Autocar 28/02/2018

IT’S BEEN A long time since a new Audi was an Autocar cover star, an indication that the enthusiast appeal of its cars has diminished in recent years. There’s no doubting the quality and technological excellence of Audi’s recent generation of models, but the Russian doll styling has spread to the dynamics in that time. There just hasn’t been that sparkle, polish or feel-good factor that rivals such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar provide so routinely. But a new era has at last emerged. Or so we’re told. It o.cially started with the A8 and the A7 – cars designed with luxury in mind over flair, but under three successive development bosses in the wake of Dieselgate. So the new A6, detailed on p8, is the new Audi. Not only a new look…

“The eighth-generation A6, on sale in June, will be available with mild-hybrid engines only” Audi believes its all-new A6 saloon is finally the car to usurp the BMW 5 Series as champion of the ultra-competitive executive saloon class, thanks to its complete reinvention inside and out, with a new look, fresh technology and a bolstering of its sporting appeal. The eighth-generation A6, on sale in June, will be available with mild-hybrid engines only – much like the recently launched A7 – and will later offer a plug-in hybrid as “bridge technology” to pure electric. For now, the new executive saloon will be offered with four engine options: a V6 3.0-litre TFSI petrol and three diesels, a 2.0-litre TDI and a 3.0-litre TDI in two states of tune. The 3.0 TFSI and 2.0-litre TDI use…

When a car maker is telling you about its new car, it’s customary for it to tell you about the most important features first. So here we are with the new Audi A6: a 10.1in interface screen, another 8.6in digital display below and a 12.3in digital instrument panel too. Audi Connect, haptic response, head-up display. To follow: driver assistance systems: park pilot, tour assist, efficiency assist. In the end, though, there it is: the suspension. All-wheel steering to combine “the agility of a sports car with the manoeuvrability of a compact car”. This is an increasingly popular technology, and given there are dynamically deft cars in the segment, in the rear-drive BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, with arguably more superior weight distribution and chassis balance, that sounds like a pretty…

What was your goal in designing the A6? “It is the third car with Audi’s new design language after the A8 and A7. We have been criticised in the past for not differentiating our cars’ designs enough. Now, we give every car its own character. Our aim was to make the most sporty car in the segment.” How have you achieved that differentiation? “It has more muscular looks and a lower shoulder line than its siblings. The shoulder line leads towards the wheel, accentuating quattro [Audi’s four-wheel drive system], which is different to the A8. The grille is similar yet has different dimensions to the A8 and A7 and the front and rear light graphics are unique to the A6. The A7 and A8 have a light band across the rear. Instead, the…

Seat’s new stand-alone performance brand, Cupra, has revealed its 296bhp all-wheel-drive version of the Ateca – the first model to be launched since Seat confirmed its hot subbrand’s new role last month. The car is part of a broader offensive to offer Cupra versions of some Seat models as well as, eventually, Cupra-only cars. Seat is trying to copy the example of in-house performance divisions like Renault Sport. Cupra models will be based on Seats – for the foreseeable future, at least – but with significantly higher performance, more customisation options and a separate sales channel. Only about one-fifth of Seat’s dealer network will be awarded Cupra sub-franchises and models are set to be sold by specialists from Cupra-only areas. Autocar first reported on the plans last year, when a draft of…

What does a Cupra brand do that Seat Cupra models can’t? “We want to say the best from Seat comes from Cupra, a brand belonging to Seat and connected to Seat but more determined, more focused.” Will we see Seat models launched as Cupras in future, with mainstream versions following? “Yes, probably. We are in the middle of our biggest product offensive, with many more models coming by 2020. Why not start some of those in a special Cupra style?” Will there be Cupra versions of most Seat models? “Not most. For the beginning, we will concentrate on Ateca and Leon. We see potential for the smaller cars but we have to look at financial feasibility… If there is room, then I would like to do it, but the smallest would be the Ibiza. Below…