There is an offshoot from this line - the Audi A7. It is an A6-series C7-series hatchback coupe, but sold under its own model designation. There is a sports version of this model called the Audi S6. In 2005, the Audi A6 overtook for the first time Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5 Series, which have long reigned in the business class car market. Other close competitors are the Kia Stinger, Subaru Legacy and Cadillac ATS.
The car is built on the Volkswagen Group C platform. The body is only in two versions - as a 4-door sedan or a 5-door station wagon (Avant). Front wheel drive or all wheel drive solution. Both petrol and diesel engine versions are officially supplied. As for other models, a very wide range of motors is presented.
Audi C4 (1994—1997)
In 1994 the latest generation of C4 (Typ 4A) Audi 100 restyled and renamed Audi A6 to fit into new Audi alphanumeric nomenclature (because in the same year a full-size car was introduced Audi A8). The first A6 received new front and rear lights, a grille, as well as a choice of chassis, engine and transmission. Body only 4-door sedan or 5-door station wagon.
As always, a huge choice of powertrain. Petrol engines 4-cylinder 1.8 and 2.0 liters capacity from 99 to 138 hp, 5-cylinder 2.2 (Turbo) and 2.3 liters with a capacity of 227 and 131 hp. respectively, 6-cylinder V-shaped engine with a volume of 2.4 to 2.8 liters, power from 148 to 190 hp, as well as an 8-cylinder V-shaped engine with a volume of 4.2 liters or more with a capacity of 286 hp. Diesel engines are all turbocharged with direct injection of 1.9 and 2.5 liters with a capacity of 89 to 138 hp.
Of the transmissions, three options are available - a 5 or 6-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic.
Audi C5 (1997—2004)
In February 1997, the new A6 was announced (Typ 4B) based on the new Volkswagen Group C5 automotive platform with a new range of internal combustion engines, and the car itself appeared in March 1997 at the Geneva Motor Show. A qualitatively new level allowed to compete with the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Body shape in the form of a 4-door sedan or 5-door station wagon.
A redesigned body with a modern design, fastback style that sets the trend for the entire Audi range. This led to an increase in cabin space and a decrease in the drag coefficient, which amounted to 0.28.
In 2000 and 2001 «C5» A6 has been listed «The best» magazine «Car and Driver». In 2002, they carried out a facelift - they redesigned the headlights and radiator grilles, exposed exhaust pipes and small changes in body accessories. New engines were also introduced.
Of the motors, as always, there is something to choose from. Petrol - 4-cylinder with a volume of 1.8 and 2.0 liters with a capacity of 125 to 150 hp, 6-cylinder V-shaped with a volume of 2.4 to 3.0 liters with a capacity of 165 to 247 hp, 8-cylinder V- figurative volume of 4.2 liters with a capacity of 295 hp. Diesel - 4-cylinder 1.9-liter capacity from 110 to 131 hp, 6-cylinder V-shaped 2.5-liter capacity from 150 to 179 hp, all turbocharged with direct injection.
Five transmission options - 5 or 6-speed manual, 5-speed automatic, CVT «Multitronic» and a 5-speed automatic with a system «Tiptronic».
Audi C6 (2004—2011)
Next A6 (Typ 4F) was released in 2004. Designed by Japanese designer Satoshi Wada in 2001. Visually, this model looks like an evolution of the C5, but the length has been increased by 131 mm, and the grille has taken on a tall inverted trapezoid shape, as on all Audi models. Like other modern Audis, the A6 has «tornado line», which runs from the headlights to the rear lights just below the side windows. Body shapes also remained in the form of a 4-door sedan or 5-door station wagon.
The most notable innovation is the multimedia interface (MMI), which is a system that controls audio and video, satellite navigation, climate control, vehicle settings such as suspension configuration, and other functions through a central screen interface. This minimizes the number of buttons on the dashboard by replacing them with controls that control multiple devices using the built-in display.
On internal combustion engines, a new technology of direct fuel injection was introduced «Fuel Stratified Injection» (FSI). There was only one 4-cylinder gasoline engine left - a 2.0-liter capacity of 170 hp, four 6-cylinder V-shaped volumes from 2.4 to 3.2 liters with a capacity of 177 to 252 hp, and two 8-cylinder V -shaped with a volume of 4.2 liters with a capacity of 335 and 350 hp. The diesel 4-cylinder also remained alone - with a volume of 2.0 liters with a capacity of 140 hp, the remaining 6-cylinder V-shaped volumes of 2.7 and 3.2 liters with a capacity of 161 to 236 hp.
There are three types of gearboxes - 6-speed mechanics, 6-speed automatic «Tiptronic» and variator «Multitronic» with a possibility of the manual choice of 7 speeds.
On August 12, 2008, Audi introduced the updated C6 model at the Moscow International Motor Show. The update includes some modern Audi touches to keep the look in line with the rest of the car lineup.
Audi C7 (2011—2018)
Fourth generation Audi A6 C7 series (Typ 4G) was launched in early 2011 for the European market and other markets soon after. His appearance was greatly influenced Audi A8 (D4). From the A6 of this generation, the five-door hatchback coupe Audi A7 separated (Typ 4G8), which was released shortly before, also in 2011. Compared to the A8 and A7, the A6 has a more aggressive front end and LED headlights. Design work on the A6 began in 2006, with an exterior design by Jürgen Loeffler selected in 2008.
The new A6 has increased its wheelbase by almost 3 inches (76 mm) and its width by 2.7 inches (69 mm). The redesign also allowed the vehicle's drag coefficient to reach 0.25. Body shapes also remained in the form of a 4-door sedan and a 5-door station wagon.
The 2012 A6 model year includes all driver assistance systems from the A8, plus head-up display, active lane assist, full LED headlights with auto high beam or adaptive beam with adjustable high beam range (xenon).
Petrol engines - 4-cylinder 2.0-liter 178 and 208 hp, 6-cylinder V-shaped from 2.5 to 3.0 liters with a capacity of 190 to 306 hp. Diesel - 4-cylinder 2.0 liters with a capacity of 177 hp, 6-cylinder V-shaped 3.0 liters with a capacity of 204 to 309 hp, all turbocharged with direct injection.
An updated version of the C7 appeared at the Paris Motor Show in 2014. The update includes styling tweaks to the car's appearance, engine management system, transmissions and MMI infotainment system with a faster Tegra 3 processor, handwriting recognition, modern 4G mobile internet, online GPS map updates and improved Matrix LED headlights..
Audi C8 (2018-present)
Fifth generation business sedan Audi A8 C8 (factory code Typ 4K) was presented at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 2018 and went on sale in June 2018. In March, a station wagon version was introduced. In the following 2019, the long-wheelbase Audi A6L was introduced in January, the sports Audi S3 in April and the station wagon-based A6 allroad quattro in June. The car is based on a platform «MLB evo», which is used for almost all Audi models of these years of production, as well as for Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne 3 and VW Touareg 3. The dimensions of the sedan and station wagon were: length 4939 mm, width 1886, height 1457 mm, wheelbase 2924 mm and curb weight 2230-2310 kg.
Standard equipment includes LED driver-assistance system headlights, four-wheel steering and Level 3 autonomous driving, which is currently inactive due to current legislation. Interior systems are controlled using touch screens, but mechanical controls remain. All touch screens also have haptic feedback. In a crash test conducted by Euro NCAP in 2018, the car received five stars.
Gasoline engines are represented by the following models - 2.0 liters (1984 cm3, VW EA888, I4, 245-265 hp), 3.0 liters (2995 cm3, EA839, V6, 340 hp), 3.0 liters (2894 cm3, EA839, V6, turbo, 450 hp) and 4.0 liters (3996 cm3, EA825, V8, turbo, 600 hp). Diesel engines were installed with a volume of 2.0 liters (1968 cm3, EA288evo, I4, 163-204 hp), 3.0 liters (2967 cm3, EA897evo2/3, V6, 231-344 hp). The transmission is either a seven-speed S-Tronic or an eight-speed tiptronic. Most models have a mild hybrid drive scheme.