It's been over a year since Audi introduced the A6 Avant, and now the time has come to meet its Allroad sibling. The rugged wagon follows the tried-and-tested formula by lifting the suspension and making Quattro standard. However, there is one feature few saw coming. Yes, it has a wider body, a trait previously reserved for the flagship RS6.
The new Allroad looks like an A6 Avant on stilts because that's essentially what it is. Audi has increased ground clearance by 1.3 inches over the regular wagon. At the same time, the body is 4.3 inches wider, making it the first Allroad to have a beefier body than the donor car.
Both the front and rear axles have also been widened to accommodate wheels up to 21 inches, wrapped in 285/35 tires. If that's too much for off-road duties, the standard 19-inch setup comes with 265/45 tires, while the 20-inch alloys wear 275/40 rubber. Audi notes that the tires are wider than before.
View Price on AmazonMuch like all-wheel drive, rear-wheel steering comes out of the box. It turns the rear wheels up to 5 degrees at low speeds to improve maneuverability. At higher speeds, they turn in the same direction as the front wheels to enhance stability. Audi equips its go-anywhere wagon with a standard adaptive air suspension tuned specifically for Allroad duty.
For the first time in the history of Allroad models, Audi is offering a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It combines a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor for a total system output of 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The electrified setup helps the A6 Allroad hit 62 mph in 5.5 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.
The A6 Allroad E-Hybrid features a 20.7-kWh battery pack with an electric range of 59 miles in the WLTP combined cycle. Using AC charging at up to 11 kW, it takes two and a half hours to replenish the battery.
If you'd rather stick with a more traditional powertrain, the diesel option is the tried-and-true 3.0-liter V6 TDI with a mild-hybrid twist. The six-cylinder engine produces 295 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, enough for a 0–62 mph sprint in 5.4 seconds and the same 155 mph top speed as the plug-in hybrid.
Audi will have the new A6 Allroad at dealerships across Europe this fall. In Germany, prices start at $85,000 for the diesel and climb to $88,000 for the plug-in hybrid.
Source: motor1.com
