The previous combination of a 4.0-liter V8 and a "robot" gave way to a different powertrain: a 2.9-liter gasoline "six" equipped with an electric supercharger, a pair of turbos, and an additional 48-volt electrical system.
The powertrain produces 450 hp and 600 Nm of torque. It works in conjunction with an eight-speed automatic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive quattro, where the central self-locking differential in normal mode distributes torque to the axles in a 40:60 ratio with a bias towards the rear. For an additional cost, an active rear differential, rear-wheel steering, and adaptive suspension are available.
This Audi S6 accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds — 0.6 seconds faster than the diesel version for the European market.
For Europe, cars with a three-liter diesel "six" producing 349 hp are provided, featuring turbocharging, an electric compressor, a starter-generator, and a 48-volt onboard network. This variant uses the same automatic transmission and all-wheel drive as the American version of the S6. In the US, prices start at $73,900, while the European diesel S6 is priced from €76,500.
