Rusty A. Schlacke
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
'95 A6 quattro (5 speed)
************************
02/03/98
The Audi A6 Avant
With its new A6 Avant, Audi once again provides
proof of its competence and the leading role it
plays as a manufacturer on the market for top
quality estate cars.
Over the last 20 years the A6 Avant has
advanced to become by far the most successful
car in its segment. More than 400,000 of these
large luxury estate cars have been delivered to
customers. Recently the Avant has accounted for
a share of more than 40 per cent of total A6
model-line sales.
Since its launch in 1977, the Avant product line
has set the standards time and time again. With
its exceptional level of technology and
trend-setting design it has given new status to the
luxury estate car segment and pushed
development further forward with each new
generation. With what now amounts to the fourth
generation the tradition of top quality
workmanship, technology and design is being
pursued and the unique character of the Avant
product line displayed yet again in an impressive
manner. Once again the new A6 Avant is not only
unmistakably an Audi, but an authentic Avant too:
a car for every task, a luxury "saloon" with a high
level of functionality in terms of all visible and
perceptible details, workmanship of outstanding
quality and high-grade materials. With its unique
design it once again lives up to our slogan:
Beautiful estate cars are called Avant.
The elegant, compact impression made by the
A6 Avant's silhouette is a result of the interplay
between the well-known design elements
originally seen in the saloon and the supreme
manner in which the designers have dealt with the
surfaces and curve radii. The dominant rear end,
exciting contours and distinctive lines generate
many new optical stimuli and ensure a high
degree of product identification.
The Audi A6 Avant convinces not only on account
of its design identity, but also, in this perfect
package, by a high degree of flexibility and
variability. Superlative modern engines, driveline
concepts to suit the enthusiast and the exemplary
active and passive safety of the Audi A6 Avant
round off the overall picture.
Over and above this, the A6 Avant has exemplary
all-round features to offer. Within the same overall
length as the Audi A6 saloon, the A6 Avant has a
load area of 1590 litres with the rear seat folded
down. The variable load area, which owners of an
estate car know only too well to value, can be
accessed in a more straightforward manner than
on the previous model and, as a result, ensures a
greater degree of functionality. The maximum
through-loading width of the tailgate opening
measures 1154 millimetres, the width between
the wheel arches is 1056 millimetres and the
maximum load-area length with the rear seat
folded down is 1884 millimetres.
Fuel consumption and performance are almost
identical with comparably equipped A6 saloons.
In terms of aerodynamics, the Audi A6 Avant also
qualifies for top marks. The drag coefficient cD is
0.29 and the frontal area measures 2.19 square
metres.
The excellent value-for-money offered by the
previous model has undergone systematic
improvement. The comprehensive range of
standard equipment well known from the saloon
model is also supplied in the Audi A6 Avant. It
includes central locking with remote control,
electric windows at front and rear, automatic
lap-and-diagonal seat belts with pyrotechnic
tensioners for all five seats and front and side
airbags. Apart from this, the standard equipment
includes: ABS (anti-lock braking system), EDS
(electronic differential lock), fog lights, five
lightweight aluminium wheels, an outside
temperature display, a comprehensive interior
lighting package and an elastic luggage net. The
fully-automatic air conditioning system, available
as an option at no extra charge, rounds off this
exceptional product offer.
In addition to this, the Avant is equipped with a
split, folding rear seat back, a load area cover
designed for one-hand operation, a dividing net,
a luggage net, roof rails (polished metal or black)
and a power socket in the load area. The lighting
package now includes a bi-functional lamp in the
tailgate, which displays a red light to the rear and
a white one downwards.
Audi A6 Avant models are available, like the Audi
A6 saloon, with three identically-priced decor
lines: Advance, Ambition and Ambiente.
A load restraining net with lashing straps is
available as an optional extra, as will be the Multi
Load system from the early summer onwards.
Integrated into the load area, extendable and
easy-to operate, it is intended for transporting
bicycles or fragile goods in robust aluminium
boxes. Another innovation is the backward-facing
child's bench seat, which effectively transforms
the A6 Avant into a seven-seater.
The well known range of engines from the
saloons will also be on offer for the Avant. With
the exception of the four-cylinder TDI all Audi A6
Avant engines can be ordered together with
either front-wheel drive or quattro permanent
four-wheel drive, and with manual gearbox or
automatic transmission. The new top engine for
the Audi A6 model line is the 2.7 litre six-cylinder
biturbo, with its abundant torque characteristic. In
the A6 Avant this unique power plant develops
169 kW (230 bhp) and delivers its maximum
torque of 310 Nm between 1700 rpm and 4600
rpm. This most powerful A6 Avant is available
either with front-wheel drive and tiptronic
transmission or as a quattro model with either
six-speed manual gearbox or five-speed
tiptronic.