New Audi A6 S line: same appealing looks, but harshness of ride tempered by new sports setting for S line suspension

Editor’s Blog in conversation with Audi’s James Allitt

SPENT yesterday evening in the company of James Allitt, product manager for the new Audi A6.

Chatting over dinner prior to the launch of the new Audi A6, James told me that the S line specification on the new saloon would feature the company’s new suspension setting: less rock hard.

Audi engineers’ idea of a sporting setting has always been firm to the point of uncomfortable, with little compliance in the ride quality. Which has always been something of a shame, because S line models, with attractive alloy wheels and lowered suspension, have always been ultra desirable. Great if you like your cars to be truly racetrack sporting; but for most business and company car users, a little too ‘al dente’.

But now S line suspension has been re-graded. Previously Audi had offered the standard ultra sporting S line suspension setting: this has changed now, the standard S line setting moving to the less severe Sport. So Audi A6 S line still features 18 inch alloy wheels and suspension lowered by 20mm, but damper settings set to Sport. However, if your preference is for the ultra sporting set up, Audi offers this as a no-cost option.

“We’ve introduced the new S line suspension setting to Audi A5, Q5, A7 and the new A6,” said James, “and the A4 also has the new ride settings, too