|
|
Motors Home
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Click here for details
SEE ALSO : Show Report
QUICK LINKS NEWS
ENTERTAINMENT
MOTORS
WHERE TO STAY
INFORMATION
BUSINESS
FEATURES
FREE WEB DESIGN
MISC.
|
the 2002 Audi A6
The distinctive, leading edge styling which has always distanced the Audi A6 from its more conservative peers now hides a new generation machine which has made significant strides forward for the 2002 model year. Underpinned by heavily revised suspension for improved ride comfort and dynamics, powered by sophisticated new or improved engines and refined by major new noise reduction measures and interior detailing changes, the 2002 Audi A6 is far more different than it looks. New and updated engines A total of 58 different versions of the new generation A6 and A6 Avant are available, of which 28 are equipped with the quattro four-wheel-drive system - still a safety feature that is unique in this class. Two alloy block engines - a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 130bhp and a 3.0-litre V6 with 220bhp - are entirely new to the A6, while a number of engines in the existing range have been updated. The A6 1.9 TDI, for example, has increased in power from 115bhp to 130bhp, yet despite this has been rated as the most economical, least polluting and therefore most tax efficient executive car in the sector. Audi is also the first to offer continuously variable multitronic transmission at this level, bringing the added convenience of an automatic without the penalties in performance, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions which are so often unavoidable. In the A6 range multitronic can now be combined with four different engines including, for the first time, a TDI. Subtle but effective exterior changes The most obvious new exterior feature which distinguishes the latest A6 from its predecessor is the striking new double radiator grille, which originally marked out the V8-powered 4.2 quattro and S6 quattro models, but has now been adopted throughout the range. Indicators and headlights now have clear-glass covers, and the light modules in the latter have increased in diameter from 60 to 70 millimetres, improving light output by around 37 percent. All A6 models can now also be optionally equipped with high intensity Xenon Plus headlights offering dramatically increased illumination in both dipped and main beam modes. The distinctive A6 tail has been updated by revised lights and new design turn indicator lenses, a new high gloss finish for the licence-plate bracket and visible exhaust tailpipes. Customers can now also choose from an extended
range of eight different
Even more structurally sound Numerous revisions have been made to the body structure as a whole to increase rigidity, and these, combined with fine tuning of the suspension and a reduction in unsprung weight bring about a significant improvement in comfort, refinement and overall driveability. A reduction in rolling noise plus a newly developed wiper system, new door seals and thicker glass in the front side windows have also contributed to the increased refinement, improving sound insulation by around 40 per cent, which equates to a reduction in noise of approximately 2 decibels at 87mph (where conditions allow). TDI ENGINES TDI and multitronic for the first time For the very first time in any class of car, a TDI engine has been combined with continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). In the new generation A6 the modified 2.5-litre V6 TDI, now with 155bhp, is mated to Audi’s critically acclaimed multitronic transmission, creating a car which combines maximum driving comfort with performance that is almost identical to a manual equivalent, yet which doesn’t demand the sacrifices in fuel economy or CO2 output normally associated with automatic gearboxes. 80 percent of the engine’s peak torque of 310Nm is available at just over 1000rpm in the TDI multitronic, helping to achieve acceleration which matches its manual gearbox equivalent. The A6 2.5 TDI multitronic accelerates to 62mph in 9.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 132mph. It is in terms of fuel economy, however, where the multitronic transmission really shines. Consumption, too, is on a par with the equivalent manual version, a feat which has never been matched by a conventionally geared automatic gearbox. The A6 2.5 TDI is capable of covering 40.9 miles per gallon of diesel (average fuel consumption to 1999/100/EC) - an impressive figure for an automatic. The 2.5-litre TDI engine in the new A6 has a modified injection pump and injection nozzles and a new control strategy for the turbocharger with variable turbine geometry. This increases peak output by 5bhp to 155bhp. New pre-injection also ensures quieter running. Outstanding low-end torque and excellent refinement are also characteristics of the more powerful version of the 2.5 V6 TDI. Its 180bhp and 370Nm of torque guarantee exceptional performance in the A6. No less impressive for its size is the new ‘entry-level’ TDI, the 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine with high-pressure pump-injector fuel injection system and 130bhp (up from 115bhp). With 285Nm on tap the A6 1.9 TDI 130 can reach 62mph from rest in just 10.5 seconds, cruise at a 126mph maximum speed (where conditions allow) and return 49.6mpg, while at the same time emitting just 157g/100km of CO2, making it the current cleanest car in the executive sector. The A6 1.9 TDI is equipped as standard with a five-speed manual gearbox, but the extra cost option of a six-speed manual will become available in the UK later this year. PETROL ENGINES New state-of-the-art alloy block units join the range Two new aluminium block petrol engines - a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder with 130bhp and a 3.0-litre V6 with 220bhp - have been carried over from the new A4. The 2.0-litre unit fits into the range just below what was the ‘entry level’ engine in the UK A6 range - the 150bhp 1.8 T - while the 3.0 V6 replaces the original 2.8-litre, 193bhp V6. Both provide the A6 with impressive performance, and deliver it smoothly thanks to their balancer shafts. Both can also be combined with the continuously variable multitronic automatic transmission, along with the 1.8 T and 2.4 engines (front-wheel-drive only). Audi’s engine designers have thoroughly modified the two other V6 engines - the 2.4 and the turbocharged 2.7 T - improving their fuel economy and ensuring that, like all four-cylinder versions, the new 3.0 V6 and the 300bhp V8 4.2, they meet EU4 emission standards. Power in the 2.4-litre engine rises slightly from 165bhp to 170bhp, with torque remaining at 230Nm, while output of the 2.7-litre biturbo version has increased from 230bhp to 250bhp, and torque from 310Nm to 350Nm. This improvement reduces the 0-62mph acceleration time from 7.2 seconds to 6.8 and raises the maximum speed from 152mph to 154mph. The petrol engine range is rounded off by the tried-and-tested 1.8 T four-cylinder unit with 150 bhp and – last but not least – the potent 4.2-litre V8 which produces 300 bhp in the A6 4.2 quattro and 340 bhp in the flagship S6 quattro. All engines are available for both saloon and Avant models. TRANSMISSIONS Multitronic: the 21st Century solution Using stepless continuously variable transmission (CVT) technology as a foundation, Audi engineers have created a system which is unique in eliminating the need for sacrifices in performance, fuel economy and general driveability in exchange for a more relaxed drive. In fact, the multitronic system goes a stage further. It can actually bring improvements in all these areas compared with a manual equivalent. The Audi multitronic transmission features numerous advances over the more traditional CVT systems currently on the market. One of the most notable is a modified variator, which incorporates a sophisticated new component known as a ‘link plate chain’ to handle the high level of torque developed by the latest Audi petrol and TDI engines. The new variator permits both lower and higher gearing for the spread of six ratios than has traditionally been possible in an automatic gearbox. Because the maximum ratio is higher than normal, the variator enables smoother acceleration from rest, and eliminates the need for a torque converter. Audi engineers have instead used an oil-cooled multi-plate clutch, which not only avoids the power losses which are normally inextricably linked but also enables the system to adapt its acceleration to suit the situation based on a variety of acceleration programmes. These are selected by the electronic control circuitry based on how the accelerator pedal is being used. For maximum driveability, the electronically controlled multi-plate clutch also has a constant creep feature built in. By fine-tuning the hydraulics, Audi’s transmission engineers have eliminated the ‘rubber band effect’ and ‘slipping clutch syndrome’ which have been common sources of criticism with conventional CVT systems. A number of significant advances have improved the efficiency of the transmission, and consequently the level of performance that is achievable. One major contributing factor is the advanced hydraulic system which, with its ingenious dual-piston arrangement within the variator, and separate high pressure and cooling oil flow circuits, has a considerably lower pump output than conventional systems. The control procedures followed by the electronics also help to overcome the drawbacks of existing CVTs. The ‘rubber band effect’, for example, is avoided by electronically controlled engine speed tracking, which results in fast reaction times and a reassuringly ‘normal’ engine note under acceleration. The electronics also incorporate a Dynamic Regulator Program (DRP), which monitors both the driver and the driving conditions. It assesses the way the driver uses the accelerator pedal, and determines whether the emphasis is being placed on performance or economy. If a more leisurely driving style has been adopted, the system translates the engine speed into propulsion via a low ratio (overdrive), at road speeds as low as 37mph, on the basis of a stored characteristic map which places the emphasis on economy.
Audi Avant A6 If the driver opens the throttle completely (kick-down), the system immediately switches to the stored characteristic map for sports driving and alters the ratio to ‘underdrive’. As a result the high engine speeds required for maximum output become available even at low road speeds. In normal driving conditions, it selects the most favourable ratio between these two extremes, and unlike conventional automatic transmissions it does so imperceptibly and entirely without jolting. The electronics also take into account uphill and downhill gradients, and assist the driver by compensating for the added load or boosting engine torque accordingly. The most ingenious feature of these electronics is the optional manual mode, which can be selected by moving the gear lever to the right of the gate. It offers six fixed transmission stages, each selected with just one touch of the gear lever or optional steering wheel-mounted rocker switch, entirely without jolting. Multitronic transmission is available for the majority of front-wheel-drive versions of the latest A6, the one exception being the 1.9 TDI 130. Manual and tiptronic automatic transmissions A five-speed manual gearbox is fitted to 2.0, 1.8 T and 1.8 T quattro, 2.4 and 2.4 quattro and 1.9 TDI 130 (six-speed option available later this year) A6 models. The 3.0 quattro, 2.7 T quattro and 2.5 TDI quattro models are equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 4.2 quattro and S6 quattro flagships are fitted with five-speed tiptronic automatic transmission as standard. New: tiptronic with Sport program All quattro versions of the A6 are available with the five-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox (standard for 4.2 quattro and S6 quattro) which, in addition to its ‘manual’ gearshift option in the tiptronic gate, now offers a Sport mode selectable by sliding the lever to its lowest position. In this mode the transmission changes up later and down earlier, enabling the driver to maximise the engine’s performance. The tiptronic gearbox can also be controlled via optional switches within the steering wheel. These have now been programmed to automatically switch the transmission into ‘manual’ mode as soon as they are touched, eliminating the need for the driver to remove a hand from the wheel to move the gear lever across. This is an advantage if the driver has to change down just once to overtake. If he or she then stops changing gear manually, the electronics automatically reactivate the Drive mode. This convenient new feature can be combined with both continuously variable multitronic transmission and the conventional geared automatic transmission. RUNNING GEAR A considerable number of changes have been made to the Audi A6 running gear to further improve ride comfort and dynamics on both front-wheel-drive and quattro models. New additions to the front suspension include a forged aluminium pivot bearing and a lighter steel wheel hub. These help to reduce the unsprung weight at the front axle by no less than 35 percent, or approximately five kilograms. For maximum ride comfort, the suspension compression behaviour has been noticeably improved, cushioning occupants even more effectively against all kinds of irregularities in the road surface. The improved optional Servotronic steering regulates steering effort depending on speed, combining precise steering sensitivity with maximum feedback from the road at high speeds, and guaranteeing maximum possible assistance when parking. Powerful and precisely controllable: the brakes All A6 versions feature a new, enlarged tandem brake servo. The build-up of pressure in the system has been noticeably accelerated through the use of a flow-optimised control device, guaranteeing extremely rapid brake response and maximum efficiency. Braking pressure is also easier to control, with minimum pedal effort required. All Audi A6 models are equipped with front and rear disc brakes, the front discs being ventilated. Versions with 3.0 and 2.7T V6 engines have new, enlarged floating-caliper brakes with disc diameter increased to 321mm and aluminium housings at the front wheels. All Audi A6 models also now feature a hydraulic brake assist system. An integral part of the latest generation ESP system, which is now fitted as standard across the A6 range, its task is to help the driver by automatically increasing brake pressure in emergency braking situations. The electronics detect an emergency braking situation on the basis of pedal speed and pedal pressure, then increase pressure on the pedal beyond the level applied by the driver in just a fraction of a second. This means that even inexperienced drivers can make use of maximum deceleration at the wheel-lock limit. Sports suspension with 17-inch wheels Sports suspension is fitted as standard to UK versions of the new generation Audi A6. Lowering the body by 20 millimetres (10mm in the A6 4.2 quattro), it can now be combined with optional 17-inch alloy wheels for maximum visual impact. The standard suspension set-up is available as a no-cost option. THE CABIN The interior of the Audi A6 was already widely regarded as one of the finest to be found in any class, in terms of design, quality and comfort, so Audi engineers have avoided making any unnecessary changes, and have instead concentrated on subtly updating the original formula. Even greater attention has been paid to the way interior fitments feel and function, and to their colour co-ordination. Detail enhancements can be found throughout the car, and include new aluminium surrounds for the instrument dials, the gear knob and the gaiter and redesigned and illuminated rotary light and mirror adjustment switches which noticeably improve intuitive operation. New, more attractive steering wheels designed to be even more pleasant to hold also enhance the overall look of the cabin and, for the first time in the A6, the four-spoke version is available with tiptronic and tiptronic/multi-function capability. A new air quality sensor in the standard-fit automatic air conditioning detects high levels of pollutant in the outside air and automatically prevents it from entering the interior. Once the air quality improves, the sensor automatically reactivates the supply of outside air. As in the new A4, new-generation radios are now also available, including Chorus (with cassette player), Concert (with single CD drive) and Symphony (with CD changer for six CDs and TMC traffic information). All the systems give improved reception and an additional long wave band, and feature even more user-friendly controls. As well as the standard fit front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger, Audi’s SIDEGUARD head airbag protection system is now available as an option throughout the A6 range. The SIDEGUARD airbag covers the window area from the front to rear roof pillar to provide an even greater degree of side impact protection. A new standard equipment feature for the 2002 Audi A6 is the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). ESP uses a large amount of information to establish the momentary state of the car, compares this with a calculated ‘ideal’ state and then rectifies any discrepancy by selectively braking the wheels and by engine and transmission management intervention. Audi has also further improved protection against theft on the new A6 models. The standard anti-theft device includes an alarm siren with its own power supply which triggers an alarm when the car battery is removed. The system can only be deactivated by a radio signal from the car key. Home &
news - reports/articles
We are Members of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce If you wish to contact us either : PHONE 0121 444
4723
or E-Mail us on :
Do you want to link to our site ? Feel free to use the Image below , let us know and we'll give a return link. |
