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MOTORING
ew Year, New You and a new way to travel. For 2021, Audi is offering luxury on a grand scale, consumption at its most modest and a healthier environment for us all. Meet the A6 TFSi e quattro saloon, one of several plug-in hybrids the company has launched. Power is combined with a petrol engine and an electric motor. The cabin has near silent driving when using the 105kW electric motor alone, with a range of up to 34 miles giving zero CO2 emissions. Pull down twice on the seven-speed S tronic transmission lever and the 2.0-litre petrol engine takes over. Hybrid driving is a step towards the Government’s edict that petrol and diesel cars will no longer be manufactured after 2030, although hybrids get a reprieve until 2035. Audi developed the first petrol/electric hybrid car in 1989 and brings 32 years of experience of hybrid production to the luxury market.
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GREAT ESCAPE As I escape my work computer screen’s constant demands and slip behind the wheel, I experience a feeling of elation which continues throughout my journey. I am driving the S Line model with its 19-inch wheel upgrade, lowered sports suspension, S line body styling and matrix LED lamps with signature LED rear lamps. In the interior of the A6 I feel cossetted. I gently touch the lever which smoothly lifts and operates the sequential indicators. The binnacle display in front of the steering wheel is clear and attractive. Audi’s virtual cockpit grants access to the internet at LTE advanced speeds. The self -learning navigation system uses Google Earth mapping to deliver accurate route guidance and communicates with online traffic information servers. ASK ALEXA While ensconced in the very comfortable, electrically adjustable S embossed sports seats trimmed in leather and Alcantara, I have great fun trying out the Alexa voice control. There is access to more than 80,000 Alexa functions, including the ability to place orders from the car, stream favourite playlists and audiobooks and control smart devices at home from the driver’s seat. An Avant version of the A6 is available for those needing a larger boot. On-demand intelligent Audi four-wheel
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FACTS AT A GLANCE
Model: Audi A6-e quattro saloon S Line S Tronic Price: £57,135 otr Engine: 2.0-litre e hybrid 299PS Performance: 0-62.1mph in 6.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 155.3mph CO2 emissions combined: 36g/km (WLTP) Combined fuel consumption: 176.6mpg (WLTP)
drive is there to keep us safe on slippery January roads. In the executive class car, petrol and electrical energy combine to help reach a sprint to 62.1mph in only 6.2 seconds. Combined emissions are as little as 36g/km and on motorways, the A6 cruises beautifully. Even in urban environments, the A6 is unruffled, fluid and refined. I feel as if I am driving on a fixed track. CHARGING UP The Audi can be plugged into a domestic AC 7kW wall box or a public charging point and around two-and-a-half hours later (just enough time for new year sales shopping) the lithium ion battery mounted under the rear floor of the car will have been replenished. Use a three-pin socket and charging takes approximately seven hours. Audi is making considerable headway with its rangewide electrification roadmap. The fully electric e-tron SUV laid the foundations for an e-tron model portfolio which has expanded to include the new coupé-inspired e-tron Sportback and e-tron GT sports car variants. A hybrid is a step in the right direction and the Audi A6 TFSi e quattro is definitely the New Year gold standard in a new shade of green. I
SHOWROOM
Birmingham Audi, 780 Stratford Road, Shirley, B90 4BQ. Tel: 0121 746 5500 https://listers.co.uk/audi/birmingham
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