The most potent Audi V6 TDI ever to enter production powers executive class Audi models to 62mph in a fraction over five seconds and returns up to 44.1mpg
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Advanced new biturbo TDI engine heads diesel line-up in A6 Saloon, Avant, allroad quattro and A7 Sportback ranges – OTR prices from £43,810
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Available now in A6 Saloon and Avant and A7 Sportback, and later in 2012 in A6 allroad – first deliveries in spring
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313PS from 3,900-4,500rpm, 650Nm from 1,450 to 2,800rpm
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A6 Saloon 3.0 BiTDI quattro – 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds, governed 155mph top speed, combined MPG 44.1, CO2 169g/km
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Sound actuator in exhaust system accompanies remarkable performance with sports car exhaust note
Knockout punch in a velvet glove comes courtesy of a formidable new 313PS Audi biturbo TDI engine, which is now available for A6 Saloon and Avant and A7 Sportback models. The new twin-turbo V6 is notable not only for being the most powerful six-cylinder diesel engine ever offered by the Vorsprung durch Technik brand, but also the sweetest-sounding. Available now in A6 models priced from £43,810 OTR, and from £51,645 OTR in the A7 Sportback, it combines trademark Audi TDI refinement with an exhaust-mounted sound actuator that enables it to deliver its mighty 650Nm output to the tune of a distinctly sporting soundtrack.
Slotting in above the single-turbo 204PS and 245PS versions of the 3.0 TDI that already feature in the A6 and A7 Sportback ranges, the latest V6 has a two-stage turbocharger group that delivers a maximum boost pressure of up to 3.2 bar, helping the A6 3.0 BiTDI quattro Saloon to lunge at the horizon and pass the 62mph marker in as little as 5.1 seconds, and the A6 Avant and A7 Sportback to do the same in just 5.3 seconds. An electronically limited top speed of 155mph is common to all versions.
Like the existing TDI engines, the new star performer is backed up by technologies from the Audi modular efficiency platform, including start-stop and recuperation systems and the innovative thermal management system that quickly brings the coolant and oil up to their operating temperatures. With their help, combined economy in A6 and A7 Sportback models is on an equal footing at 44.1mpg – an impressive figure given the high outputs and low acceleration times involved.
Sound actuator
Thanks to an innovative actuator in the auxiliary channel of the exhaust system, the BiTDI A6 and A7 Sportback models don’t sound like they should be capable of such level-headed economy figures. The actuator system essentially consists of a speaker which imposes a defined oscillation pattern on the exhaust flow and transforms the typical TDI exhaust note into a more sonorous roar that is closer to the output of a high-performance petrol engine.
Without exception, power is transmitted from the BiTDI engine via an eight-speed tiptronic transmission to the latest generation quattro all-wheel-drive system, which features a self-locking centre differential and torque vectoring for optimum traction and stability. A sport differential which distributes power in continuously variable proportions between the rear wheels is available from the options list to sharpen and quicken response even further.
The mighty new BiTDI engine is available in conjunction with SE and S line specification in the A6 Saloon, A6 Avant and A7 Sportback. The forthcoming A6 allroad quattro, due to open for order in February, will also offer this exceptional unit.
Stand-out features common to all these models include satellite navigation linked to a 6.5-inch retractable colour monitor, Milano leather upholstery, the Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system controlling throttle response, transmission shift points and steering feel, the Audi parking system plus, light and rain sensors, cruise control and keyless go push-button engine ignition.
AUDI A6, A6 AVANT AND A7 SPORTBACK – UK OTR PRICING
| MODEL | TRIM | PS | TRANSMISSION | CO2 (g/km) |
ECONOMY mpg (Combined) |
OTR |
| A6 Saloon 3.0 BiTDI quattro | SE | 313 | 8 sp Tiptronic | 169 | 44.1 | £43,810 |
| A6 Saloon 3.0 BiTDI quattro | S line | 313 | 8 sp Tiptronic | 169 | 44.1 | £46,160 |
| A6 Avant 3.0 BiTDI quattro | SE | 313 | 8 sp Tiptronic | 169 | 44.1 | £45,650 |
| A6 Avant 3.0 BiTDI quattro | S line | 313 | 8 sp Tiptronic | 169 | 44.1 | £48,000 |
| A7 3.0 BiTDI quattro | SE | 313 | 8 sp Tiptronic | 169 | 44.1 | £51,645 |
| A7 3.0 BiTDI quattro | S line | 313 | 8 sp Tiptronic | 169 | 44.1 | £53,435 |
Picture caption
New Audi TDI engine takes two – A new biturbo TDI engine delivering 313PS and 650Nm of torque for searing performance, but also capable of up to 44.1mpg, is launched this week in Audi A6 Saloon, A6 Avant and A7 Sportback models. OTR prices start from £43,810.
Note to Editors
In 2011 Audi recorded its best ever worldwide result of 1,302,650 sales, a 19 per cent improvement over 2010. In the UK, 113,703 Audi models found homes last year, a 14 per cent increase on 2010. To sustain the technological lead embodied in its Vorsprung durch Technik slogan, the brand plans to invest €11.6 billion, mainly in new products, between 2011 and 2015. By this point, its range will have expanded from today’s 39 models to a total of 42. Recent additions, including the new generation A4 and A5 ranges and the Q3 compact SUV,will be joined by, among others, the A1 Sportback and the R8 e-tron, the first fully electric series production Audi model which arrives in late 2012. On the race circuit, Audi Sport has competed in the Le Mans 24 hour race 13 times since 1999, achieving a podium finish on all of these occasions as well as outright victory 10 times. In 2011, Audi won Le Mans with an entirely new TDI diesel-powered ‘closed’ coupe sports prototype, the Audi R18.
