Yahoo Autos 2020 Audi S6 Spied: Fewer Cylinders, Still Awesome
What It Is: Our spy photographers caught the new Audi S6, the performance version of the Audi A6 and the fastest variant we’ll get in the United States, since the even more powerful RS6 won’t be offered here. The S6 gets the same twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6 that powers the RS5. This new and efficient engine replaces its predecessor’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8. Like the A6, the S6 looks the part with a wide body and pronounced Quattro-inspired fender flares. The S6 is differentiated by a specific S-grille and four exhaust outlets. In Europe, an upcoming S6 TDI model will have a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel that makes around 380 horsepower and brutal amounts of torque. For the U.S. market, Audi decided that diesel doesn’t make sense.
Why It Matters: Audi has lost some of its edge to Mercedes-Benz and BMW, not least because of its involvement in the diesel scandal, but also due to a driving character that’s sometimes a bit too calm and collected. The new S6 promises to blend futuristic infotainment technology, an ultramodern interior, and an effortlessly strong powertrain. This car is at the upper reaches of Audi’s North American sedan portfolio, and it can help prove the brand is back in the game.
Platform: The Audi S6 rides on the Volkswagen Group’s modular longitudinal (MLB Evo) platform and can thus tap into a vast parts bin of chassis, powertrain, and electronics components. This performance sedan comes with adaptive dampers as well as air springs. Optional all-wheel steering promises agility for this mid-size luxury sedan.
Powertrain: Downsizing from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 to a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6 doesn’t mean much of a sacrifice. The engine (shared with the Audi RS5 and the Porsche Cayenne S and Panamera 4S) will likely be rated at 450 horsepower-same as the previous V-8, and six ponies more than its rating in the RS5-and at least 443 lb-ft of torque, a gain of 37 lb-ft. All-wheel drive is standard, as is the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission. The artificially enhanced snarl of the V-6 may be enjoyable, but this engine won’t growl the way the V-8 did.
Competition: BMW M550i, Cadillac CT6 Vsport, Jaguar XF S, Mercedes-AMG E53.
Estimated Arrival and Price: We expect the Audi S6 to arrive in early 2019 as a 2020 model at prices close to the current model, which starts at $72,875.
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