Audi A6

If you think the A6 is too understated or you want a sportier drive, the S line is well worth a look. Lowered suspension makes the A6 more involving, but the harsh ride quality will put off many buyers. Given its cheaper price, BMW's 530i Sport will be tempting, yet the S line is a fitting flagship for the Audi line-up... for now.

There is no stopping the Audi sports car development programme. The German company's performance hierarchy now has three tiers, with the hardcore RS models complemented by the less extreme S-badged machines, and backed up by 'warm' S line versions.

However, there are currently no S or RS variants of the new A6 on the price lists, and Audi says they are still a long way off. For the moment at least, the S line is as exciting as the A6 gets - so we took to the wheel to see if sports saloon fans will be satisfied.

Styling is key to the appeal of any sporting Audi. With 18-inch alloy wheels and a striking red paint finish, our car turned plenty of heads, but it almost seemed over the top.
The A6 is such a svelte saloon that embellishing it with too many performance oriented extras doesn't really work - it's like wearing trainers with a business suit.

Perhaps it is a good thing that the S line bodykit is actually a £1,100 option, giving buyers the choice of a more discreet appearance.

Drivers will be more impressed by the mechanical modifications. As well as an uprated 17-inch disc brake system, the S line rides on sports suspension which is 30mm lower than that of lesser models. On the road, this makes the car more agile when cornering, while the flagship model also provides greater feel through the steering.

Despite its size, the A6 S line is far from intimidating to drive on a twisty road, but the firmer suspension becomes more obvious as the surface deteriorates. Poor ride quality is a complaint which is levelled at standard

A6 variants, and the S line is noticeably uncomfortable over potholes.
The good news is that even though the S line won't always be at the top of the performance pecking order, it is available with a selection of potent powerplants. As well as the flagship 4.2-litre V8, buyers can opt for the smooth 3.2 FSI V6 driven here. With 252bhp fed through Audi's legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system, 0-62mph takes only 6.8 seconds. A six-speed manual gearbox makes the most of the Performance, but the sensitive clutch can become irritating around town.

At £35,795, the 3.2-litre S line tested here is undercut by BMW's £34,675 530i Sport, which offers a similar mix of racy M5 styling in a more accessible package. While the Audi's interior feels luxurious thanks to a leather steering wheel and gearknob with S line badging, there is still plenty left on the options list. In fact, our car was fitted with £6,755 worth of extras, including the bodykit.

We have no doubt that Audi's future S6 and RS6 machines will be true thrillers, and despite some of its flaws, the S line has certainly whetted our appetites for what lies ahead.