The new 2013 S6 is dead in the middle of Audi’s performance S class line-up. It uses the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 found in its big brother the S7 which makes 420 horsepower at 6400 rpm. Maximum torque is an impressive 406 lb-ft, which is available from 1400 to 5200 rpm. To change gears the S6 uses a dual-clutch seven-speed transmission, which allows it to get much better fuel efficiency than the previous model. It also uses an upgraded version of the famous Audi Quattro (all-wheel-drive) system that is designed to send the majority of the power to the rear wheels. The exact pricing is not yet known but we can expect the base price to be around $70k.
The previous S6 packed a more powerful 435-hp naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V-10. The new V-8 engine does not sound as mean, but it is much more efficient, increasing MPG by approximately 25 percent. Despite the slight drop in power the new S6 happens to also be much faster. Car and Driver recently clocked the S6 running to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. To put that into perspective the last S6 need 5.4 seconds to get to 60. It is able to achieve this because of a very improved launch control system. Like most European sports cars, top speed is limited to 155 mph but the S6 would supposedly be able to reach speeds up to 190 miles per hour.
To improve the handling of this car Audi gave it a longer wheelbase, less front weight bias, and decreased the total weight. It was able to get 0.87 g on the skidpad, and stop from 70 – 0 in 157 feet. These numbers aren’t quite as impressive as its straight-line acceleration but it is still in line with similar performance sedans like the BMW M5.
Fuel efficiency has seen an increase to 17-mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. This can mostly be attributed to the S6’s cylinder deactivation system and low engine friction.
The new Audi S6 has seen extreme improvements with the 2013 model. Its 0 – 60 time is all the more impressive when you consider the relatively modest amount of horsepower under the hood. We definitely commend Audi, because this year the S6 went from being a peppy soccer dad sports sedan, to an aggressive performance machine.
