Driven: V6-powered Audi S6, S7 arrive

AUDI has continued its 2020 performance car onslaught with the arrival of the performance-enhanced S6 sedan and S7 Sportback pair, which arrive in local showrooms priced from $149,900 for the S6.

The S7 Sportback adds a nearly $10,000 premium over the S6, checking in at $159,500 plus on-roads.

Both models will wade into battle against the likes of the BMW M550i xDrive ($149,900), Mercedes-AMG E53 4Matic+ ($173,800) and the Maserati Ghibli S ($175,990).

Both new grades will serve as the performance flagships of their respective model lines before the arrival of the savage 441kW, V8-powered RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback later in the year.

While Audi’s Avant wagon body style will be applied to the RS6 and jacked-up Allroad, Audi Australia product planning manager Peter Strudwicke said the brand had no plans to bring an S6 Avant to Australia.

“We’re actually going to be introducing Avant body styles in the A6 range, and that will first take the form of the A6 Allroad which we’re launching later this month, we’ll be announcing the pricing and specification for that vehicle,” he said.

“And then of course we’ve got the RS6 which is exclusively available as an Avant, so both of those cars we’re really looking forward to. 

“Let’s see how the S6 sedan goes – I’d never say never but at this stage, there aren’t any plans.”

Likewise, Audi Australia also has no plans to offer the TDI S6 and S7 Down Under, which in other markets uses a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 with 48V mild-hybrid technology good for 257kW/700Nm.

Arguably the largest generational change with the outgoing version is the new engine, with both models swapping out the old 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a smaller 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 also found in the RS4 and RS5, however the S6 and S7’s mills also utilise a 48V mild-hybrid system.

Despite two less cylinders and over a litre less displacement, the bent-six makes the same amount of power as the old V8 – 331kW from 5700-6700rpm – while boasting 600Nm of torque from 1900-5000rpm, a 50Nm improvement over the outgoing model.

The 48V mild-hybrid system also features an electric-powered compressor (EPC) that can briefly add up to 7kW of boost at engine speeds up to 1650rpm, which the brand says can help reduce turbo lag.

Regenerative braking can also recover up to 8kW of power to recharge to 10Ah lithium-ion battery, which can allow for coasting functionality for up to 40 seconds and an overall fuel saving of up to 0.4 litres per 100km.

Like all Audi Sport models, the S6 and S7 employ quattro all-wheel drive, which when teamed to an eight-speed automatic transmission, help rocket the S6 from standstill to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds, with the S7 following 0.1s behind.

Official combined fuel consumption for the S6 is rated at 8.4 litres per 100km, up to 8.5L/100km in the S7.

Adaptive air suspension comes as standard, allowing both models to flick between a comfortable executive limousine and focused sportscar.

Audi Australia endeavoured to fit as much standard equipment as possible on the S twins, leaving only a small range of options.

From the outside the S6 and S7 are distinguished from their non-performance counterparts by a number of visual enhancements such as 21-inch alloy wheels, S trim elements with larger air intakes, black exterior styling package, standard LED matrix headlights, metallic paint, privacy glass, boot lip spoiler, red brake callipers and quad-exit exhaust pipes.

Inside, the S6 and S7 score Audi’s new MMI touchscreen infotainment system with dual 10.1-inch and 8.6-inch displays with haptic feedback, the 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, colour head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility and phone charging, Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, panoramic glass sunroof, automatic tailgate, soft-close doors, Valcona leather upholstery, S sports front seats with electric adjustment, heating and four-way lumbar support for the driver, multifunction sport steering wheel, four-zone climate control, ambient interior lighting, 40:20:40 split-fold rear seats, and for the first time, seating for five in the S7.

Standard active safety gear extends to adaptive cruise control with stop and go as well as traffic jam assist, Audi pre-sense front, Audi side assist with cross-traffic assist, collision avoidance assist, turn assist, intersection assist, active bonnet, tyre pressure monitoring and surround-view cameras.

Options include the $7700 Dynamic package, which adds the quattro sport differential, dynamic steering and all-wheel steering.

Through the first four months of the year, Audi sold 56 combined examples of the A6 and A7, representing a two-unit improvement over the same time last year.

2020 Audi A6 pricing*

2020 Audi A7 pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs