Agent Dapper: The 2016 Audi gets a luxurious facelift

The 2016 Audi has given its mid-size A6 a mid-cycle facelift to stay relevant in matters of luxury

The battle between luxury car brands continues for 2016 with the fiercest competition, perhaps, between the German trio - BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6 - in the mid-size segment. This week, we floor our heel and steer the newly-revamped 2016 Audi A6 top-spec 3.0T TFSI model. Point to note: there is something espionage-associated - a 'double O' factor - about this car, and we have the evidence to follow up with.

DESIGN & AESTHETICS
All revamped models in the new-generation Audi line-up are being given a PI suffix, and the 2016 A6 is no different. Quite aptly, PI stands for Product Improvement. Imaginably, those who grew up in the '80s would also associate the term PI with Private Investigator or, simply, Private I.
When a revamp is in place, manufacturers need to bring in the most changes but restricted by budget, usually. The few parts that tend to benefit from this are the front and rear lights, front and rear bumpers and alloys. That is exactly what Audi has done, turning this underwhelming A6 design to primo road-going pageantry in an elegant, understated way.

The trapezoidal outline of the light clusters - both front and back - has been maintained, but the internal design intricacies have been changed. Gone are the Xenon projector lamps; instead, you have powerful yet energy-efficient, all-LED headlamps, planted along with horizontal strips of day-time running lamps that also have an LED light source.
The single-frame grille on the older model was big; in the new one, they couldn't make it deeper - so they made it wider, with slight variations in its outer motif. It's filled with black painted slats with chrome lining. Beneath it, you have a wider splitter to enhance a planted, stable look and, with the S-line kit, the bumper is flanked by large air-intakes with round fog lamps.

The front fascia may have changed, but the profile remains as is. The only difference in the three-box car shape is the massive, polished alloy 19-inch wheels that have an elaborate design befitting a Bentley. A little too ornate for a mass-mover Audi, maybe, but there are plenty of other spoke designs to choose from. They come wrapped in ultra low-profile tyres that look racetrack ready. At the rear, the LED tail lamps with a strip arrangement are similar to the units up front. Audi has also decided to give all cars in the A6 range trapezoidal exhaust tips, including this 3.0T - a neatly integrated piece of equipment that merges with the bumper design.
The story of Audi's traditional interiors has been told so many times, it has become folklore. Yes, it is still brilliantly put together with soft touch plastics, natural veneers and smooth leather crafted into a cabin of both ornamental and ergonomic luxury. The accompanying build quality will provide rattle-free years of ownership, and although the rear power sunshade did rattle a little over a bump, we believe this was a one-off case.
The steering is a three-spoke leather-wrapped variety, with a round centre, and easy-to-reach controls. Both the diameter and thickness of the wheel are apt for a luxury car like this. Taking away some traditional geometry are asymmetrical-shaped air vents. A retractable 8-inch infotainment screen may seem underwhelming by today's standards, but it's still quite useful and can make you feel like quite the spy.
Up front, the seats are large enough to seat most with comfort, and come with a variety of power functions. They have a firm cushioning feel and are also supple, even over long haul journeys. Yes, you have both heated and cooled seats, but we never understood how you can activate both at the same time. A question for Agent Q to answer, perhaps!
The CPU of the MMI has been upgraded, but the A6 doesn't get the toggle buttons we saw on the S3. Instead, it has a traditional quadrant of buttons adjacent to the touch pad with handwriting recognition. The artisanal flavour is induced in the mildly clinical interior with natural wood inlays that, in our car, had an exposed grain look - like something you'd see in a high-end boutique. It makes sense, considering that the 'au naturel' look is in - but we all know those 'no make-up selfies' took five hours to plan and execute.
The rear seat comfortably seats three. Legroom and headroom are accommodating and the manually retractable privacy shades keep the sun and nosy people away. Dual pane glass all around keeps the cabin appreciably quiet at all speeds.
Like a well-tailored suit, the A6 exteriors are styled impeccably and built to measure, and the interiors are like the fine satin lining in a suit, comfortable to wear, while also being functional. The A6 design has certainly come of age!
POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
Among the powertrains available, the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with roughly 250 bhp - some 30 more than the last one - should suffice in terms of quickness and fuel efficiency. However, if luxury is your objective, opt for the range topper. It comes with a supercharged direct injection 3.0-litre V6.
The A6 demonstrates smoothness in commute, with-out loss of feel for the road surface, and the handling traits of a competent sports sedan.
It moves with urgency, without jerky transmissions or overly synthesised exhaust tones. On any regular day, as tame as it looks, the 328 horses will help thrust you from 0 to 100 km/h in just over five seconds. As the speed climbs, the smoothness of the engine across the revs becomes apparent.
Some of this smoothness comes from the 8-speed automatic, which may not be their famed dual-clutch S tronic, but it shifts ratios smoothly and, with the application of the paddle shifter, kick downs are quick and upshifts are quicker.
Again, top speed was never tested but this 3.0T easily climbs past 200 km/h, which is very useful if you're doing a cross-country run - 250 km/h is the claimed figure. The brakes are up to the mark, always delivering deceleration with sufficient bite and pedal feel to give you a sense of safety as well.
The electro-mechanical steering is as light as a feather around town and has an aptly increasing effort with speed. The quattro all-wheel drive gives traction at all corners, rendering good road holding over all surfaces. As for cornering tactics, the slightly isolated steering feel takes away some steering accuracy but, with practice, you will be capable of placing this car within the millimetre of where you want to be. If you desire more intimacy with your machine, maybe the BMW 5 or even the S6 is a better choice.
The most emphatic thing about the A6 is its ride quality - the BMW 5 and Merc E don't compare. Even with the optional sports suspension and massive vibration-potent 19-inch wheels, the suspension butters up the uneven bready surfaces and slides you across great distances smoothly. We'd like to call it signature smooth - meaning, you can give your John Hancock without a real struggle. Lastly, the 7.6l/100km shouldn't bother any upper-middle class family!
FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
To be an agent, you need agility - which the A6 has. You also need to have eyes all over the place, watching your back, and source the latest information while on the fly. In those terms, the A6 comes with an 8-inch infotainment screen operated ?via the updated MMI system. It displays the latest navigation system, which is easy to use and has good graphical represent-ations of your town structures. If you have a data connection, you can superimpose Google maps, which is like having a bird's-eye view of travelling through town - it is incredible technology. The connection allows 4G WiFi networking in the car for other occupants to use.
To keep you entertained between destinations, you have a 1000-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system - you will revel in its precision-engineered quality sound. The Bose option is also good, but stay away from the base Audi unit. Now, for the first time in an A6 you get, not one, but two USB ports! You also have Bluetooth connectivity, which streams music and picks up meta tags, and applies the album graphics to the screen.
Sure, it rained over the last week, but cool weather is rare in our desert environs. On sunny days, the A6's air-conditioner will keep a cool, desirable temperature and humidity within the cabin via its four-zone climate control system.
If we insist on its espionage association, the A6 would need eyes all around like any spy - which it does, starting with the basic rear camera and four-camera bird's-eye view. Electronics like adaptive cruise control system, blind spot monitor and lane keeping assists also keep you away from road dangers.
Finally, it's also about how much equipment you can carry without hassle. The A6 has plenty of storage bins and a large trunk that can be enlarged with the drop down of rear seats that split, if necessary. Did I mention they've thrown in wireless charging into the mix? No need to untangle wires; place your phone in the designated spot and let it charge!
VERDICT
In the current crop of mid-tier luxury cars, the revamped 2016 Audi A6 has proved to be the superlative of its segment, besting both the current 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It executes commuting in quickness, smoothness and luxury while maintaining understated but elegant poise.
It entails all the pageantry and gadgetry of a bona fide Bond car and, if you look close enough, you will see the "double O" in the brand logo itself.

• On The Road