DESIGN

The exterior of the new A6 represents the new design language, which Audi premiered in the A8. While the A8 stands for prestige and the A7 for progressiveness in Audi’s new premium class design language, the new A6 exudes technical elegance. The signature of the HD Matrix LED headlights visualizes the Sedan’s high level of technology. In the interior too, the new A6 reinforces the brand claim “Vorsprung durch Technik.” The A6 offers this with the black-panel design on the instrument panel, which creates a flowing transition between display and trim panel. This is the most modern interior in its class at present. The numerous trim variants allow wide-ranging characters to make their mark, from elegant through sporty.

Exterior design

The new Audi A6 is 4,939 meters (16.2 ft) long, 1,886 meters (6.2 ft) wide and just 1,457 meters (4.8 ft) high. The exterior stands out with its balanced proportions, visually shorter overhangs, athletically taut surfaces, sharply defined edges and striking lines.

The Sedan’s Singleframe grille is wider and set down lower than on the predecessor model. It conveys an initial impression of technological expertise. Large, side air inlets with functional air curtains emphasize the Sedan’s sporty character; pronounced contours bring them to a finish lower down.

Seen from the side too, the design of the A6 is tauter than before. A contour stretches across the top section of the sheet metal body, which starts as an edge in the hood and ends at the rear as a separating edge. The defining theme on the sides is the quattro sculpture, represented by striking muscles above the wheel arches – a throwback to the blisters of the Audi Ur-quattro. The arched shoulder line runs slightly lower across the doors. In the associated lower section, pronounced sideblades emphasize the dynamic side view.

A characteristic domed arch dominates the roofline of the new Audi A6. The C-pillar is much flatter and the entire window line much more dynamic than before. The entire center of the car sits centrally between the axles. At the rear a chrome strip emphasizes the impression of width of the A6 and provides a link between the two rear lights. The wedge-shaped rear lights, which end externally in vertical segments, also contribute to the impression of width. They are part of the rear sculpture and with their aerodynamic finishing touches attest to the Sedan’s high-tech character.

The paint range for the new Audi A6 includes the exterior colors Brilliant Black, Daytona Gray, Firmament Blue, Floret Silver, Glacier White, Ibis White, Carat Beige, Mythos Black, Navarra Blue, Seville Red, Soho Brown, Typhoon Gray and Tango Red. If required, the customer can also order customized paint finishes.

A choice of five different trim variants are available for maximum custom options: As an alternative to the basic version, Audi offers the sport, design, design selection lines and S line sport package.

Lighting design

With the headlights, customers of the new Audi A6 have a choice of three variants. They all feature LED technology. The first option features the Matrix LED headlight with adaptive high beam, which consists of seven different modules. As an extension of the second bar in the Singleframe, they are split horizontally; the dominant top section accommodates the indicator, the daytime running lights and the pupil-like dipped beam modules. The daytime running light signature underlines the technical character of the A6; configured from five spatially tiered light guides and backlight LEDs, it provides very homogeneous illumination.

The top-of-the-line option is the HD Matrix LED headlights with the multi-row high beam, which consists of 32 individual light segments altogether. It also features a dynamically controllable dipped beam. The lighting control system provides a fully variable switch between dipped and high beam. The bottom zone of the headlight, which visually tends to fall into the background, houses the turning light and the two-row Matrix high beam. In each unit 32 LEDs dynamically and precisely illuminate the road, masking out other road users from the cone of light. The LEDs also act as cornering lights.

The rear lights are available in two versions. In the top-of-the-line variant (from Matrix LED headlights) the tail light is digital: Nine vertical, three-dimensional light fins on each side illuminate the tail light. When braking, the brake light fills the spaces between them. The indicator, in this case a dynamical indicator, is located at the top edge of the lights. When unlocking the doors and locking them again at the end of the journey, dynamic light sequences run briefly in the rear lights and the headlights where with HD Matrix LED headlights are fitted.

Two different lighting concepts exist for the interior lighting: the ambient lighting package and the ambient contour lighting package. With the latter, the soft ambient light makes the instrument panel, the doors and the center console appear to float in the dark. The contour light traces the broad lines; the quattro badge on the glove compartment cover is also backlit. The customer can choose from up to 30 different lighting colors in the top-of-the-line specification. The lighting concept enhances comfort and well-being of driver and passengers, particularly on long journeys in the dark and therefore crucial for high-mileage drivers and commuters. Illuminated door sill trims (standard with S line sport package, S line exterior package and the design selection) round out the range.

Interior design

The new Audi A6 offers the most modern interior design in its class and underscores Audi’s leading role in this discipline. The MMI touch response operating system in the black-panel design fuses together interior architecture and user interface. The instrument panel appears light and sleek with its strictly horizontal orientation and its tiered structure. The driver and front passenger experience a generous space in which the architecture fuses seamlessly with the user interface. The top MMI touch response display is incorporated almost invisibly into the black-panel architecture – a geometrically independent sculpture surrounded by an aluminum-look frame.

The console on the center tunnel is directed at the driver and also finished in the black-panel look. It houses the bottom display for the climate functions, below there is a row of buttons for functions such as Audi drive select and the hazard warning lights. The doors also feature pronounced three-dimensional styling. Elongated decorative trim that gives the entire area the feeling of a lever, splits it in the middle and incorporates the switch strip for the seat memory function.

Colors and materials

Audi offers a wide range of colors and materials for the new A6, which accentuates the atmosphere of contemporary, timeless luxury in its very own way. Five trim lines are available: basic, sport, design, design selection (with 19-inch wheels and contour/ambient lighting package) and the S line sport package (with 19-inch wheels and sport suspension). There are also various color schemes for the interior – the dark color schemes emphasize sportiness, while the light schemes pick out the width of the interior, which is divided up into three color zones.

With the fine-wood inlays – fine grain ash, fine grain birch and walnut – the open-pore, near-natural finish contrasts harmoniously with the interior’s lounge character. The decorative trims are assigned to the trim lines; besides wood the customer has a choice of aluminum in two different finishes.

There is also a wide range of options for the seat upholstery. The customized contour seats are in top-quality Valcona leather, optionally with piping and fine perforation. The S sport seats are also in Valcona leather or a combination of leather and Alcantara; a rhombus pattern and embossed S logo adorn the top ends of the rear seatbacks. The materials have been selected with the utmost care and used on the handcrafted manufacturing level. That way, Audi underscores its leading position with the interior design and workmanship.

All terms marked in the text are explained in detail in the technology lexicon at www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/technology-lexicon.

The equipment, data and prices specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.