Audi A6

FIRST UK DRIVE We hit British roads in Audi’s 5 Series rival to see if it’s got what it takes to be an executive champion.

- Sean Carson

SUVS are eating into the territory of traditional executive saloons, but the premium four-door market isn’t dead yet. Certainly not according to Audi, because the level of development and tech the firm has committed to this fifth-generation A6 makes it the most advanced yet. And it’s very good indeed.

The car still sits on the VW Group’s MLB evo platform – although it’s been reworked, naturally – while there’s a fresh engine, too. In line with Audi’s new naming structure for its power trains, this 40 TDI model denotes a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel that produces 201bhp and 400Nm of torque.

It drives the front wheels through a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox; there’s no quattro four-wheel drive or manual option available with this motor yet. That’s no great shame, because the combination works sweetly.