This year has been a game-changer for Audi in India. Not only has Audi been launching a new model almost every month, the Ingolstadt-based company also became the number one player in the Indian luxury car space for the first time in the first quarter of 2013, and recorded sales of 4,846 cars in the January-June 2013 period. And on July 12?days after rival Mercedes-Benz launched the new E-Class in India?Audi brought to the country the S6, which is the sporty version of its A6 sedan.
The engine
The car is powered by a 4.0-litre TFSIq V8 twin turbo engine that churns out 420 bhp and comes with the quattro all-wheel drive. Features on the S6 sedan include a seven-speed S-tronic transmission, adaptive sport air suspension and quad exhaust outlets. A unique feature in the car is the cylinder-on-demand technology that automatically shuts down four of the eight cylinders when they are not required, thereby producing lower emissions and ensuring better fuel efficiency. Additionally, the active noise cancellation feature compensates for the noise interference inside the cabin depending on the in-cabin noise and engine sound.
Inside
While the car gets a sporty heart, the S6 is, after all, a luxury vehicle. And Audi has taken care not to compromise its luxury quotient?makes sense because it is in the traffic where the car will mostly be used, not on the track. The S6 has a four-zone air conditioner, parking aid, seats with memory functions for the driver, sun blinds, lighting packages, etc. The three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with the ?S? logo is particularly nice to hold. Then there is the driver information system with a 3.5-inch colour display on the centre console.
The drive
I spend two hours with the S6 at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, and came back impressed with the way Audi has mixed comfort with sportiness. While the sedan is capable of racing from 0 to 100 kmph in a blink-and-you-miss 4.6 seconds and touches a top speed of 250 kmph, the adaptive sport air suspension ensures it remains comfortable. Then, the S-tronic transmission ensures that gear shifts are smooth. Also, the quattro permanent four-wheel system insures your drive remains agile.
The S6 is essentially a sports vehicle for everyday driving and is a brave effort from Audi to attract new customers. But it remains to be seen how many will actually find the S6 attractive enough, considering the fact that it is priced at a steep Rs 85,99,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
