2007 Audi S6 First Drive

Audi S6 – First Drive: Quick – name the midsize luxury sedan that sells the best in most global markets. Here's a hint – it's from a German manufacturer. BMW 3 Series? Nope. Mercedes-Benz E-Class? Wrong again. It's the Audi A6. If you had no clue, don't beat yourself up too much – you're not alone. Even Johan de Nysschen, Audi of America's executive vice president, admits that his company's cars are "under-recognized and under-appreciated in the U.S." In short, he says, "people in the U.S. need to know us." To that end, 19 new or redesigned models will be launched in the near future, all intended to nail down the attention, and hopefully the buying dollars of U.S. car shoppers. Set to arrive in November is one of those new rides, the 2007 Audi S6, which uses a mighty 435-horsepower, Lamborghini Gallardo-sourced V10 engine to get noticed on the street, yet steers clear of appearing obnoxious with only subtle design cues, including beefy 19-inch alloys and strategically placed badges. As such, the S6 has a powerful presence, yet not so much that it will make Junior quake in fear upon first sight. No, outlandish and intimidating design are not what mark the S6, rather it's that V10 engine coupled with Audi's respected quattro all-wheel-drive system, not to mention firmer suspension settings and tighter steering, all of which works in concert to greet 60 mph in only 5.1 seconds. That just may be the recipe for getting your name on people's lips, though it's not necessarily what's needed to dethrone perennial favorites like the 500-horsepower BMW M5. Audi responds by saying that, yes, the S6 lacks the Bimmer's raw grunt, but that its sedan is significantly more refined and benefits from four-wheel traction. After a day's drive, we'd concur, and come away with this perspective – if in a steak house you desire meat so rare that you can smell the pasture, best to go with the M5; however, if medium rare is your taste, check out the S6 on the Audi menu.

Model Mix

Model Mix Starting at $74,020, the S6 features standard Bluetooth connectivity, six airbags, Nappa leather upholstery, a 13-speaker Bose sound system, and more. Besides a German-bred V10 under its hood, the all-wheel-drive 2007 Audi S6 packs a bounty of standard features behind its $74,020 base price (including a $720 destination charge and $1,300 gas guzzler tax). As befitting a pricey luxury car, there's a leather-wrapped power tilt and telescoping steering wheel with memory, a power sunroof, a dual-zone climate control system to keep the driver and front passenger comfy, high-grade Nappa leather on the seats and door panels, power front buckets with memory for the driver, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Sounds good, but that's just the start – the S6 buyer also gets rain-sensing wipers, Audi's MMI central-control interface, a 13-speaker Bose sound system with a six-disc CD changer and MP3 player, heated windshield and headlight washers, Bluetooth connectivity, and the safety of front-side as well as side-curtain airbags for front and rear passengers. Of course, the usual array of luxury features such as power windows and mirrors are covered, too. Genuine grey birch trim is standard fare on the S6, though it can be replaced by carbon fiber inlays for $400. Buyers seeking a more personalized ride may also opt for a black leather dash ($1,275), Sirius satellite radio ($550), rear-side airbags ($350), a heated rear bench seat ($225), or intelligent cruise control ($2,000). The Warm Weather Package, which includes rear sunshades and a solar roof panel for $1,190 may be another item of interest, as may the $3,900 Technology Package with its voice-activated controls, keyless ignition, rear parking aid system, navigation system, and Sirius satellite radio. If that's not enough, another $750 will buy an S6 dipped in Phantom Black Pearl or Sprint Blue Pearl paint. However, you can save the $750 by going with Brilliant Black, Light Silver, Brilliant Red, Quartz Gray, or Ibis White instead.

Nuts and Bolts

Nuts and Bolts A 435-horsepower, 40-valve V10 engine works with a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive to propel the S6 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. What kind of world do we live in where a 255-350 horsepower luxury sedan isn't enough? Answer: a most righteous one. Audi engineers pushed aside the A6's 3.2-liter V6 and 4.2-liter V8, opting to outfit the lineup's resident brute, the 4,486-lb. S6, with a normally-aspirated V10 borrowed from the Lamborghini Gallardo, albeit detuned for more mainstream use. Featuring 5.2-liters of displacement, direct injection, a 12.5:1 compression ratio and dual overhead cams, the 40-valve aluminum V10 boasts 435 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 398 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,500 rpm (90 percent of the total torque is available between 2,300 and 6,200 rpm). That represents a significant jump over the last S6, a 2003 model, which drew motivation from a 340-horsepower V8. A six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission with paddle shifters delivers the goods to all four wheels through the brand's quattro all-wheel-drive system which is rear-biased with a 40 percent front/60 percent rear torque split. Audi claims a 0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds. That time is thanks in part to the grip of 265/35 performance tires wrapped around 19-inch alloy wheels, which in turn are connected to a speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering assembly and multi-link suspension that sits 25-mm lower and is noticeably firmer than the A6's optional sport suspension. Furthermore, standard stability and traction control systems as well as front and rear locking differentials are employed to stay the course. A Torsen limited-slip center differential is also standard equipment. When behind an inattentive driver in traffic or approaching a gnarly 90-degree right hander, the S6's stout antilock braking system utilizes 385-mm front and 330-mm rear ventilated discs to slow things down in a hurry. Electronic brake force distribution and electronic brake assistance technology aid in the effort.

Design

Design Very little distinguishes the S6 from the base A6, aside from unique wheels, badges, a revised fascia, quad tailpipes, and unique 10 LED daytime running lights. The look is understated and muscular rather than ostentatious. From a design perspective, a sportier version of an existing model typically includes a few new badges, a body kit, some interior tweaks, and maybe larger alloy wheels. So, it shouldn't be a huge surprise to find all of those elements covered by the 2007 Audi S6, which is essentially a more athletic rendition of the popular A6 sedan. Compare the two and you just might notice the S6's ten-spoke 19-inch alloys (the A6 offers standard 16- or 17-inchers), the redesigned lower front fascia complete with 10 horizontally-positioned LED daytime running lights that truly set the S6 apart from anything else on the road, alloy mirror housings, smoked headlight lenses, subtle body enhancements on the lower doors, quad rather than dual chrome exhaust tips, not to mention S6 and V10 badges on the body, grille, calipers, and engine. Furthermore, the front end has actually been widened to accommodate the large V10. To some, including us, these minor, almost imperceptible changes perfectly satisfy one's desire to fly under the radar while also getting the occasional nod of approval from knowing enthusiasts. However, others may find the S6 not sufficiently differentiated from the A6. To each his own, as they say. Inside, the contrast between A6 and S6 is equally restrained. Gray birch trim, which can be replaced with optional carbon fiber inlays, dresses the dash, doors and center console, a three-spoke thickly-padded steering wheel replaces the four-spoke version found in the A6, and S6 nomenclature finds its way to the tachometer. Otherwise, the S6 and A6 are nearly identical, which means they both feature top-notch plastics and leather, interior build quality that is among the best in the industry, and a particular focus on superior ergonomics. The leather-wrapped, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel allows for optimum placement, while forward of the properly-positioned shifter reside clearly-marked buttons for the climate control system. Radio controls are largely confined to dials on the steering wheel spokes and the MMI center dial, which like the COMAND feature from Mercedes-Benz and iDrive from BMW, packages oft-used items together for simplified use, theoretically. Compared to its competitors, the S6's MMI setup is relatively easy to navigate, though some of us would still prefer to drop this new level of automotive bureaucracy in favor of simple, clear buttons only.

Driving Impressions

Driving Impressions With its tremendous balance and eager powertrain, the S6 is a joy to blast through paved switchbacks. However, the downside is a rather stiff ride not ideal for the daily commute. You've gotta give credit to folks who deal with issues head on. During the press launch for the S6 and S8, Audi reps had no qualms about discussing the competition – namely, the 500-horsepower BMW M5. Yes, the Bimmer is more powerful, but our hosts argued that their sedans were more refined, making them preferable as daily drivers. And refined they are…in a sports sedan sorta way. For its part, the S6 limits the intrusion of engine noise into the cabin, even under full throttle, and launches from a dead stop are sudden and authoritative, though necks are not snapped in the process. Around town or while cruising through congested traffic, occupants of the 2007 Audi S6 will be subjected to a stiff ride that's offset by firm yet immensely supportive sport seats. Higher speeds elicit a fair amount of road noise. There was one more point we noticed during the more casual sections of the drive – the throttle required some finesse when accelerating from a stop. On initial tip in, there was little response, with just a bit more pressure causing the powertrain to stir. Not a big problem, but noticeable. Important as traffic duty is, it's unlikely that many buyers will shell out the extra cash for an S6 just to crawl back and forth to the office. The S6 is like a young Labrador Retriever (or given its German heritage, a Weimaraner) that needs to be allowed to stretch its legs, set free in some open space to exercise. That's where the driver will come to appreciate this sedan's tremendous balance, evidenced by the S6's ability to hunker down in the corners with negligible body roll and just a hint of understeer. Audi is aimed at convincing shoppers that AWD is just as important to handling and grip as it is to snow and ice, a suggestion that quickly bears merit when the hardware is tested on a twisty, dry road. Confident that all four wheels are working for traction, the driver can be more comfortable in experiencing the V10's tremendous power. With large ventilated discs, capable of dissipating heat and thus limiting fade, braking is consistently a worry-free endeavor in the S6. Steering is almost equally praiseworthy, especially given its added weight at higher speeds, but road feel could be bumped up a hair and an extra helping of responsiveness couldn't hurt. That may be part of the whole refinement gig, where brute rough edges are slightly softened. Same goes for the powertrain, which in addition to being too muted under full throttle features occasionally delayed shifts when using the steering wheel paddles or center lever's manual mode. Plant the throttle with the tranny in regular drive mode and the S6 is smooth, putting miles upon miles behind you with incredible and self-assured ease. Click the shifter down to sport mode and, as expected, downshifts are much more immediate while upshifts are forced to wait as the V10 unleashes its magic in the higher revs. If you're not a fan of paddle shifters, the sport mode is the next best thing as it automatically blips the throttle and downshifts as the driver brakes into a turn, and then selects the appropriate gear for a tail-haulin' charge into the next straightaway.

FAQ

FAQ The S6 is priced $18,000 more than the A6 4.2, offers 15 fewer horses than the larger S8, and lacks direct competition with all-wheel drive. In terms of price, how much more is the S6 versus the Audi A6? The 2007 Audi S6's $74,020 base price represents an $18,000 premium over the 350-horsepower A6 4.2 with quattro all-wheel drive. I read that the larger S8 uses the same powertrain, but has 15 more horsepower. Why the difference? The S6 and S8 are equipped with the same 5.2-liter V10 engine paired with a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. However, due to engineering requirements (and likely due to the desire to offer more horsepower in the larger and more expensive S8), changes were made primarily to the exhaust that resulted in the S8 getting 450 horses instead of the S6's 435. Are there any direct S6 competitors in the U.S. that come with all-wheel drive? No. However, broaden your definition of competitor and you come up with the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550, which can be equipped with all-wheel-drive. The A6 is another story, with all-wheel-drive equipped rivals coming out of the woodwork from Acura, Infiniti, and others, but none of them offer a contender worthy of the S6.

Specifications

Specifications Competitors: BMW M5, Cadillac CTS-V, Cadillac STS-V, Chrysler 300C SRT-8, Jaguar XJR, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, and the Mercedes-Benz CLS550 Test Vehicle: 2007 Audi S6 Base Price: $74,020 (includes a $720 destination charge and $1,300 gas guzzler tax) Engine Size and Type: 5.2-liter V10 Engine Horsepower: 435 at 6,800 rpm Engine Torque: 398 lb.-ft. at 3,500 rpm Transmission: Six-speed Tiptronic automatic Curb Weight, lbs.: 4,486 EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 15/21 mpg Length: 193.5 inches Width: 79.2 inches Wheelbase: 112.1 inches Height: 57 inches Legroom (front/rear): 41.3/36.9 inches Headroom (front/rear): 38.7/37.8 inches Max. Seating Capacity: Five Max. Cargo Volume: 15.9 cubic feet Competitors: BMW M5 Cadillac CTS-V Cadillac STS-V Chrysler 300 SRT-8 Jaguar XJR Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Mercedes-Benz CLS550

Photos courtesy of Audi