2013 Audi A6 Allroad

The new A6 Allroad is 4.94 meters (16.21 ft) long, 1.90 meters (6.23 ft) wide and 1.47 meters (4.82 ft) tall, making it a few millimeters bigger than the station wagon variant. Furthermore, the body of the new Allroad sits 60mm (2.36 in) higher than that of the regular A6 Avant.

Along with the massive front grille with the chromed vertical slats, the Allroad version of the A6 gets new bumpers, more widely flared fenders, stainless steel covers to protect the front and rear of the car, as well as the exhaust system in the rare case someone actually goes off road, and chunkier roof bars.

It also rides on bespoke 18-inch, five-arm alloy wheels shod in 235/55-size tires, though Audi does offer 19 and 20 inch rims as an option.

What really sets apart the A6 Allroad from its smaller A4 sibling is the standard, adaptive air suspension that lowers the body by 15 millimeters (0.59 in) at high speed and raises it by 35 millimeters (1.38 in) at the push of a button. Moreover, a special lift mode at low speeds adds another ten millimeters (0.39 in).

As with the other variants of the latest A6 series, total vehicle weight on the Allroad has been reduced by as much as 70 kg (154 lb) compared with the previous model.

In Europe, there are four available powerplants including one TFSI gasoline engine and three TDI diesel units.

The 3.0-liter V6 TFSI is rated at 310HP and 440 Nm (325 lb-ft) and accelerates the Allroad to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.9 seconds on the way to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155mph). It consumes 8.9 liters of fuel per 100km (26.4 mpg US).

All three diesel engines are based on Audi's 3.0-liter V6 TDI producing 204HP, 245HP and in the case of the twin-turbocharged version, 313HP. The most powerful diesel, which is linked to an 8-speed auto, allows for 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.6 seconds and an electronically regulated 250 km/h (155mph) tops speed.

The TSI and the two less potent diesel engines are paired to Audi's 7-speed dual clutch transmission.

We still don't know if Audi will bring the A6 Allroad to North America, but in Europe, it goes on sale this spring the base 204HP TDI model starting from €54,600 (about US$70,000).

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VW Passat Goes Off-Road with Alltrack Version

Volkswagen has released the first-ever crossroad version of its Passat mid-size model, named the Passat Alltrack. It will receive its world premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show on December 3 and will go on sale in early 2012.

A successful recipe is not meddled with so the (European) Passat Estate-based Alltrack has all the goods one expects in the segment: raised suspension height, stainless steel-look front and rear underbody protection panels and plastic covered wheel arches that house 18-inch alloys.

Ground clearance has been increased from 135mm to 165 mm. This has improved the ramp breakaway angle from 9.5 to 12.8 degrees, while the redesigned front and rear bumpers have increased approach and departure angles from 13.5 to 16 degrees and from 11.9 to 13.6 degrees respectively.

The 4Motion all-wheel drive system uses an electrohydraulic Haldex clutch. Under normal use, it sends 90% of the power to the front axle and just 10% to the rear, though when necessary almost 100% can be directed to the rear axle.

The Passat Alltrack also sports an off-road mode, which works at speeds up to 30 km/h (18 mph). When the driver switches it on through dashboard-mounted button, the system activates hill descent assist, which automatically brakes the vehicle when the descent angle is greater than 10 degrees, and also alters the function of the ABS and the electronic differential locks (EDS).

On DSG-equipped cars, it also increases the transmission’s change points to make the gas pedal easier to modulate, and it doesn’t upshift when in manual mode.

The Alltrack will be available with two turbocharged direct injection petrol engines delivering 160HP and 210HP, and two turbodiesels with 140 and 170HP.

The 170HP diesel and the 210HP gasoline engines will feature all-wheel drive and a dual-clutch DSG transmission as standard, while the 140HP diesel will be optionally available with all-wheel drive.

Volkswagen did not say if the Passat Alltrack will be offered in the States.

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