Thanks to ever-increasing turbo technology, Audi believes the time is right to equip the S6 with a diesel engine instead of a gas-powered block. A sporty diesel with a practical coach that speaks the turbo language fluently?
It is a somewhat unreal experience to stand next to an Audi S6 and hear a diesel engine running. In 2019, manufacturers do not shun unconventional means in the never-ending battle against CO2 emissions, and even such an icon must believe it. No matter how you turn it, the S6 is now an icon. A car that you don’t have to explain to anyone. Or had to explain, because with his new diesel a strange situation arises. The fast Audi does not have the exclusive right to the 3.0-liter V6 TDI in the nose, the 50 and 45 TDI also have it.
To make a distinction, the S6 has the addition of an electric compressor. It does essentially the same as a normal turbo – blowing more air into the engine – but it does it through electricity rather than exhaust. The theoretical consequence: no turbo delay. Unfortunately, the e-compressor works less flawlessly in practice than on paper. It is true that in the first moments after accelerating and at low speeds, he can immediately generate some pressure. However, that is not in line with the power that is released when the real turbo subsequently blows. This results in an explicit turbo hole below 2,000 rpm and above that for turbo delay if the gas is suddenly full. For a diesel with a specific capacity of 116 hp per liter, the V6 responds nicely, but the system does not constitute the ultimate solution to the disadvantages of a turbo.
Firm staircase
The wait-and-see attitude of the eight-speed automatic transmission also does not help. With a firm kick on the gas pedal, you regularly have to wait first for the transmission and then for the engine. As a result, the expected acceleration takes (too) long to come. Notwithstanding, once the S6 goes, the steps are also surprisingly large; 349 hp and 700 Nm are enough to accelerate the two-tonne heavy S6 like a baseball from the hand of a pitcher. You effortlessly reach and break the Dutch limit and thanks to the necessary artificial means, the diesling S sounds pretty impressive. The soundtrack of the S6 is as fake as the exhausts that the sound should produce, but it certainly enhances the experience.
Sure enough it succeeds in the S6 at times to let the back a little step aside by standing firmly on the gas. It requires the necessary space and dedication, but the optional sport differential definitely pushes the rear before the front axle straightens the nose again. Nevertheless, this remains with incidents where a lot of extra asphalt is available. Under most circumstances, the Audi feels less agile than its opponent. On the one hand, that has to do with the fact that a larger part of the engine torque has always been sent to the front wheels. The Quattro system works mechanically with a standard distribution of 60 percent to the rear and 40 to the front. As soon as slip occurs on one axis, irrevocable force goes to the other side. On the other hand, the placement of the engine in front of the front axle plays a role in that it shifts the weight distribution more towards the nose and makes it feel relatively heavier. In combination with the fickle steering, which, like the BMW, also controls the rear wheels, ensures that confidence grows less quickly.
Instincts
Still, the S6 can indeed do it. Fight hard enough against your instincts, throw the Audi into a corner and the car will meet your demand without any problems. In addition, the chassis has sufficient flexibility to cover long distances in comfort. We do not question the capabilities of the S6, but the way in which they are expressed seems to be in need of improvement. However, the placement of the engine also has advantages, for example for the space in the rear seat. It is noticeable that the legroom is better for each other, while the luggage space swallows almost as many liters. The well-known Audi interior concept that we know from among others the A8 comes back at the very front. Two large touchscreens dominate the middle part of the dashboard and impress with a fast response time and crystal clear images. Supplemented with a digital set of instruments that seems to come directly from a video game, Audi crowns itself as the king of graphic design. However, because the systems do contain many functions and can only be operated via touch screens, user-friendliness on the road can be improved.