Audi S6 - Blue Steel

The new S6 is a “supermodel” that doesn’t need showy moves to make an impression

Following the debut of the current A6, its styling was criticized for being too safe, too generically Audi. At first glance, it could easily be mistaken for an A4, especially when seen from the rear three-quarter angle. This nondescript appearance, however, works to the advantage of the latest and fastest A6 variant - the S6.

Audi S6

This could be the ultimate sleeper super­-saloon, with high performance that keeps a low profile (apart from the alloy-look mirror caps, modified grille and reshaped bumpers common to Audi’s S models). Drivers of outwardly racy machinery will be in for a surprise when this quiet-looking saloon whizzes past. Yes, the S6 isn’t for those who want to show off - it is meant for the subtle power user, who might wish to “delete” our test car’s unsubtle 20-inch wheels (an inch up on the original set).

Powering the S6 is Audi’s state-of-the-art 4-liter V8, a gem of an engine that features “cylinder on demand” for greater fuel efficiency and lower pollution. Under partial or low-load operating conditions, such as when cruising gently on the expressway, the 8-cylinder has only four cylinders firing. Step a little harder on the accelerator pedal or drop some gears in a hurry, and the whole power plant “wakes up” again to offer exciting energy and thrilling response.

Best of all, the transition between four and eight cylinders is virtually seamless. Active Noise Control (or ANC) negates the “V4” sound effect, counteracting unwanted noise by broadcasting targeted “cancellation notes” into the cabin through the loudspeakers of the hi-fi system, while active engine mounts dampen any low-frequency vibrations.

In the S6 (and also the S7), the V8 produces 420bhp plus 550Nm of almost instantaneous, twin-turbo torque, which translate into extremely swift progress.

Zero to l00km/h takes just 4.6 seconds, which is very quick indeed. Perhaps even more impressive than the raw acceleration figures is how they are delivered - sweetly, in a refined manner, and with just the right growl from the engine room.

All this performance has not been at the expense of fuel economy, with the S6 returning over l0km per liter on the combined cycle. It has to be said, though, that exuberant use of the V8 would lead to considerably heavier consumption. Lots of willpower is needed to resist exploiting the power of this car!

Quattro permanent all-wheel drive and a 7-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission are standard. Gear changes are rapid, yet virtually jerk-free, even in Dynamic mode. Unhappily, the rear sport differential is an extra-cost option when it really ought to be thrown in. This clever bit of engineering aggressively distributes power between the two rear wheels during cornering, thus giving the S6 an even more dynamic character, with minimal understeer and a more neutral balance.

Steering feel, once an Audi weakness (relative to BMW), is now vastly better, at least in the S6. From behind the wheel, the car feels so agile and “alive” that it seems to shrink around me - I am at one with the S6, which responds to my every input. This is Bimmer beating driving dynamism, complete with a superior interior!

Quilted seats, grey instrument dials with white needles, and aluminum trim differentiate the S6 from the regular A6. Additional standard equipment includes a sunroof, four-zone climate control and MMI “radio plus” with Bose surround sound. Optional items include a head-up display, ambient lighting, adaptive cruise control and night vision assistant (for detecting “wayward” pedestrians).

The closest competitors to the new S6 are the BMW 550i, the Mercedes E500 and the Jaguar XFR. The $406k Audi has the smallest-capacity V8 among this quartet, but it out-accelerates the opposition. The $422k 550i steers better, but seems less nimble than the S6. The $458k XFR is the most extroverted of the lot, but its cockpit is “cosier” and less well-built than the S6’s. As for the $4l9k E500, it somehow feels rather dated and less alluring than the Audi.

S for sportified

Shapelier seats and sportier touches replace the “A” in A6 with an “S”

Two-in-one V8

Buy this punchy 8-cylinder and get a penny-pinching 4-cylinder free, in a way

Two-in-one V8

Right on Q

Unassuming but astonishingly sporty, this is a classic Q-car