Audi A6 Avant: First Look

By Motoring Channel Staff - 10/11/2004

Not wanting to disappoint prestige car buyers who love the new Audi A6's daring design and single frame grille, but who require more luggage space than offered by the saloon, Audi has unveiled the first images of its new A6 Avant, to be sold in Europe from March 2005.

With what the German automaker calls "countless innovations", Audi has high hopes for its BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class rival.

Featuring a unique button-operated tailgate opening mechanism, this practical design feature can be initiated by pressing the button on the car key fob, and the required opening angle can be infinitely varied according to Audi.

Providing locomotion for the new A6 wagon is a range of powerful engines, the lowliest of which is a 132kW 2.7-litre turbo diesel V6, while a naturally aspirated 4.2-litre petrol V8 sits atop the range.

As far as its design goes, it looks very much like its sedan/saloon sibling from the front with the trapezoidal single-frame radiator grille boldly proclaiming it an advanced Audi model.

The high shoulder line has been retained from the saloon, as has the narrow window area.

Where it differs is at the rear, where the decidedly horizontal design of the rearward structure, with the two-section rear lights curving well in towards the centre, give the vehicle an air of "sturdiness and stability".

The full range of engine options for the new A6 Avant is as follows:

• 4.2-litre V8, 246kW (335hp) and 420Nm

• 3.2-litre V6 FSI, 188kW (255hp) and 330Nm

• 2.4-litre V6, 130kW (177hp) and 230Nm

• 3.0-litre V6 TDI 165kW (225hp) and 450Nm

• 2.7-litre V6 TDI 132kW (180hp) and 380Nm

A choice of front-wheel or quattro permanent four-wheel drive will be offered and Audi claims that the A6 station wagons will be gifted with good driving dynamics thanks to the advanced suspension design and rigid bodyshell. Adaptive air suspension will also be offered.

In addition to the standard 6-speed manual gearbox, a 6-speed tiptronic item is also available, as is a multitronic (continuously variable transmission, or CVT) option.

Measuring 4.93 metres in length, 1.86 metres in width, and 1.46 metres in height, the new Audi A6 Avant will ship with other interesting features including two securing rails recessed into the floor of the 1.05 metre wide load area.

These 'rails' are fitted with four sliding, adjustable and lockable lashing eyes which, along with the luggage net fitted as standard, can be used to secure individual items of luggage of almost any size.

All A6 Avant versions have bag hooks integrated into the luggage compartment trim, as well as an additional luggage net to one side. A lockable side compartment can be supplied as an optional extra, for keeping objects hidden from prying eyes and the load area floor can even be folded up as a standard feature, and then locked in a variety of positions to divide up the load area.

This raise-able floor also provides access to the lower load area, where a large plastic tray is integrated, answering the question of where to put wet towels, swimmers or wetsuits after a day at the beach or any other dirty and/or smelly gear best kept in sealed isolation.

Other options include a cycle rack and a detachable ski/snowboard bag. Audi reckons it will be of particular interest to winter sports enthusiasts, since it allows equipment to be packed away effortlessly in the bag while outside the car, then stowed in the luggage compartment avoiding drips and dirt.