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April 3, 2008 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/audi_s6_2002

  Bengt Halvorson
EditorBengt Halvorson

There are a lot of very capable performance cars, and there are a lot of practical, sensible utility wagons, but it takes a special car to blend the attributes of both without involving a lot of compromises. Audi’s S6 Avant high-performance sport wagon is such a vehicle: It’s an engaging performance car, a utility wagon, and an all-weather warrior at the same time.

While the A6 Avant 3.0 whizzes along with adequate power, the S6 Avant is a rocket ship. Audi boasts a zero-to-sixty time of 6.5 seconds, with a top speed of 155 miles per hour.

The S6 has a hopped-up version of the all-aluminum V-8 that’s been offered in the A8 for several years. With five valves per cylinder, variable intake valve timing, and a variable intake manifold, it makes 340 horsepower. The V-8 has excellent performance throughout the rev range, though it doesn’t have the sort of massive low-end torque of traditional American V-8s.

Audi’s quattro system is so good at getting the power to the road that full throttle from a standing start doesn’t even yield a tire chirp. The S6 employs the latest version of quattro, which reverts to a 50/50 torque distribution from front to back unless wheel slippage occurs. Some measure of power oversteer is allowed, so dynamically the S6 could be a lot of fun on the track. Because such high speeds are required to explore the S6’s adhesion limits, we didn’t wish to test them on public roads.

forumThere are a lot of very capable performance cars, and there are a lot of practical, sensible utility wagons, but it takes a special car to blend the attributes of both without involving a lot of compromises. Audi’s S6 Avant high-performance sport wagon is such a vehicle: It’s an engaging performance car, a utility wagon, and an all-weather warrior at the same time. While the A6 Avant 3.0 whizzes along with adequate power, the S6 Avant is a rocket ship. Audi boasts a zero-to-sixty time of 6.5 seconds, with a top speed of 155 miles per hour. The S6 has a hopped-up version of the all-aluminum V-8 that’s been offered in the A8 for several years. With five valves per cylinder, variable intake valve timing, and a variable intake manifold, it makes 340 horsepower. The V-8 has excellent performance throughout the rev range, though it doesn’t have the sort of massive low-end torque of traditional American V-8s. Audi’s quattro system is so good at getting the power to the road that full throttle from a standing start doesn’t even yield a tire chirp. The S6 employs the latest version of quattro, which reverts to a 50/50 torque distribution from front to back unless wheel slippage occurs. Some measure of power oversteer is allowed, so dynamically the S6 could be a lot of fun on the track. Because such high speeds are required to explore the S6’s adhesion limits, we didn’t wish to test them on public roads. There are a lot of very capable performance cars, and there are a lot of practical, sensible utility wagons , but it takes a special car to blend the attributes of both without involving a lot of compromises. Audi’s S6 Avant high-performance sport wagon is such a vehicle: It’s an ...