Audi allroad quattro
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| Audi allroad quattro | |
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| Manufacturer | Audi AG |
| Parent company | Volkswagen Group |
| Also called | allroad, A6 allroad |
| Production | 1999–present |
| Assembly | Neckarsulm, Germany |
| Class | Mid-size luxury car/crossover |
| Body style(s) | 5-door Avant estate car/station wagon |
| Layout | Front engine, quattro permanent four-wheel drive |
| Platform | Volkswagen Group C platform series |
| Related | Audi A6 Avant |
The Audi allroad quattro is a mid-size executive car; an estate car/station wagon, produced by German automaker Audi since 2000, and was based on the existing Audi A6 Avant. The allroad quattro remains in production for Europe, but not for North America as of December 2006.
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[edit] 1st generation: (C5) allroad quattro (1999-2005)
| Audi (C5) allroad quattro | |
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| Production | 1999 - 2005 |
| Platform | Volkswagen Group C5 platform |
| Engine(s) | 2.7 L V6 Twinturbo 4.2 L V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 5-speed automatic 6-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 108.5 in (2756 mm) |
| Length | 189.4 in (4811 mm) |
| Width | 76.1 in (1933 mm) |
| Height | 2000-02: 60.1 in (1527 mm) 2003-05: 62.0 in (1575 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 70 litres (18.5 US gal/15.4 imp gal) |
The first generation allroad shares its platform with the second generation "C5" Audi A6 mid-size car / executive car and its rear end is almost identical to the A6 Avant, the station wagon version. The main differences are an advanced air suspension system, larger wheels with all-terrain tires and flared and unpainted bumpers, giving it a distinct appearance and more overall flexibility over varying terrain. Audi's Torsen-based quattro permanent four-wheel drive system is standard equipment for all versions. It is believed that Audi introduced the allroad due to the success of the Subaru Outback,[citation needed] however on a larger platform and with a larger, more powerful engine.
[edit] Off-road capabilities
The allroad was designed with the capability to tackle rough road conditions in mind; its standard adjustable air suspension system can lift the car high enough to provide 208 mm (8 in) of ground clearance and a low-range mode, absent from other quattro-equipped vehicles, can be selected with the touch of a button. When used in conjunction, the two systems made it possible for the allroad to complete an official Land Rover test-course, thus far it is the only car-based SUV that has been proven capable of doing so in testing.
Conversely, the air suspension can lower the vehicle down to only 142 mm (6 in) above road level and simultaneously stiffen the spring and damper rates to provide a sporty driving experience much like that of the conventional A6 with the sports suspension. Many owners choose to fit their allroad with a sportier, road oriented tyre to emphasize its sporty side, as most owners will never venture onto terrain rough enough to necessitate having a tyre specifically designed for off-road conditions.[citation needed]
[edit] Engines
Audi's 2.7 L, twin-turbo V6 gasoline engine with 250 PS (247 hp/184 kW) of power and 350 N·m (258 ft·lbf) of peak torque was available initially, alongside the 2.5 L TDI Diesel unit with 132 kW (180 PS) and 370 Nm (273 ft·lbf) torque. A variant of the corporate 4.2 V8 gasoline engine, shared with the A6, was made available in 2003, first in North America and later in other markets, and a less powerful TDI (163 bhp) followed in 2004.
[edit] Sales
Despite this versatility and generally positive word of mouth from owners and magazine reviews, allroad sales failed expectations in the North American market for which it was originally intended. Oddly, most of its sales came from Europe, especially its native Germany. Its somewhat high price, lack of market identity in its segment and Audi's ambiguous advertising seem to have been the primary contributing factors; buyers who tend to normally seek either the more car-like look and ride of station wagons or the larger, less ambiguous styling of sport utility vehicles tended to reject the allroad as being too little like either.
Sales had a slight increase in 2004, due to the availability of the less expensive Diesel engine, but fell again in 2005. Audi stopped production of the allroad in July of that year. Although the model continued to be available for sale throughout 2006 in Europe, there was no 2006 model year for North America.
[edit] 2nd generation: (C6) A6 allroad quattro (2006-present)
| Audi (C6) A6 allroad quattro | |
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| Production | 2006 - present |
| Platform | Volkswagen Group C6 platform |
| Engine(s) | Petrol/Gasoline: 3.2 V6 and 4.2 V8 L Diesel: 2.7 and 3.0 L |
| Transmission(s) | 6-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 2833 mm (112 in) |
| Length | 194.2 in (4933 mm) |
| Width | 1862 mm (73 in) |
| Height | 1459 mm (57 in) 1519 mm (60 in) |
| Fuel capacity | 80 litres (21.1 US gal/17.6 imp gal) |
Audi announced the second generation allroad in the spring of 2005 and released it in the summer of 2006. This new model will be officially called Audi A6 allroad quattro (unlike the previous version, which was merely called Audi allroad quattro, with no reference to the A6). The car features again adaptive air suspension and new quattro permanent four-wheel drive system. The A6 allroad is powered by a choice of two Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) petrol engines, a 3.2 L V6 and a 4.2 L V8, and two TDI diesel engines, a 180 PS (132 kW) 2.7 L and a 233 PS (171 kW) 3.0 L. The Tiptronic gearbox is standard on the 4.2 V8 and the 2.7 TDI, but optional on the 3.2 FSI and 3.0 TDI. The new 6-speed Tiptronic transmission system converts high-torque engine power into both sporty performance and operating convenience, with crisp, fast gear changes. Advanced electronics respond efficiently to all driver input in both D (Drive) and S (Sport) programmes, helping to prevent unwanted upshifts when cornering. The five-mode air suspension can be raised by up to 60 mm to provide ground clearance of 185 mm which better than the elder four-mode. The car features a number of off-road styling cues including larger bumpers and sills.
In some European markets, the new A6 allroad quattro is more expensive than the larger Audi Q7, but air suspension is an expensive option in the Q7. In its native country, Germany, it costs a few hundred euros less than the Q7.
The second generation is currently not available in North America.
Audi launched the Audi Q7 full-size luxury SUV in 2006, which shares its platform with the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg. To date, the A6 allroad quattro model has received critical acclaim, thanks to a lower price than the larger Q7, an enjoyable driving experience, some off-road credentials and a superb quality cabin.[citation needed] A smaller and sportier Q5 compact luxury SUV has been introduced at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show for the 2009 model year (2010 for North America).
[edit] External links
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| Super 90 | Fox (B1) | 4000 (B2) | 80 / 90 (B3) | 80 / 90 (B4) | A4 (B5-B8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4000CS quattro | S4 (B5-B8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size car | ... 100 (C1) | 5000 (C2) | 100 / 200 (C3) | 100 / 200 (C4) | A6 (C4-C6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Coupé | Coupé GT | Quattro T89(B3) | A5 / S5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roadster | TT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports car | Quattro (Ur-Quattro) | RS6 | RS4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Convertible | Cabriolet (B4) | A4 Cabriolet / S4 Cabriolet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact SUV | Q5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crossover SUV | allroad quattro | A6 allroad quattro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luxury SUV | Q7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founder: August Horch • Audi corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group • quattro GmbH • Audi Driving Experience • Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. • VolkswagenGroupAmerica corporate website • Electronics Research Laboratory | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
