Audi doesn’t do crisis, that’s the message from a confident UK MD as he prepares to launch the comparatively small selling but highly profitable and desirable A6 allroad.
The new, third generation allroad is in showroom on 7 July and its already heading towards some eager buyers.
Such is the demand for the ever increasing number of new and revised Audi models that Martin Sander, the relatively new Director of Audi UK, said he asked for more production to be given over to right hand drive versions, adding, “We are not participating in the crisis and are growing our business.”
With numerous record years behind them in the UK, Audi’s sales for the first five months of this year show another 7.5 per cent increase with a total of 55,000 new cars already sold. This is well ahead of target to beat last year’s record total of 113,797 sales which itself was a 14 per cent increase over those achieved in 2010.
Sander added at the A6 Allroad press launch this week, “Cars like the A6 Allroad define ‘premium’. Audi is a premium brand and premium brand customers are very demanding. In the UK the Allroad traditionally attracts the most affluent customers of any model we sell.”
He added, “Customers appreciate its estate car design, refinement and all wheel drive capabilities because it does not have the disadvantages of a cumbersome heavyweight 4×4 SUV.”
The new Allroad joins the new A6 Saloon and Avant estate models launched last year. Over 13,000 A6’s are sold annually in the UK and the specialist Allroad version should add 600 sales this year and close to a 1,000 units in a full year.
Amy Wand, Audi UK’s A6 product manager said that UK sales were split 50-50 between retail and fleet/business customers and 90 per cent of buyers were males, adding, “But that doesn’t mean the Allroad is predominately driven by men, it is a stylish premium 4×4 roomy estate for all reasons and seasons.”
With the new A6 Allroad’s strong, stiff but lightweight construction using aluminium components, overall weight is reduced by 70kg over the outgoing model. With improvements to the engines, transmissions and weight saving measures, fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions are improved by 20 per cent.
Increases in standard specification include MMI Navigation, leather upholstery, 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors and hill descent control. Standard specification for all versions also includes automatic engine Start/Stop function, braking energy regeneration and Drive Select, which allows the driver to tailor the performance of the five mode adjustable air suspension, electronic steering and accelerator response.
The new A6 Allroad is longer with a lengthened wheelbase for improved rear passenger legroom, it is wider and offers more boot and load space ranging from 565 to 1680-litres. The new Allroad also has a braked towing capacity of 2,500kg, an improvement of 500kg.
Good space to be in empty or loaded The Allroad quattro is available with the choice of four, 3.0-litre, V6 engines; three diesel units which include Audi’s new BiTDI 313PS/650Nm unit and one supercharged 3.0-litre TFSI 310PS/440Nm petrol engine. All have multi-speed automatic transmissions.
Prices range from £45,020 to £49,445 with the 3.0-litre TDI 245PS version predicted to be the choice of 86 per cent of buyers costing £44,690. The provisional contract hire cost for this model for a 36month/10,000 annual mileage is £512 per month excluding Vat.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The Audi A6 allroad is virtually unique in the UK, writes ROBIN ROBERTS.
The closest rival I can think of is the Subaru Outback, but otherwise anyone looking for a large, roomy, all-wheel-drive car would have to raise eyes and budgets for a bigger 4×4. For some the big 4x4s are simply too big to handle and do not have a sharp feel on road.
Well, the A6 allroad addresses concerns and completely instills confidence with its all round ability and agility.
It is very well equipped and the ability to raise the ride height for rougher terrain or floods is a really good selling point. Backing this is the Drive Select system and you have a car that you can tailor very precisely to your own style or prevailing conditions.
The boot-space is very practical with low opening, a flat wide and long floor and the capacity quickly triples with the three back seats down.
At the other end, my first run was in the anticipated best selling 245ps model and it’s a tremendous package with good acceleration for overtaking and an easy gait on dual carriageways.
Moving into the bi-turbo 3113ps model with its new engine and you immediately notice the extra power comes in when overtaking.
The automatic transmission is exceptionally smooth going up or down the box, the brakes are powerful and the steering has a good turning circle even if it sometimes feels a little remote from the wheels beneath.
Ride quality depends on the chosen programme in the system and the surface beneath. Choose comfort or auto and its smoother than the dynamic mode, for instance.
With the 245ps model we achieved 34mpg, and the stablemate returned an indicated 32mpg with the 313ps engine. A small difference at the pumps but a bigger difference on the road when you need more power.
You can live with an allroad more easily than a bigger 4×4 and that has to be a consideration for today’s buyers who want quality and all-weather capability.
