A brute sedan...with manners Audi S6 - First Drive: Quick - name the midsize luxury sedan that sells the best in most global markets. Here's a hint - it's from a German manufacturer. BMW 3 Series? Nope. Mercedes-Benz E-Class? Wrong again. It's the Audi A6. If you had no clue, don't beat yourself up too much - you're not alone. Even Johan de Nysschen, Audi of America's executive vice president, admits that his company's cars are "under-recognized and under-appreciated in the U.S." In short, he says, "people in the U.S. need to know us."
To that end, 19 new or redesigned models will be launched in the near future, all intended to nail down the attention, and hopefully the buying dollars of U.S. car shoppers. Set to arrive in November is one of those new rides, the 2007 Audi S6, which uses a mighty 435-horsepower, Lamborghini Gallardo-sourced V10 engine to get noticed on the street, yet steers clear of appearing obnoxious with only subtle design cues, including beefy 19-inch alloys and strategically placed badges. As such, the S6 has a powerful presence, yet not so much that it will make Junior quake in fear upon first sight. No, outlandish and intimidating design are not what mark the S6, rather it's that V10 engine coupled with Audi's respected quattro all-wheel-drive system, not to mention firmer suspension settings and tighter steering, all of which works in concert to greet 60 mph in only 5.1 seconds. That just may be the recipe for getting your name on people's lips, though it's not necessarily what's needed to dethrone perennial favorites like the 500-horsepower BMW M5. Audi responds by saying that, yes, the S6 lacks the Bimmer's raw grunt, but that its sedan is significantly more refined and benefits from four-wheel traction. After a day's drive, we'd concur, and come away with this perspective - if in a steak house you desire meat so rare that you can smell the pasture, best to go with the M5; however, if medium rare is your taste, check out the S6 on the Audi menu.
Audi's
eighth Le Mans triumph in just ten races! This
puts
Audi in third place – just one
victory short of Ferrari
– on the perpetual list of
winners of the endurance classic
which has been staged since 1923
.
Audi
accidents prevent outright win in Salt Lake City
-Both Audi R10 TDI cars involved
in collisions just before the end
-Lucas Luhr/Marco Werner
win LM P1 class -Frank Biela/Emanuele
Pirro third in class despite premature
exit within the race.
1-2
fininsh at Long Beach for Audi -First
victory of the Audi
R10 TDI at Long Beach
-Second consecutive
victory of Audi TDI power on street
circuit
-Lucas Luhr/Marco Werner
extend championship lead
Villeneuve
handed Le Mans chance
The Canadian,
35, will drive the new diesel car the French company hopes will end
Audi's domination of the race.
