ROAD TEST

SPECIFICATIONSPRICEAS TESTED ...................................... $67,430BASE ................................................. $50,775

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedanOPTIONS: Prestige package, $6880; Bang & Olufsen sound system, $5900; 19-inch Sport package, $1500; LED headlights, $1400; Audi Side Assist, $500; Aviator Blue metallic paint, $475STANDARD: power windows, seats, locks, and sunroof; remote locking; cruise control; tilting and telescoping steering wheelAUDIO SYSTEM: satellite radio, DVD player, CD changer, media storage, iPod connector, media-card and Bluetooth-audio inputs, 15 speakers

ENGINEsupercharged and intercooled V-6, aluminum block and headsBORE X STROKE ........................ 3.33 x 3.50 in,

84.5 x 89.0 mmDISPLACEMENT .................... 183 cu in, 2995 ccCOMPRESSION RATIO .............................. 10.3:1SUPERCHARGER ..................... Eaton TVS R1320MAXIMUM BOOST PRESSURE ................. 11.6 psiVALVE GEAR: double overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder, hydraulic lifters, variable intake- and exhaust-valve timingREDLINE/FUEL CUTOFF ........... 6400/6500 rpm POWER ............................... 310 hp @ 6500 rpmTORQUE .......................... 325 lb-ft @ 2900 rpm

DRIVETRAINTRANSMISSION ............. 8-speed automatic with

manual shifting modeFINAL-DRIVE RATIO ................................ 2.85:1 4-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM ..................... full time GEAR RATIO MPH PER MAX SPEED 1000 RPM IN GEAR (rpm)1 ........ 4.71 ...... 5.9 ........... 38 mph (6400)

2 ........ 3.14 ...... 8.8 ........... 56 mph (6400)3 ........ 2.11 ....... 13.1 ............ 84 mph (6400)4 ........ 1.67 ...... 16.6 .......... 106 mph (6400)5 ........ 1.29 ...... 21.5 .......... 129 mph (6000)6 ........ 1.00 ..... 27.6 .......... 129 mph (4650)7 ........ 0.84 .... 32.9 .......... 129 mph (3900)8 ........ 0.67 ..... 41.4 .......... 129 mph (3100)

CHASSISunit construction with a rear rubber-isolated subframeBODY MATERIAL: steel and aluminum stampings

STEERINGrack-and-pinion with variable electrohydraulic power assistRATIO ..................................................... 16.1:1TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK ................................ 2.8TURNING CIRCLE CURB-TO-CURB ........... 39.0 ft

SUSPENSIONF: ind; 1 lower lateral link, 1 lower diagonal link, 1 upper lateral link, and 1 upper diagonal link per side; coil springs; anti-roll barR: ind; 1 lower control arm, 1 upper lateral link, and a toe-control link per side; coil springs; anti-roll bar

BRAKESF: 14.0 x 1.4-in vented discR: 13.0 x 0.9-in vented discSTABILITY CONTROL: partially defeatable

WHEELS AND TIRESWHEEL SIZE/CONSTRUCTION ........... 8.5 x 19 in/

cast aluminumTIRES ......................................... Pirelli P Zero

255/40R-19 100YSPARE .......................... high-pressure compactINFLATION ........................... F: 39 psi R: 42 psi

AUDI ATTROEXTERIOR DIMENSIONSWHEELBASE ............................... 114.6 inLENGTH .................................... 193.9 inWIDTH .......................................... 73.8 inHEIGHT ....................................... 57.8 inFRONT TRACK ............................. 64.1 inREAR TRACK ............................... 63.7 inGROUND CLEARANCE .................... 4.6 in

INTERIOR DIMENSIONSSAE VOLUME ........... F: 51 cu ft R: 46 cu ftTRUNK ........................................ 14 cu ft

CAR AND DRIVER TEST RESULTSCOMPETITORS

AUDI A6 3.0T QUATTRO (3.0-LITER V-6, 310 HP, 8-SP AUTO)BMW 535i (3.0-LITER INLINE-6, 300 HP, 8-SP AUTO)INFINITI M37 (3.7-LITER V-6, 330 HP, 7-SP AUTO)PORSCHE PANAMERA 4 (3.6-LITER V-6, 300 HP, 7-SP AUTO)

HANDLINGROADHOLDING, 300-FT-DIA SKIDPAD ............... 0.89 gUNDERSTEER ..................... MODERATE

TEST NOTES: The front-heavy A6 pushes its way around a circle with a good bit of body roll. Nothing about the process is offensive, and the tire breakaway is controlled and progressive. Fortunately, the stability control doesn’t intervene during at-the-limit maneuvers in sport mode.

TEST NOTES: Brake-torquing yields the best results with the transmission automatically upshifting in any mode. Thus, acceleration runs are uneventful. As testament to the 3.0T’s low-end torque, the A6 will hold its 129-mph top speed in eighth gear while turning just 3100 rpm.

ACCELERATIONZERO TO SECONDS

30 MPH ................................................ 1.9 40 MPH ............................................... 3.050 MPH ............................................... 4.060 MPH ........................................ 5.470 MPH ............................................... 7.080 MPH .............................................. 8.890 MPH .............................................. 11.0100 MPH ..................................... 13.4110 MPH .............................................. 16.5120 MPH ............................................. 20.1

STREET START, 5–60 MPH .............. 5.9 TOP GEAR, 30–50 MPH ................... 2.8TOP GEAR, 50–70 MPH ................... 3.61/4-MILE ............ 13.9 sec @ 102 mphTOP SPEED (GOV LTD) ............... 129 mph

INTERIOR SOUND LEVELIDLE ............................................. 39 dBAFULL THROTTLE ........................ 77 dBA70-MPH CRUISING ..................... 68 dBA

FUELCAPACITY .................................. 19.8 galOCTANE ................................. 91 requiredEPA CITY/HWY ..................... 19/28 mpg C/D OBSERVED ..................... 23 mpg

WEIGHTCURB ............................................ 4165 lbPER HORSEPOWER ...................... 13.4 lbDISTRIBUTION ....... F: 55.0% R: 45.0%CENTER-OF-GRAVITY HEIGHT ...... 22.0 inTOWING CAPACITY ..................... 3500 lbGVWR .......................................... 5258 lb

TEST NOTES: Four of the five stops were 171 or 172 feet, earning the A6 a fade rating of “none.” Lackluster braking distances, even with supercar-worthy P Zero rubber, overshadow the excellent consistency. The pedal remained firm and did not hint that the system was stressed.

BRAKING, 70 TO ZERO MPHFIRST STOP .................................... 168 ftSHORTEST STOP ......................... 171 ftLONGEST STOP ............................. 172 ftFADE RATING ................................ NONE

NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTSAudi has upped the aluminum parts in the A6. The hood, doors, front fenders, and trunk panels are all nonferrous. The 19-inch wheels are cast aluminum; the optional 20-inchers are forged.

tested by K.C. Colwell in Chelsea, Michigan

CURRENT BASE PRICE* dollars x 1000*Base price includes freight, any performance options, and applicable gas-guzzler tax.

M37535iA6PANAMERA

55 65 75 85

ACCELERATION 0–60 & 1/4-mile, seconds

PANAMERAA6 535i M37

5.0 5.5 6.0 13.0 13.5 14.0

FUEL ECONOMY EPA city and hwy mpg

535iA6 M37 PANAMERA

16 18 20 26 28 30

ROADHOLDING 300-foot skidpad, g

PANAMERAA6535iM37

0.82 0.87 0.92 0.97