24 Mar 06
At almost five metres long and with a kerb weight of 1,970kg, the S6 Avant is a big and heavy chunk of metal: it doesn't appreciate being thrown down tight and twisting country roads. The steering feels too slow and mute, the nose insists on ploughing straight on and the chassis feels inert and aloof, sniffily turning up its nose at any tail-out hooliganism.
Flip open the bonnet and you'll see why the S6 feels so nose heavy - that compact all-alloy V10 engine may only weigh 220kg, but it sits well ahead of the front axle. Which means dynamically, the S6 is a fast-moving sledgehammer - all nose-heavy and tail-light. Not ideal.
But point the S6 down a fast and winding A-road and it gets a real glint in its eye. With room to stretch its legs, the S6 really flows, effortlessly eating up long straights and scything through bends at a comfortable 130mph. And the brakes are top notch. Behind those gorgeous 19inch 'tuning fork' alloy wheels lurk massive ventilated 285mm front and 330mm rear brake discs that provide effortless and stress free performance.
Over the glass-smooth German autobahns and A-roads on our test route, the S6 rode with a planted and unruffled compliancy that cocooned the lavishly equipped cabin beautifully. The aluminium intensive wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension features uprated springs and dampers to tie down the chassis and keep unwanted body roll in check. But I think on our lumpen and craggy roads, the S6 will feel stiff jointed and abrupt - a pity given how well the even more aggressive RS4 rides. And there's no air suspension option, either.
