Audi's new executive estate keeps typical brand-traits alive

The launch schedule has been shaken up, the software is full of bugs and the new names and numbers for the cars every few weeks are puzzling. Yes, Audi hasn't exactly made it easy for its fans recently.

The Bavarians are, however, slowly getting back on track. They are launching one new car after another and this spring they will present the next generation of the A6 - first as an Avant estate starting at €58,000 at home in Germany and a few months later as a saloon, which will cost €3,000 less.

It is a bit hard to follow developments at Audi. After all, they already presented a "new" A6 e-tron as their first electric car for the business class last summer. They are now following this up with a second car for the combustion engine group with its own shape and a new, different format.

Fortunately for loyal Audi customers the new A6 feels pleasantly familiar and they will surely like the sharp looks and choice of petrol and diesel power-trains, with a PHEV in the pipeline.

The A6 is sleeker than ever before and, with a drag coefficient of 0.25, is the most streamlined combustion-powered estate car that Audi has so far made.

And as with all new models from Ingolstadt, there are innovative lighting effects, such as signature daytime running lights and tail lights which can be individually programmed.

But where rival German brands have gone for an ultra-modern or visionary look (or simply tried to grab attention with a dash of bling), Audi has opted for restrained, classic lines.

Inside the engineers have also maintained the right balance between tradition and technical avant-garde.

Things look and feel very familiar from other recent Audis, with the interior dominated by a dual- or triple-screen set-up.

Audi estate owners want space and pace and this powerful big car offers plenty of that: with a wheelbase of around 2.92 metres, even adults can sit comfortably in the rear and the boot has a capacity of 446 to 1,497 litres. Although this is slightly less than its predecessor - that is down to the improved aerodynamics - the rear section is now more practical with a better layout.

The large estate offers a dynamic driving experience although the smaller engines are missing some low-end grunt.

By the way, Audi uses the now well-known PPC platform for the A6. The platform and architecture for conventionally powered vehicles with longitudinally installed engines is called the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC).

The A6 is the first in the family to be equipped with rear-axle steering. This features a steering rack that can independently adjust the front and rear steering angles, depending on the driving situation.

At low speeds, the rear wheels turn up to five degrees in the opposite direction of the front wheels, reducing the turning circle. At higher speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels, improving stability. Overall it makes the car more agile and also easier to park.

Thanks to air suspension, the V6-powered A6 turns into a superior mileage muncher on the motorway although the set-up is a tad rough on back roads.

Audi is also trying to lure stingy fleet managers by offering two 2.0-litre engines, each delivering 150 kW/204 hp as a petrol and diesel. Big Audi estates tend to be popular with commercial travellers and other business owners in parts of Europe.

The V6 petrol unit is the best of the bunch. It produces 270 kW/367 hp from 3.0 litres of displacement and is even more engaging on the road. The unit comes as standard in the all-wheel drive Quattro version which can dash from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and reach speeds of up to 250 km/h

Oh yes: although it was explicitly made for the "old" combustion engine world, this car can also be driven electrically. As a mild hybrid, it will manage a few metres at crawling pace when manoeuvring and soon as a plug-in hybrid will have a much greater zero-emission range.

The design is not new, but the character hasn't changed either. The latest generation of the Audi A6 relies on tried and tested virtues, making it a recommendable high-end cruiser with plenty of storage space and even more status, thanks to its powerful engines, agile chassis and lively steering. It also craves a few bends from time to time. As a result, this car should appeals to both corporate customers and the family.