line ($116,000*) and the equipment is even more impressive with the likes of S line exterior package, 20-inch alloy wheels in 5-V-spoke design, suspension with adaptive damper control, sport front seats upholstered in Valcona leather, illuminated door sill trims in S design and head-up display all standard.

Customers will also be able to add the Premium plus package (from $9,800) on the S line models, which includes HD Matrix LED headlights, S line interior package, Privacy glass, panoramic glass sunroof, Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System, electric steering column adjustment, electrically opening and closing bootlid, as well as a colour interior lighting package, including ambient lighting.

Certainly the Audi A6 has come a long way in its 50 years of production, but this eighth edition of Audi’s executive express more than lives up to its distinguished pedigree. Just as its forebear, the Audi 100, set the standard more than half a century ago, the new Audi A6 once again heralds in a quantum leap in technology, luxury and performance. A new standard has been set.

(*Manufacturer List Pricing [MLP] – excludes dealer delivery and government statutory charges)