Currently reading: Latest Allroad jumps the Q
Latest Allroad jumps the Q

Audi has revealed the Allroad version of its A6 Avant at Geneva. Hardly changed from last year’s Detroit concept, Audi hopes the Allroad will continue the sales of its predecessor without harming those of its forthcoming Q7 4x4.

The Allroad will come with four engines: two petrol and two diesel. The direct injection petrols are the 255bhp 3.2-litre V6 and 350bhp 4.2-litre V8; the common rail diesels 180bhp 2.7-litre and 233bhp 3.0-litre V6s. Audi quotes 0-62mph times of 7.2 seconds for the petrol V6 and 6.3 for the V8; and 9.3 seconds and 7.5 for the diesels.Six-speed manual or automatic gearboxes channel power to the standard-fit Torsen four-wheel drive system. The system can send up to 75 per cent of torque to either axle as required.

Further help off and on road comes from the adaptive air suspension. It has five modes for driving, two of which are for use off-road. In its highest setting, the Allroad is 64mm higher than the A6 Avant; the ground clearance available ranges from 125mm to 185mm. The system is also self-levelling, enabling large loads to be carried.

The ESP has been further developed for the Allroad to give more traction off-road by intervening later and underbody protection has been increased.

If the Allroad looks extremely similar to the A6 Avant, that’s because the body is unchanged. Beneath that skin there has been even more use of aluminium than in the A6 Avant, and Audi hopes that it can shift plenty of these svelte shapes.

Audi sold 1400 Allroads in 2004 and almost 4000 previous generation A6 Avants at their sales peak. Repeating that performance would be one thing, but with projected sales of the forthcoming Q7 (from £37,285 on the road) at 5000 units a year in the UK, Audi is aiming high. Allroad prices are expected to start at around £35,000 - considerably above the previous Allroad's base price of £27,000.

Add a comment…