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The Audi S6 from the right side.
There’s something about an Audi. When it’s the 2023 Audi S6 Quattro, it’s always something more. This is a hunkered down midsized sport sedan that looks bad-assed, drives that way and has the sound to back it up, too. Napleton News will always jump at the chance to sample one of Ingolstadt, Germany’s finest. Today was no exception.
The Audi S6 is the tarted-up brother of the A6 sedan. Instead of a mild-mannered 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, we have a 444-horsepower 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6. It’s a 48-volt mild hybrid system that kicks in an electric supercharger for a swift kick down the road. Twist-wise, it pumps out 442 lb-ft of torque. It’s lost 6-hp over the previous generation’s V8 engine, but we’re betting you won’t notice it. It takes up nearly every square inch of underhood real estate, but boy, is it worth it.
An eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission with Audi Quattro four-wheel drive system is standard, and our tester was ordered with Dynamic all-wheel steering to help make those sweeping turns even shorter.
Like a three-box sedan that doesn’t look boxy, the new Audi S6 Q offers a new look at swoopy. It’s similar in structure and equipment to the fastback S7 but with a more conventional trunk. The grille is blacked out, which to our eyes may be just a bit too blacked out, if that is possible. Seriously, it needs some flash or bling to make the front end a bit brighter.
Our sampler included the Design Edition package which added 21-inch V-spoke design alloy wheels with summer sport tires. It also featured the S Sport Package with the dynamic all-wheel steering, red brake calipers, sport exhaust and a sport rear differential.
It’s a tidy look that definitely draws second looks.
If you want to know what a good interior should look like, take a look at this one. Well-tailored leather, trimmed with red contrast stitching, LED interior lighting and a leather-wrapped dashboard and center console. There’s even an in-cabin fragrance dispenser, but we never got a whiff. There’s also a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system. Finish it with the available night vision system that helps locate pedestrians and animals in the dark.
The S6 incorporates Audi’s 10.1 inch infotainment touchscreen sits above the HVAC controls. They could be easier to operate, rather than requiring a substantial push that we experienced. We really dig Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital gauge system. A push of a button is all it takes to change the display screen. Our favorite is the setting that reduces the size of the gauges and displays map and route directions within the gauge binnacle.
The seats offered comfort for extended bouts behind the wheel but honestly, when a vehicle is this well-sorted, you’ll never want to get out of it.
As we mentioned above, there’s no V8 under the hood of the S6 anymore, but that doesn’t really matter. The lighter weight of the new 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 gives roughly the same power to weight ratio as the old version, with the bonus of added fuel savings.
A push of the starter is all it takes to get things moving with the S6 Quattro. A slight jab of the accelerator releases the parking brake that grabs when you place and turn it off on an incline. The sound of the V6 is not really aggressive, nor is it docile. It’s somewhere in between.
Once we are underway, the S6 offers everything you could possibly want in a sports sedan. Acceleration is gonzo, although the pitch of the engine is a bit pitchy for our tastes. But this four-door rocket does tend to skedaddle right quick. Throw it into a corner to see what real handling feels like, thanks to the adaptable air suspension and the lowered stance of this car.
What we really appreciate about this S6 is the subtle way it goes about its business. Talk about talking softly and carrying a big stick. This Audi is packing a wallop.
| 2023 Audi S6 Quattro Specifications | ||
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine Type | 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged Gas/Electric V6 | |
| Horsepower | 444 hp @ 5,900 rpm | |
| Torque | 442 lb-ft @ 2,900 rpm | |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic transmission | |
| Fuel Economy | 22 mpg (19 city/26 hwy) | |
| Suspension F/R | Multilink/Multilink | |
| Turning Circle | 39.7 ft. | |
| Also Available | Varying trim levels, Audi A6 | |
| Specs | ||
| Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles | |
| Powertrain Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles | |
| NHTSA Safety Rating | 5 | |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | |
| Wheelbase | 115.3 inches | |
| Overall Length | 195.0 inches | |
| Width | 74.3 inches | |
| Height | 56.9 inches | |
| Headroom, Front | 38.0 inches | |
| Legroom, Front | 41.3 inches | |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.1 inches | |
| Legroom, Rear | 37.4 inches | |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.8 inches | |
| Shoulder, Rear | 56.5 inches | |
| Cargo Space | 13.7 cubic feet |
This post was published on June 30, 2023
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