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A car that offers absolute comfort, pleasure and speedThere was a time in the early 1990s when Audi was in a spot of trouble, but no one even vaguely remembers the details of that time because since the launch of the original A4 in 1996, the company has been releasing one stunning car after the other, year after year, across its range.
Its sales success has been so phenomenal that in 2008, the brand sold over one million units. Not bad for a recession year. And the latest A6 sure looks to continue that trend.
Some cars simply exude a sense of menace, and the A6 3.0 TFSI that BBQ test-drove – quite possibly one of the finest petrol engines we have had the pleasure of reviewing – is definitely one of those. It is monstrous, but we mean that in the nicest way possible.
What makes this worse (or better, depending on your point of view) is that the car looks ever the composed, stately mid-sized executive sedan. It is a beautiful car, with smooth yet bold lines that advertise its comfortable interior. But do not let the looks fool you. The throaty growl that emanates from its 160kW engine is almost begging you to put down your foot a little harder on that accelerator. A less responsible person could easily be lulled into doing just that.
While the driver may battle to hold him or herself back, the A6 is perfectly capable of restraint. Day-to-day driving is a singular joy, unlike so many other cars with ferocious engines. Its apt handling of stop/start rush-hour traffic is a credit to its manufacturer’s ability.
But still, this is a car for the open road and one that wants to be driven. It is very much the tempestuous stallion that simply wants to run, but it is also obedient enough to slow down when it is required.
A lovely car, no doubt. Just do not allow its enthusiasm to overwhelm you.
Zaid Kriel
