Audi A6 2005 review

His success has played a key role in Audi's push to invigorate its world image.

Two months ago, a Kristensen-driven Audi won Le Mans, giving Audi a fifth title in this prestigious event.

The wins have helped turn Audi into a sportier marque on-road as it battles to attack the recognised players in its field, BMW and Mercedes, which have long histories of racetrack successes to bank on.

While there is a vast difference between Audi's R8 racing sports car and the road-going models, flow-on technology is shared.

The Le Mans winners have been powered by FSI direct petrol injection engines since 2001. Now Audi has released the road-going FSI direct-injection engine to Australia.

Audi says a key feature of the engine is the light weight. The units weigh less than 170kg.

Our test car was the A6 3.2 FSI quattro tiptronic. The FSI engine, which features the direct injection of fuel into the engine's combustion chamber, is also available as a 2.4-litre, 3.0-litre diesel and 4.2-litre V8 in the A6 as well as a four-cylinder in the A4 model.

The 3.2 power plant of the test car puts out 188kW of power at 6500rpm and boasts a torque reading of 330Nm at 3250rpm.

The A6, which was voted the world's best car by a panel of international motoring journalists earlier this year, is a commanding machine. And, you certainly ain't gonna miss this one on the road.

Apart from its size, the brand's striking new grille and bold wheels matched to low-profile tyres scream to be noticed. The bright red test car did not melt away in traffic.

This model is priced at $100,500 before you start adding a long list of extras.

For starters, there is the beautiful finish and imposing looks. Inside it is all about room, and plenty of it.

Larger than the previous model A6, it is designed to give executive buyers, and those seeking to emulate them, abundant leg room both in the front and back.

There's also a huge boot to fit golf bags, ski gear and the like.

For driver and passenger ambience, the interior leather trim is elegant and refined.

Getting started throws up a few Audi foibles. The ignition, unlike most cars, is on the left of the steering wheel and there is no hand or foot-operated park brake.

Instead, a button in the centre console is pressed to release the brake and pressed again to put on the park brake.

On the open road the car's ride is noticeably smooth. Very smooth in fact.

The six-speed tiptronic gearbox can operate in automatic but the beast within is revealed when you switch to the pseudo-manual operation in sport mode.

Gear changing is available by flicking Formula One-style paddles on the steering wheel or the centre console gear lever.

Acceleration is forceful in this mode and the paddle operation is amazing.

Luxury features include satellite navigation, a TV tuner, wood trim and electric seats.

Auto headlights and the always-pleasing to see glare-reflecting rear vision mirror are part of the package. The reversing sensor sound is not as annoying and intrusive as on some other cars.

In the rear, the seating is designed to suit two adults in style, although there are seat belts for three.

Fuel consumption is not as high as one would expect from a car of this size. The advances in engine technology produce an overall figure of just under 12-litres per 100km. But coupled with a huge 80-litre tank means the range of a tank load of fuel should be well over 600km.