Audi S6
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→ see also: Audi A6
The Audi S6 is a high-performance version of Audi's A6 sedan. It went on sale in 1994, shortly after the A6 designation was introduced, replacing the 100 nameplate. The original S6 was largely the same car as the outgoing, first generation S4, with the only visible differences being new body-cladding and badging.
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[edit] 1st Generation (1995-1997)
Audi was fairly constantly re-structuring their model lineup in early and mid-1990s, and in 1994 began selling the fifth generation 100 model as the A6. Wanting to keep a sports-sedan in their lineup, the company made small revisions to what had been badged as the S4, and began reselling it as the S6 - the S4 would eventually become a completely separate member of the lineup, based on Audi's A4.
For 1995, the S6 was powered by a 2.2 L turbocharged five-cylinder engine producing 230 PS (169 kW/227 hp) at 5900 rpm and 326 Nm (258 ft.lbf) at around 1950 rpm. The powerful engine gave the S6 surprisingly good performance, it had a top speed of 243 km/h (151 mph) and went from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.1 seconds; 160 km/h (99 mph) was reached in 17.5 seconds. The vehicle came standard with a six speed manual gearbox (5 speed only in the USA), and Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system. It was available as both a sedan and an "Avant" (station wagon) to European customers, but only as a sedan in North America (except as a 1995.5 model,) Asia and Australia.
Audi had made a high-performance, 4.2 L V8 available as an option in the first generation European S4s, and made the decision to continue to do so with the S6, making a 290 PS (213 kW/286 hp) version of the 4.2 available as an optional upgrade over the 5-cylinder. Unlike the turbocharged version, the V8-powered S6 was shipped with automatic transmission by default, but kept the Quattro four wheel drive. A 6-speed manual gearbox was available as an option.
An even more powerful and very limited-production S6 Plus, powered by another version of the V8 (later to be seen in the Audi S8), was briefly available to European customers. Developed by Quattro GmbH, it was available for sale only during the 1997 model year. Only 952 cars were produced in total - 855 Avant (Estate) and 97 Limousines. Audi's performance division reworked key parts of the engine and increased the power output to 326 PS (240 kW/322 hp). During this process they also made revisions to the suspension, brakes and transmission. With so much power on tap, the S6 Plus could reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in less than six seconds, making it compareable in terms of acceleration to vehicles like the Porsche 944 Turbo.
[edit] 2nd Generation (1998-2003)
In 1997, Audi introduced the second generation A6 models. It was a complete re-design, and a new S6 appeared in 2001 on the new platform. It was powered by a 4.2 L 40 valve V8 engine with 340 PS (335 hp/250 kW) at 7000 rpm and 420 N·m (310 ft·lbf) at 3400 rpm, a variation of the engine from the A8. The vehicle could now go from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and from 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in just 21.7 seconds. The top speed was electronically governed to 250 km/h (155 mph). Quattro was again standard, as was a six speed manual gearboxwith the optional 5-speed Tiptronic. As for appearance, the body panels were largely based off of A6 4.2 model, with exaggerated flared wheel arches and door sills. Other features included a 10mm lower body on stiffer suspension, S6 badging, bolstered seats, chromed side view mirror housings, unique front grille and rear decklid spoiler, aluminum hood and front side panels, aluminum subframes and 255/40 ZR tires riding on 17x8" cast alloy, 'Avus' style, six-spoke wheels. Only a wagon version was available to the U.S.
The second generation S6 went out of production in 2003.
A higher performance RS6 was also available, using a twin-turbo version of the 4.2 L V8 engine.
[edit] 3rd Generation (2006-)
The third-generation S6 was introduced in the 2006 North American International Auto Show in January. It features a 5.2 L V10 derived from the Lamborghini Gallardo, detuned to produce "only" 420 PS (309 kW/414 hp) and 540 NM of torque between 3000 - 4000 rpm. A six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and Quattro four wheel drive are standard. The same engine is used in the Audi S8 where it develops 450 PS (331 KW/443 hp).
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- AudiWorld 'S' Cars (UrS6) Discussion Forum
- AudiWorld S6 (C5) Discussion Forum
- AudiWorld S6 (C6) Discussion Forum
- S6PLUS.de - Also available in English
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