Audi's New A6 Hybrid Reportedly Confirmed for the U.S. Market

When Audi pulled the wraps off the newest iteration of the A6 in November, 2010, the Ingolstadt-based automaker made no word about the availability of the hybrid variant in the North American market. And officially, the Germans are still refusing to confirm the A6 Hybrid.

However, Car&Driver magazine is now reporting that it has received confirmation from "several reliable sources within Audi" that the new A6 Hybrid will be sold in the USA starting from next year with a price "somewhere north of $55,000".

It is believed that the U.S.-spec model will be similar to the European version that also goes on sale in 2012.

The European model employs a parallel hybrid concept combining a 2.0-liter TFSI gasoline engine delivering 211-horses and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) with an electric motor that produces an output of 33 kW (45 hp) and 211 Nm (155.63 lb-ft) of torque.

Directly mounted behind one another, the four-cylinder gasoline engine and the electric motor have a brief combined system output of 245HP (180kW) and 480 Nm (354.03 lb-ft). A modified 8-speed tiptronic transmission transfers power to the front wheels.

The electric motor draws energy from a lithium-ion battery system, which weighs in at 36.7 kg (80.91 lb) and is located in the collision-protected area under the luggage compartment. Audi says the luggage capacity is 375 liters (13.24 cu. ft), which is significantly less than the regular model's 530 liters (18.7 cu.ft).

What you get in return is a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 238 km/h (148mph), but more importantly, a combined fuel economy in the European cycle of less than 6.4 liters per 100 km (36.75 US mpg) with CO2 emissions of less than 146 grams per km (234.96 g/mile).

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The All New Audi A6 to Hit the Indian Shores

Come this September and you will be greeted by the new Audi A6. After recently launching the RS5 and A7, Audi India will bring in the new A6 in order to increase its foothold in the premium segment.

First look at the new A6 and you can easily mistake it for the A8L. But the side profile of the car proves that it is still the A6 which now is shorter than its predecessor. However, the wheelbase has increased by almost 69 mm which is reflected in the cabin space. The front end looks quite like the A8L which is actually not bad. The headlamps are now entirely an LED affair with daytime running lamps. The front bumper has also been reworked which also has an extended lip spoiler and fog lamps now sit deep inside. Overall, the front is now aggressive but still has an element of conservative styling. The roofline is more coupe-like in this car and the tail lamps are more flamboyant now.

Audi has always made the best in business cabins and oh boy! The story is no different in this Audi. Every element of the cabin coalesces together to create an ambience like no other. Everything in this cabin exudes quality and class. The front as well as the rear seats are very comfortable and supportive and this cabin is a nice place to be in. The equipment list is endless. You get an awesome Bang & Olufsen music system, dual zone climate control, touchpad for the MMI, heated and cooled seats and lots of other things. It's like a “you name it and you got it” affair.

Audi A6 is 80 kilograms lighter than the previous model and this helps in improving the handling dynamics. However, what lets down the driving experience is the numb and lifeless steering wheel. Audi will offer two petrol and two diesel engine options. The petrol motors churn out either 204bhp or 299bhp whereas the diesels pump out 177bhp or 245bhp. The 7-speed S tronic dual clutch gearbox is a cherry on the cake and makes this car a delight to drive.

Audi India has hinted that this new A6's pricing will be similar to the previous model. Expect the car to start at about Rs 40 lakhs going all the way upto Rs. 53 lakhs for the top-end. This new Audi A6 has been transformed and is surely worth the wait.

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Audi Begins Producing A4 and A6 Models in Indonesia

Like many other automakers, Audi is constantly expanding its production network to include new countries. This time, the German premium carmaker has launched a new assembly plant in Indonesia in cooperation with INDOMOBIL /Garuda Mataram Motor, to produce the Audi A4 1.8 TFSI and A6 2.0 TFSI cars in the capital city Jakarta.

The first A4 and A6 models were delivered to Indonesian customers earlier this month, with the German company planning to assemble around 2,700 cars per year by 2015, including 2,000 A4 models, exclusively for the Indonesian market.

Audi said the Indonesian car market is forecast to grow by 15 percent this year, with sales in the premium segment expected to double over the next five years.

“After having done so in key markets like China and India, we’ve now found an outstanding partner for local assembly of our Audi models in Indonesia: INDOMOBIL/Garuda Mataram Motor,” said Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management for Production at AUDI AG.

"As one of the most important countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia is one of Asia’s most dynamic growth regions. We’d like to contribute to this growth, since growth is an important component of Audi’s brand strategy.

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