2007 Audi S6 First Drive

Written By: MyRide.com
Reprinted under license.

A brute sedan...with manners

Introduction

Audi S6 - 2007 First Drive: Quick - name the midsize luxury sedan that sells the best in most global markets. Here's a hint - it's from a German manufacturer. BMW 3 Series? Nope. Mercedes-Benz E-Class? Wrong again. It's the Audi A6. If you had no clue, don't beat yourself up too much - you're not alone. Even Johan de Nysschen, Audi of America's executive vice president, admits that his company's cars are "under-recognized and under-appreciated in the U.S." In short, he says, "people in the U.S. need to know us."

To that end, 19 new or redesigned models will be launched in the near future, all intended to nail down the attention, and hopefully the buying dollars of U.S. car shoppers. Set to arrive in November is one of those new rides, the 2007 Audi S6, which uses a mighty 435-horsepower, Lamborghini Gallardo-sourced V10 engine to get noticed on the street, yet steers clear of appearing obnoxious with only subtle design cues, including beefy 19-inch alloys and strategically placed badges. As such, the S6 has a powerful presence, yet not so much that it will make Junior quake in fear upon first sight. No, outlandish and intimidating design are not what mark the S6, rather it's that V10 engine coupled with Audi's respected quattro all-wheel-drive system, not to mention firmer suspension settings and tighter steering, all of which works in concert to greet 60 mph in only 5.1 seconds. That just may be the recipe for getting your name on people's lips, though it's not necessarily what's needed to dethrone perennial favorites like the 500-horsepower BMW M5. Audi responds by saying that, yes, the S6 lacks the Bimmer's raw grunt, but that its sedan is significantly more refined and benefits from four-wheel traction. After a day's drive, we'd concur, and come away with this perspective - if in a steak house you desire meat so rare that you can smell the pasture, best to go with the M5; however, if medium rare is your taste, check out the S6 on the Audi menu.

Model Mix

Besides a German-bred V10 under its hood, the all-wheel-drive 2007 Audi S6 packs a bounty of standard features behind its $74,020 base price (including a $720 destination charge and $1,300 gas guzzler tax). As befitting a pricey luxury car, there's a leather-wrapped power tilt and telescoping steering wheel with memory, a power sunroof, a dual-zone climate control system to keep the driver and front passenger comfy, high-grade Nappa leather on the seats and door panels, power front buckets with memory for the driver, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Sounds good, but that's just the start - the S6 buyer also gets rain-sensing wipers, Audi's MMI central-control interface, a 13-speaker Bose sound system with a six-disc CD changer and MP3 player, heated windshield and headlight washers, Bluetooth connectivity, and the safety of front-side as well as side-curtain airbags for front and rear passengers. Of course, the usual array of luxury features such as power windows and mirrors are covered, too.

Genuine grey birch trim is standard fare on the S6, though it can be replaced by carbon fiber inlays for $400. Buyers seeking a more personalized ride may also opt for a black leather dash ($1,275), Sirius satellite radio ($550), rear-side airbags ($350), a heated rear bench seat ($225), or intelligent cruise control ($2,000). The Warm Weather Package, which includes rear sunshades and a solar roof panel for $1,190 may be another item of interest, as may the $3,900 Technology Package with its voice-activated controls, keyless ignition, rear parking aid system, navigation system, and Sirius satellite radio. If that's not enough, another $750 will buy an S6 dipped in Phantom Black Pearl or Sprint Blue Pearl paint. However, you can save the $750 by going with Brilliant Black, Light Silver, Brilliant Red, Quartz Gray, or Ibis White instead.

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