And six again

Passing by the office Trussardi turned in unison: party in the office of "fashion" of the firm can not remain indifferent to this Milanese. But do not stop many people - only those who managed to make out in the car behind the glass a new "six" Audi.Mne was easier - I was inside, on the other side windows. But even there, next to the machine, consider a "fresh design solutions," I was uneasy. Yes, "Six" became sleeker, easier. And now a trapezoidal grille - like the legendary pre-war racing cars Auto Union. But it is the same grille adorns the flagship Audi A8 W12. And I do not undertake to distinguish between the machine a few steps c: where the new "six", and where - a new "Eight?" For me, these thoughts and found one of the designers Audi: "As you are a new car?" I could not pick up diplomatic expressions and blurted out - say, a new "six" is not much different from the old German ... was not embarrassed, put his side in a glass of champagne and began to patiently tell .- Well, of course! The car headlights. Thresholds changed shape: they were relief, concave. The roof is now more sloping, squat - almost like a coupe. Edit Profile trunk: his cover is no longer round, and relief, with a barely noticeable spoiler. Incidentally, the spoiler - a purely decorative item. Aerodynamic body is so good that even at high speeds on the rear axle operates minimum lift .- Why you kept the door handles, keys, even though the BMW and Mercedes have long been used by the handle "natural grip"? - Mersedesovskie handles - this is old-fashioned. See how gracefully fit "keys" in silhouette of the car. These injury-not degrade the aerodynamics. A chromed version represent the keys with electronic access Keyless Entry: pull the handle - and the lock opens, and start the engine you can click Start Engine, keyless ... Come on, knock on the door, and then the wings. Different sound? The front fenders and hood are made of aluminum - to win in the mass and more successful weight distribution. However, the previous "six" They were also aluminum ... What is he talking about aluminum? Later it turned out that my partner - not just a designer and designer-technologist. It falls to him thankless say the worst for any stylist words: "Man, this vyshtampovku on the sidewall, we can not do - too expensive. Try in another way ..." Designers have tried, not once. Last year this team chief stylist Walter de Silva, Audi has issued just three of the experimental vehicle - polnoprivodnik Pikes Peak, Nuvolari and coupe a mid-car Le Mans. Marvel, not machines! Especially - Le Mans. The idea is that with them and had to "sculpt" a new production car. But the serial "Six" was more relaxed, "classic". Why? Designers technologists prevented? In fact, the fundamental decisions are made by people of a higher mission - the board of directors. I think that this car blessed by Ferdinand Peha, who still keeps abreast of Audi. After all, his coming to power in 1988, the firm has been tasked to catch up and overtake Mercedes and BMW. And it surpassed! In any case, in size: the new "six" larger Mercedes E-Class and the "five" BMW. And only on the palm shorter flagship Audi A8.Audi A6 - extremely important for the Group machine. It brings the company a substantial share of the profits and has no direct "analogue family": VW Passat and Skoda Superb less, VW Phaeton and Audi A8 - a step higher. Therefore, the E-class and the "Five" BMW new Audi A6 will be fighting alone. Errors and unnecessary risk is unacceptable, and so the bold experiments in Ingolstadt have left for better times. And it is - a very shrewd move. Remember how shocked all the previous "six" Audi, with its rounded appearance? Now, when in the same direction stretched Mercedes and BMW, Audi designers have proposed a "serious" design. And I am masculine Audi imponiruet.Interer resolved in a man, "drayverskogo" style - the cockpit, which was built around the driver. This lstit.Predyduschaya "six" in a boring, but the panel was too small "bald" buttons. The new machine buttons and keys are larger, they are logical. But less has no buttons - they just spread out on the center console and center console. Clear the place was due to rejection of the traditional parking brake in favor of electromechanical. Now, between the seats there was a small key - both in the Audi A8. Pulled down up - "hammer" long. Pressed - "hammer" let go his grip. And you can not click and if the driver's seat belt fastened, you can safely include the transfer and start: opens the smart parking brake itself. The ideal solution for forgetful and for those who do not know how to start up the hill in a car with mechanical korobkoy.U Audi A8 borrowed and multifunctional interface MMI - cvoego kind of analogue of the BMW iDrive. The rotating handle is responsible for the selection of features and buttons around it - a choice menu (set the navigation system, trip computer, etc.). All fine and understandable, but surely, to navigate in this sector will not soon begin - as in the system which is iDrive.Zato animation! With each rotation of the climate control knobs on the LCD display will - depending on the selected function - the seat with his penetrating waves of heat, the fan, the temperature gauge air supply. However, opponents of such intricate (and very expensive!) Systems can order a basic package - with the standard four round handles. But this machine has the functions and less, and the monitor is not color, but monohromnym.Vprochem, regardless of the level of equipment, Audi pleases with quality materials and a good build. All couched in strict (but not mourning!) Colors become less poisonous red lights. Gone was the huge chrome plate on the center console with side slits sequential mode selector transmission. Now, instead of it - a modest cheholchik leather (again, as the E-class and "five"). I understand: flaunt the possibility of "machine" is no longer fashionable - and so it is clear that there is a sequential mode, there is a sport. And it's clear that hardly anyone uses it all ... I do not like a steering wheel. Where he is - ugly, slimy? Also on the Audi A8? I would never have believed it ... Prikroesh palm chrome "shield" the hub - and before you unassumingly bagel, like stolen from some "American". And the arm "machine" is the same - looks wishy-washy, slippery to the touch. This is especially noticeable in the interior beige. And the first car, Audi A6 4.2 quattro, I got it with beige salonom.Roskoshnoe looking leather seat has not been as successful in the profile. But the range of adjustments - tremendous! Having made a long "elektroputeshestvie" all the way back, once again turn on the "front door": you have to move up a little bit ahead, otherwise, even my long legs will not reach the pedals. The steering column also moved in a wide range, with the machines in the top set - with elektroprivoda.Szadi become even larger. The eye is almost invisible: the 20 mm became broader in the shoulders, a 10 mm margin increased legroom. But it is precisely these millimeters and sometimes not enough to comfortably! Of course, 335-horsepower sedan Audi A6 4.2 - this is not the RS6 and not even S6 (hot version of "Six" will appear later). However, from the powerful eight-cylinder car, I was expecting a sports Norov - not for nothing that "six" is presented as drayverskogo avtomobil.Temperament engine - really mad. He does not care what is currently set to transfer - always pulling! Perhaps that is why the new six-step "automatic" refers to the flow of power is extremely gentle, caring not only for the early gear, but about how to avoid disturbing jolts passengers. But this box is very understandingly. For example, just one sharp pressing the gas pedal as the engine speed immediately jumps up, and the box will "keep" low gear - the car ready for another throw. As for BMW! Programs can be switched and buttons on the steering wheel. Two keys - left and right ("-") ("+"). Using them is convenient, but sequential mode is of the devil: anyway on their own box and switch "up" and "down." It is better to move the lever into sport mode and is configured uspokoitsya.Shassi great, but ... Setting up power steering reduces the whole drayverskogo excitement to an end. You walk at a speed of 140 km / h in a gentle, completely safe rotation of the highway - and driving treacherous "empties" and self-confidence in the car followed by a tremor in his hands. You begin to nervously taxi, relying only on his vestibular system. The right foot instinctively releases the gas ... Fortunately, the "six" holds for the trajectory is very reliable. But the hard steel himself: strange machine, its life and rushing to the meter from the left elbow bump - not the best combination for the test limit opportunities shassi.Ya found the engineers who are responsible for setting up the chassis. They did not share my pessimism: - We thought the steering set up well. With increasing speed of the wheel has become richer, clearer. Yes, and the gear ratio steering mechanism on the eight-bit machine "shorter" than the less powerful versions. However, calibration may be necessary to change ...! We are talking about a dynamic 335-strong sedan. Incidentally, the "Six" still faces a "real" power belt driven from the engine (electronics knows only control valves), which when properly set up in a position to provide a "sense of the car." And the rest of a strong "six" was a very balanced and quiet car. However, on the background of dead silence in the cabin inevitably begin to find fault with such trifles, which in the other car and would not have noticed. That twitch motor at idle speed (very strange for a well-balanced "Eight"), but the fans roared stronger ... when traveling on the road, "worked still slaves of Rome" - with prosevshim asphalt, with irregular patches - understand what "Six" has become tougher. But noble. Increased by 34% of body rigidity, enhanced silent blocks suspension, more powerful powertrain mounting pads and advanced vibro-acoustic insulation to effectively compete with other sounds and shocks still on the distant outskirts of salonu.A engineers, to whom I complained about the vague back svzya steering advised try to move Audi A6 3.2 FSI (255 hp) in the performance of S-line. This is slightly "osportivlennaya" machine with a barely noticeable "cosmetic" body, 18-inch wheels and a smaller 20 mm clearance. Bagel here is the claim: three-spoke, perforated leather with a tenacious and relevant bulges in places of permanent grip. And the best seats - leather with fleshy sides, suede and central part of the "extender" pillows. And here a new six-speed manual with a round knob on the aluminum leg ... V6 engine with direct injection of met expectations. It "pulls" as early as 1000 rev / min. Since 2000 rev / min dynamic pickup begins, which for 3500-4000 rev / min turns into an avalanche of thrust. Reinforce the impression of rapid responses to the gas pedal - though unknown to the motor collar strict environmental standards. But the box is initially disappointing: low clarity of electoral movements, a great effort during switching. But even this long-stroke clutch pedal ... But later was used: hard, power-switching with a characteristic "iron" gnashing added to this drive psevdosportivny kokteyl.Nesmotrya the developed soundproof cabin "six", each accompanied by a distinct acceleration roar. At first, get excited, but after half an hour already nadoedaet.Po differently tuned suspension, wider tires with stiff sidewalls, a different weight distribution front-wheel drive vehicles predetermined clearer, unambiguous response. Deviation for each car steering wheel, like a well-trained German shepherd, meets a powerful shot. Steering wheel was "closer." Finally, it was a "sense of the vehicle," which allows you to confidently drive a car in tight corners. But the Audi A6 enroll in a powerful clan drivers cars can only be a certain reserve. Like it or not, the chassis is configured differently BMW 530i: the "drayverskogo" mood Audi A6 still closer to the Mercedes E-klassa.Pod curtain I rode a diesel Audi A6 3.0 TDI. Liked it! The new 225-horsepower turbo diesel "lucky" with the most "grassroots", which, combined with a rather "short" transmission provides a number of the car "petrol" dynamics. Therefore, the keys are located on the steering wheel gearshift six "machine" is quite appropriate. Incidentally, the "machine" works just as smoothly as on the eight-top version. And just as quickly adapts to the aggressive driving style, holding each transfer obychnogo.No longer softer suspension predetermined machine of a different nature. Stone made the rounds: a quick turn of the wheel the car responds first body roll, and then starts to maneuver ... Diesel "Six" has a relaxed, no fuss, riding. It is perfect for trans-European surge: a single refueling can shoot more than 1,000 km. Machine for the budget. And there are a lot of Audi owners. The average buyer Audi A6 - a man 40-50 years old, entrepreneur or senior manager. These are business people who are not used to start up money. Such buyers - with a purse, but prudent - the most in Germany: there will be sold about a third of all "sixes". In second place ... No, not America. A quarter of all sales come from China - there is built a large assembly plant, where Audi make hundreds of thousands. The U.S. and Canada together account for about 15% of sales. And in countries such as England, France, Spain, - about 5%. Audi A6 Avant wagon will be in a year. But the decision to issue a new "off-road vehicle" Audi A6 Allroad is still pending. This also applies to prospective car Audi A4 Allroad, around which in recent years, there were rumors. But in Ingolstadt, decided on a large polnoprivodnikom Pikes Peak on the platform of an SUV VW Touareg. Judging by the gleam in the eyes of designers, it will be very interesting car ... But back to the new "Six". What is it? The car was spectacular, bigger, more solid, and engines - more powerful. Claims on sportiness? They were confirmed only in part. But the judge in pre-production machines should not be - if in Ingolstadt will set up a hydraulic boosters, the nature of the "six" becomes more tselnym.Krome that remained behind the scenes presentation of the basic version with the engine 2.4 (170 hp), which will be "open" range the Russian market. I do not have time to ride in cars with CVT Multitronic (now he has not six, and seven fixed "gears"). Finally, we have not found a more affordable version - with a monochrome display, with more modest seats and a "simple" climate control. Hence, we continue to have familiarity Rossii.Nashi dealers start taking orders in late April and the first "living" machines will appear in mid-June. This year, the dealers will offer Audi A6 with motors 2.4 (front drive), 3.0 (known to old predecessor engine, front-or all-wheel drive), 3.0 TDI quattro and 4.2 quattro. Retail prices have not yet been approved, but the Moscow office of Audi made it clear that the machine will be set a competitive price - "even taking into account the fact that in Russia there are assembly plants of foreign cars." This means that the Audi A6 will be in the same price with a BMW 525i and BMW 530i Kaliningrad assembly.