Audi A6

Impressions:

Audi is there when you want to move up from your Volkswagen and into another German-built vehicle that offers more cachet. You might think that that's a natural progression, but Audi competes in one of the toughest automotive segments, made that way by a number of Japanese and German manufacturers that take their luxury cars just as seriously.

The company with the best technology usually wins and the 2007 A6 has loads of it along with stunning good looks. Originally introduced only in all-wheel-drive-sedan format for its total redesign in 2005, the 2007 A6 lineup adds a front-wheel-drive model with a 255-horsepower 3.2-liter V6/continuously variable transmission combo. A wagon also joins the lineup this year with the 3.2, standard Quattro A6 all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic manual control. This model will be of particular interest to all-wheel-drive All-Road wagon fans since it has been discontinued this year. If youre looking for a little more power, your Audi A6 sedan can be ordered with a 335-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 that also comes with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Among the A6 unique appointments is a single knob located on the console that operates in conjunction with a dash-mounted seven-inch video screen to control the cabin temperature, central locking system, vehicle diagnostics, audio controls, navigation system, cellular phone and gauge cluster. The A6 parking brake is even controlled by an on/off switch rather than the usual pull lever.