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Audi is proposing a new small sports saloon for the US market - and it's just supermini-sized.
With a growing trend towards downsizing in the US, especially among city dwellers, the Roadjet Concept, a four-door fastback, takes up little road space but has a high roof and roomy interior. Its four individual seats are high-set - and almost MPV-like - for a good view of the road and it has large, tall windows for plenty of light. Is this Audi's A-Class?
The Roadjet isn't just about pure practicality, however, nor is it a penny-pinching economy compact. It acts as a showcase for Audi's new seven-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission, to feature in a number of high-performance Audis in the near future; a 300bhp version of the 3.2-litre FSI direct-injection petrol engine; a new variable-ratio steering set-up; and variable shock absorbers. All this works, inevitably, with the quattro four-wheel drive system, as in all high-performance Audis.
It also incorporates a series of electronic systems which "will be finding their way into production models in the next few years", says Audi - including car-to-car communication tools and other wireless functions.
The comprehensively-engineered Roadjet looks as if wouldn't be too far from production if it meets with a rapturous reception this week, but expect to see a number of its features used in existing model-ranges first. The three-mode driving characteristics control, giving a choice of Comfort, Dynamic and Sport modes for steering, suspension, engine and transmission responses, has to be near-ready.
Here and now, the new-generation S6 is available to order. Offered in saloon and Avant estate form, the ultimate A6 now comes with the M5-rivalling V10 FSI engine as used in the A8: a 5.2-litre unit producing 420bhp. Acceleration 0-60moh comes up in 5.2 seconds, or 5.3 seconds in the Avant. If this isn't quite fast enough for you, then don't fear: an even quicker RS6 will follow later in the year, with a 550bhp version of the V10 used in the Q7 off-roader.
The S6 has been substantially modified over the standard A6, with revised steering, steel-spring suspension, six-speed tiptronic transmission and quattro four-wheel drive. It is kitted out with a distinctive single-frame grille with vertical struts, flared front wheel arches, 19-inch wheels and rear spoiler, with leather/Alcantara upholstery on the inside.
