It is no secret that Audi is one of those brands that instantly evoke a sense of luxury and refinement and the 2016 S6 4.0T quattro S Tronic keeps that legacy going strong. The perfect blend of sport and class, the S6 checks all the boxes for the optimal driving experience. A true sporty sedan, the S6 is just as fun to drive, as it is to marvel. Visually, the body of the S6 is a work of art. From the ground up, power exudes from this sedan. The pairing of the S6 Sport Package and Black Optic Package kick up the fierceness of this sedan. The Black Optic package adds 20” 5-double-spoke wheels with a titanium finish, body colored exterior mirrors and high gloss accents; while the Sport Package adds sport exhaust system with black tips, quattro sport rear differential and Audi dynamic steering. Don’t get me wrong, all the style doesn’t come from the upgraded options, the standard features are on par and even surpass some of its competitors in the segment. Sporty rocker panels, Xenon wrap around headlights with LED daylight running lights and taillights, integrated fog lights and power sunroof.
With all of the ogling at the exterior, I was itching to take this machine on the road. As soon as I engaged the 4.0-liter TFSI® V8 engine with 7-speed S tronic® transmission, I felt the adrenaline begin to course through my veins. It would be too easy to just roll out, I had to rev the engine and take it all in. On a particular clear traffic day in Los Angeles (about 30 minutes…lol) — I was able to get a great feel for the power and agility of the S6. With 450-horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque, dipping and diving down the road was exhilarating.
Tapping into my multiple driving personalities I was able to test out Audi Select Drive features. Knuckling down with my hands locked in Driver’s Ed ‘10 and 2’, the Dynamic mode gave me a firm and controlled experience. The distinct difference in performance at higher and lower speeds kept me on my toes…but in a good way. For a more ‘rollin’ down the strip’ feel the Comfort mode was the ticket. Floating down the road with ease, I was in heaven in this effortless mode. You can really tap into your inner “Sybil” in the Individual mode. You can pick and choose from all the driving modes of the engine and transmission and create the optimal driving experience.
Tight in the straightaways and/or fluid in the turns, the choice was mine…and you know a lady loves options! And speaking of options, the Driver Assistance package adds Audi adaptive cruise control w/stop and go, Audi pre-sense plus, Audi active lane assist and a Top view camera system. With all these driving choices and features one would think that fuel economy would be sacrificed, but for an $81,000 sporty sedan the combined 21-MPG (18-city and 27-hwy) is right in pocket. While I get the energy recuperation feature with start-stop system, I am not a fan of the way it works. It has a Pavlov’s dog effect on me that takes be back to my “hooptie” driving days when my car would shut off, but luckily that’s not the case with this feature.
Much like a middle child when so much attention is given to other features, Safety may not be paramount in engineering and design, but that’s not the case with the S6. There will be no “Marsha, Marsha, Marshas” to the safety component of the S6. Airbags placed to protect the driver and passengers at every angle are standard features. The ESC (Electronic Stability Control), quattro all-wheel drive and 3-point safety belts with automatic pretensioning and load limiters are designed to spring in to action if the need ever arises.
The exterior of the 5-seater S6 is so easy on the eyes at first sight, but the inner cabin got me all warm and tingly on the inside. From the front S6 heated Valcona quilted sport leather seats to Carbon Atlas inlays carrying on to the black headliner, the S6 is cloaked in luxury.
Touches like: Four-zone automatic climate control, sleek center console, Audi connect®, Bluetooth Connectivity, 3-spoke flat bottom leather wrapped multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, Audi navigation plus with MMI® touch and the award-winning BOSE® Surround Sound and Sirius satellite radio literally have you riding in the lap of luxury.
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