Sicily is well known for its pleasant climate and natural beauty, but there is an even greater charm about this island in the Mediterranean Sea during the winter. And that is… there's hardly anybody here.
This means less traffic on those glorious mountain roads and more room for me to discover just how good the new Audi A6 is, which is what I am here for, not to fill my pockets with those ripe olives and oranges, as tempting as that may be.
The 2011 model and seventh generation A6 is much like Sicily in winter. It is beautiful, yet hardly anyone takes any notice of it. Why? Because they're too busy enjoying the E-Class or the 5 Series.
It's their loss, for this car, in my book, is as good as — if not better — than its compatriot rivals.
What gives?
At first sight, the German firm's executive saloon, which began life in 1968 as the 100, may look very similar to the outgoing A6. But that's only if your eyes aren't trained to spot the minuscule differences which, collectively, are huge.
However, a select group of the best (or rather, available) hacks pointed out that it looked like it had received the ‘photocopier treatment' and that it really was an Audi A4 but enlarged by 25 per cent. Or it could also be an A8, only squashed in size. That would be doing it a disservice.
The sober lines of the previous A6 have now been tweaked in favour of a hard-edged look. The narrow and jagged headlights which become wider towards the fenders are now very much up to date with the rest of the Audi range and, thankfully, it still features that big, smiley grille. The taillights have also been sharpened up, much like the whole profile of the car. Overall, it's now cleaner and sleeker than its predecessor. The sculpted bonnet, low roofline, short overhangs and the prominent belt line make for quite a dynamic appearance.
Stare at it head-on and it will blow you away with its LED eyes and striking expression. It looks a tad like an R8, and it seems as if it wants to eat you. It won't, for this A6, despite its mean looks, is a friendly fella. It's refined and classy and can do almost everything for you with all the impressive whiz-bangery onboard. And it's an extensive list too.
The new A6 is carrying less timber, thanks to the liberal use of aluminium high-tech alloys which make the chassis stiffer, stronger and safer, weighing around 15 per cent less than a conventional steel construction. The body is also less bulky than the dated previous generation, while it has shrunk in height and is lower but wider than the outgoing car. It measures in at 4,920mm long, 1,870mm wide and 1,460mm high — sporty proportions to say the least. It's athletic and elegant on the outside, and a computer nerd's dream on the inside.
Audi you like that?
Let me start by saying the interior of the A6 is magnificent. I don't know what inspires the designers, but whatever it is, it's working overtime. On almost every Audi, the interior simply blows you away. Nobody does it better. Each and every material has been selected and crafted with care.
The A6 features a delightful layered-wood veneer treatment on the centre stack and door trims. There are ample amounts of the smoothest and thickest leather which complements the soft, yet tough plastics and this is offset by subtle touches of chrome around the dials, gear lever and air vents.
The fat leather seats can be adjusted 18 different ways and feature a proper massage function that really does get to those painful areas. They have 10 air cushions and five programs to pamper you. Passengers in the back will be pleased with the generous amount of leg and headroom, while there's more than enough space in the 530-litre boot.
Now to the goodies, and a lot of the toys are controlled by the Multimedia Interface (MMI) system via the standard 6.5in screen which seemingly slides out from nowhere and rests on top of the centre console when you start the car. It has the customary Google Earth enabled sat-nav and as we've come to expect, the best 3D maps in the business, a night vision assist, a head-up display, park assist, active lane assist, wireless internet hub, active cruise control, a pre-sense safety system, a fingertip sensitive touch pad and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.
But all these fancy gadgets got me thinking. Are they all necessary? Call me old-fashioned, but if you can't keep in your own lane when you're driving down the road, then you shouldn't be out there at all. And if you can't see a pedestrian crossing the road in front of you, you are a danger to us all.
Close call
With all those sensors built into the bumper, not to mention a camera, is the A6 really that hard to negotiate between two other cars? I don't think so, but the gizmos are still fun to play with — even if you won't ever use half of them.
I have always questioned the use of technology against common sense. But, it actually came to my rescue at one point during my test drive.
Following two flights and a restless night in my hotel room, I was hardly in the mood to go for a long drive around the mountains. Anyway, I got behind the wheel and drove off with another journalist in the passenger seat. We were appreciating the stunning scenery and counted no less than 50 Fiat Pandas along the way when all of a sudden, the A6 ground to a screeching halt. While I was looking out of the window in my dazed and confused condition, I had failed to notice the Fiat 500 ahead of me, and I was perhaps no more than 1.5 metres away from it. Thankfully the A6's pre-sense kicked in and slammed on the brakes. The last thing I wanted was a crash. This was, after all, Mafioso territory.
The pre-sense system works in conjunction with the adaptive cruise control. In the grille sits a radar and sensors which judge distances ahead of it and if the driver forgets to brake in an emergency situation, the A6 remembers.
Smooth operator
The A6 has five different engines, of which we'll get two here in the UAE; a 2.8-litre FSI and a 3.0-litre V6 TFSI both with a seven-speed transmission, and it was the latter that I spent most of my time in. This unit packs 440Nm and 300bhp, 10 more than the previous model, and hits 0-100kph in just 5.5 seconds, being limited to a top speed of 250kph. It gets 34.5mpg and emits 190g/km of CO2. Those certainly are figures to boast about. The dual-clutch gearbox is a new addition to the line-up and it shifts gears effortlessly and smoothly; there's never a pause or delay, everything is lightning quick.
The Quattro permanent all-wheel drive system features a lightweight construction and has a crown-gear centre differential which distributes power 40:60 between the front and rear axle. It's geared up to be a sporty ride and it most certainly is.
I didn't drive like I was competing in the Targa Florio, but nevertheless it was very composed and when the surface became bumpy, it simply ironed out the creases.
It feels like it's had a lesson or two from Rolls-Royce about how to create the perfect suspension. It glides along unfussed, but when presented witha corner it doesn't become all mushy. It attacks bends efficiently with barely a suggestion of body roll. The A6 hasa vice-like grip in the corners while the electro-mechanical power steering is sharp and precise, offering reasonable feedback.
Its drive select package gives you a choice between auto, efficiency, comfort and dynamic settings — the latter being the most fun, stiffening up the steering and sharpening up the gearbox and throttle response.
This A6 is very comfortable and before you know it, you and up to four other passengers will be raking up the kays on the highway. The car offersa refined ride although you may think you've gone deaf because Audi says the cabin is the quietest in its class thanks to a sophisticated aeroacoustics system and extensive insulation.
Verdict
This new A6 is a sublime car and it seems to have it all — a gorgeous interior and exterior, luxurious rideand bags of kit. It's seriously comfortable but can be feisty too. My only concern is that it's a bit too similar to the Audi A8. It seems to lack an identity of its own but, regardless, it's still a great car.
Unlike a BMW or a Mercedes the A6 feels like it isn't trying as hard to impress, but it still does, and how! It's certainly on a par with its rivals and an understated yet chic machine, engineered to perfection. Best of all, it feels like it's alive, thanks no less to all those gadgets which don't take away the pleasure of driving as you might think — they simply enhance the fun.
Overall, the A6 is a massive step forward and when the time comes to revamp this, it'll take some doing.
The 3.0-litre TFSI V6 features an intelligent thermal management system which warms up engine oil and transmission fluid when the engine is started. Also, engine efficiency has been increased by adopting electro-mechanical power steering — eliminating the car's hydraulic power-steering pump.
Specs
Model Audi A6
Engine 3.0-litre V6
Transmission Seven-speed auto, AWD
Max power 300bhp @ 5,250rpm
Max torque 440Nm @ 2,900rpm
Top speed 250kph
0-100kph 5.5sec
Price Dh234,000
Plus Sharp exterior, lovely interior, superb drive
Minus Too similar to the A8
Rivals
BMW 5 Series
The 2011 535i has a lower roofline and a stretched wheelbase to give it a sleeker appearance, plus a 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six that makes 306bhp and 400Nm of torque — it'll also keep tree-huggers happy thanks to its cleaner emissions. The transmission is an eight-speed auto while the driving dynamics features three modes; Comfort, Normal and Sport.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Featuring an elegant design, the E-Class has a seemingly endless list of engines. They range from fuel-efficient diesels to high-performance AMG models. We like the V6-powered E350 since it offers decent performance and an ultra smooth ride. The 3.5-litre has 272bhp and 350Nm of torque and it's mated to a superb seven-speed auto transmission.
Tech sheet: the finer points
1 The optional air suspension with controlled damping adapts to the road surface automatically.
2 Audi pre-sense safety system is able to bring the car to a halt in emergency situations, thanks to a host of sensors and a camera.
3 Aerodynamic spoilers, panels and covers placed on the underfloor help reduce drag.
4 Standard equipment includes four-zone AC, wood inlays and a multifunction steering wheel with shift paddles.
5 Lighter and stronger body made from aluminium and high-tech steels reduces weight by 30kg.
