Audi S6 2007 Review

Overall rating: 4.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.5/5.0
Pricing/Packaging/Practicality: 4.0/5.0
Safety: 4.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.0/5.0
X-factor: 4.0/5.0

While Audi's sporty 'S' variants don't yet garner the same reverence as Mercedes-Benz' AMG or BMW's 'M' divisions the scales are gradually evening up.

Not so long ago Audi was the whipping boy of its cross-town rivals -- at least in this country. But a load of quality new product, a respected racing pedigree and a bigger presence on our roads has brought Audi squarely into the frame.

But for some, Audi's less obvious status compared to its BMW and Mercedes-Benz rivals has been one of its charms. Less badge envy allowed the driver to enjoy the cars' considerable abilities while going almost completely under the radar. But maybe not for much longer...

Audi's S6 Q car has subtle styling for sure, but there is something of the mongrel in the new super cruiser -- a whopping Lamborghini Gallardo-derived V10 shoehorned under the bonnet which sounds so fantastic it will surely leave other drivers feeling envious.

The S6 is the range-topping, sportier version of its well-known A6 sibling -- at a hefty $50K premium over the V8 FSI-equipped 'little brother'. Thus to visually distance it from its humbler beginnings, the 'S' version rides on big 19-inch alloys with 265/35 rubber, there's a vestigial bootlid spoiler and a row of LED lights sitting below the powerful Xenon headlights at the front. Subtle V10 badging on the car's front flanks is one of the car's few extravagances.

The classy interior features loads of leather and quality carpet with tasteful carbon-fibre and aluminium accents. There are supremely comfortable leather heated and power-adjustable seats up-front while three can sit in comfort across the rear 'couch'.

There is plenty of storage space inside the cabin and the news gets even better when you open the boot. Forget the golf clubs, at 546 litres there's enough space in there for an entire putting green.

At a touch under $200,000 you'd expect plenty of standard kit -- and you get it. There's power-operated windows, heated folding mirrors, rear sunblind and sunroof, climate control, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, bluetooth connectivity, sat-nav, television, voice control for the navigation, audio and telephone, front and rear fog lights, automatic windscreen wipers and headlights and a premium BOSE six-stack CD audio system.

Standard safety features include ESP with traction control, electronic diff lock and ABS with brake assist and eight airbags, not to mention Audi's superb all-wheel-drive system.

Sister company Lamborghini's 5.0-litre V10 has been 'appropriated' and the capacity upped to 5.2 litres by Audi's white coat brigade. In the S6 the all-alloy unit develops 320kW/540Nm which is enough to launch it to 100km/h in a claimed 5.2secs -- which isn't exactly messing around for a car weighing 1910kg.

The S6 is quite a bit cheaper than the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and BMW M5 (see our pre-configured comparator here) both of which are around $230K. But both rivals also outgun the S6 in the power stakes with 378 and 373kW respectively, making the Audi's V10 output seem a little underwhelming.

Indeed, the Audi V10 somehow lacks the real thunder you might expect from a V10 -- despite the exquisite soundtrack -- and there is a predictable disparity in sprinting times compared to the more muscular M5 and E63.

Coupled to Audi's six-speed automatic transmission -- with paddle-change for manual shifting -- the driveline cannot be faulted though.

The auto offers silky smooth changes while the V10 engine in isolation is hugely capable. It sounds absolutely amazing on full song even if the edge is taken off a little by the big car's considerable weight.

The S6's quattro drivetrain is a genuine bonus on slippery surfaces and is engineered with a 40/60 torque split under normal driving conditions. The big sedan is equipped with a firmer version of the donor car's optional multilink front and rear sports suspension which conspires to create a brittle ride over anything but perfect surfaces -- and where can you find those in Australia?

The S6 is a capable handler for such a big car with excellent grip and acceptable body roll but the too-light steering still lacks the feel of its BMW M5 rival. That said, as a luxury sports cruiser the S6 certainly ticks all the right boxes and is hard to go past -- especially if you don't like too much attention.

To comment on this article click
For further reading check out Wheels magazine's S6, M5 and E 63 AMG comparison review here