There is a real 'promise' in the long name of the latest generation of the Audi A6 Avant Allroad Quattro. In the history of the House of the Four Rings, the term Avant has always identified the models with wagon bodywork, but also refers to a world of space, comfort and versatility. Allroad (which means: for all roads) is instead the name attributed to the versions with off-road capability which - despite not having the grandeur of the SUV, are just as comfortable on the asphalt as on the ground, sand and rock, as if it were of a 'hard' off-road vehicle. The Quattro name needs no explanation, as it encompasses all of Audi's know-how in all-wheel drive systems, born for competitions and gradually developed to make driving on slippery surfaces safe and sporty. And what about that short abbreviation - A6 - which is identified with the leading model in its segment and which, thanks to the use of the latest evolution of the MLB platform (the same as the e-Tron electric SUV) offers a perfect balance between dimensions, internal spaciousness and technological refinement.
The A6 Avant Allroad Quattro therefore has the qualities to position itself as the ideal 'center of gravity' between the world of less ostentatious Audi flagships (such as the A6 sedan and the A7 4-door coupe), the luxury wagons (the A6 Avant and its sporting declinations). S) and the most popular SUVs and crossovers, such as Q5, Q7 and Q8. And he demonstrated it in a long test on itineraries of all kinds, from the highway to the city, from the countryside to the minor roads that often must be faced to discover the many 'secret' corners of our country.
The propulsive solution chosen for this model appears to be the 'ideal' one to combine the great dynamic qualities and the high autonomy that are typical of the latest generation TDI V6 3.0 engine with the advantages of the mild-hybrid 48 Volt system, which helps the thermal engine. to reduce emissions and - above all - guarantee access to ZTL and the other advantages of hybrid homologation. In traffic, but also when conditions allow for a more sporty ride, the V6 TDI - called 50 - shines in all its 'muscularity', which delivers 286 HP and which combines the values of consumption and emissions due to the presence of the Mild Hybrid system (5 , 8 liters per 100 km and 152 g / km of CO2) otherwise not obtainable in a 3 liter with these performance levels.
It should be remembered that the 48 Volt belt-driven alternator-starter MHEV system, equipped with a specific lithium-ion battery, allows up to 12 kW of power to be recovered in the release phases. A6 Avant can thus 'sail' with the engine off in a fork of speed between 55 and 160 km / h, while the start / stop is active from 22 km / h One of the secrets of the sporting behavior of this 'superdiesel' lies in the double supercharging with EAV (from the German Elektrisch Angetriebener Verdichter, that is, electrically operated compressor).
A refinement that can certainly not be seen from the outside or by opening the hood, but that is felt - and how - when the electric compressor pushes the air without delay as soon as the accelerator is activated, eliminating the problem of inertia of normal turbos . The Quattro all-wheel drive in combination with the 8-speed Tiptronic gearbox has also been promoted with flying colors, with a 'range' of ratios that meets every need. And the ability of this elegant wagon to transform itself into an 'almost' SUV is surprising.
A transformation made possible by the adaptive pneumatic suspensions, standard on all versions, which allow a maximum height clearance of 60 mm from the ground. The set-up obviously varies according to the speed and the program selected through the Audi Drive Select. Choosing the 'Auto' and 'Comfort' modes, the A6 Avant Allroad Quattro remains 13.9 cm above the ground but if you switch to 'dynamic' the car automatically lowers again (12.9 cm) to improve performance on asphalt and aerodynamics. By activating the 'Allroad' program, the ground clearance increases by 30 mm compared to the standard (up to 80 km / h) and, finally, by switching to 'offroad / lift' mode, the attitude is raised compared to the standard level of 45 mm .
But in this case great attention must be paid to the accelerator because the SUV effect remains active only below 35 km / h.
