Audi cuts $9000 from A6 3.0 TDI

AUDI Australia has cleared space for the imminent arrival of its potent twin-turbo 3.0 A6 Biturbo diesel by trimming up to $9000 from the prices of all regular six-cylinder A6 sedan variants.

The price cuts come as part of a 2013 model year revamp that includes a power upgrade for the 3.0 TFSI petrol and a sizeable torque increase for the 3.0 TDI diesel.

Leading the charge is the 3.0 TDI quattro which, at $107,500 plus on-road costs, is $9000 cheaper than before.

The 3.0 TFSI petrol V6 now retails for $114,000 (down $7000), while the 2.8 FSI V6 drops to $91,000 (down $2400) while gaining a rear-view parking camera as standard equipment.

Neither the 3.0-litre petrol or diesel variants get extra specification, although the TDI is now available with a $4950 Technik pack that brings a 360-degree top-view camera, LED headlights with high-beam assist, four-zone air-conditioning and an electric glass sunroof.

The engine tweaks yield an extra 8kW from the 3.0-litre TFSI V6 (now producing 228kW and 440Nm of torque), while the oil-burning TDI now produces 580Nm of torque – up a whopping 80Nm. Power is unchanged at 180kW.

Neither the four-cylinder A6 2.0 TFSI ($77,900) nor 2.0 TDI ($78,900) sedans get price cuts or specification changes.

Wagon versions with the same 2.0-litre engines also remain unchanged, priced from $81,800 and $82,900 respectively.

Audi Australia managing director Uwe Hagen said the price cuts would not only help A6 sales – volume was down 8.6 per cent in 2012 – but would also free up space at the top of the range, allowing the company to bring the fire-breathing Biturbo in at a sharper starting point.

“We are constantly striving to offer our customers additional value and we believe that the new MY13 A6 sedan range presents them with an even more compelling purchase reason,” he said.

“This new pricing structure will also allow the new A6 3.0 TDI Biturbo performance model to enter the market in a very strong position when it arrives in February.” The Biturbo V6 hit Europe in February 2012 with some impressive statistics, including peak power of 230kW between 3900 and 4500rpm, and 650Nm of torque from 1450 to 2800rpm.

This produces a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 5.1 seconds (a full second faster than the single-turbo 3.0 TDI) while fuel consumption is only 0.4 litres per 100km higher at 6.4/100km.

The addition of the Biturbo A6 will be one of several new high-octane Audi models hitting local showrooms in 2013, with other niche performance models including the RS4 Avant (February), SQ5 TDI (May), RS5 Cabriolet (July) and RS6 Avant (October).