It was about -30C in the Yukon Territory the first time I heard the word “quattro,” Italian for the number four.
The adjective that prefaced it was “turbo” and the name of America’s reigning rally champion was in the same sentence.
John Buffum’s Audi Turbo Quattro was legendary on the American rally scene, and especially among the field of 65 teams participating in the 1985 Alcan 5000 winter road rally. But until I was halfway through the grueling 5,000-mile ordeal, I had not seen Mr. Buffum or the car.
I eventually laid eyes on Mr. Buffum’s rally-prepared 1985 Audi Turbo Sport Quattro when he blew by my lumbering 8,000-pound GMC Suburban diesel like the Road Runner flashed by Wile E. Coyote in those Looney Tunes cartoons. Beep Beep!
I detected a slight turbo wine above the scratching of studded tires on an icy section of the Alaska Highway. Then, a split second before minute chips of ice and flying snow obscured the view, I caught a glimpse of the badge on the back of John Buffum’s car. Quattro, designating Audi’s innovative all-wheel-drive system, which had recently come onto the market to rave reviews.
The word has remained in my psyche for the last 34 years as synonymous with performance and quality. So it was no surprise that, as I recently clocked 2,000 kilometres on an all-new 2019 Audi A6, a smile crept over my face every time I looked at the small Quattro plaque on the dash.
Audi’s new A6 is about as flawless as a luxury sedan can be. It is an understated, sculptured class act that rewards its driver and passengers from the time they lay eyes on it and settle into its interior to experience its comfort and road manners to that look back after it’s parked.
The big sedan is powered by Audi’s smooth turbocharged 3.0-litre direct-injected V6 coupled to a seven-speed S-tonic dual-clutch automatic transmission. Its 335 horsepower do a fine job propelling the A6 from a standing start to 100 km/h in the five-second range. Top speed is electronically limited to 250 kilometres per hour.
The A6’s integrated mild hybrid system uses energy recovered during braking to assist the engine and improve fuel consumption. During my drive from Toronto to Halifax, I got an impressive 7.6 L/100 kilometres, eclipsing Transport Canada’s 8.2 L/100 rating.
The exterior design, like Audi’s new A7 and A8 models, features sculptured edges and striking lines supporting the A6’s characteristics of sophistication and high tech. Its wider and lower grill and redesigned taillights touch off a subtle but progressive advancement of a car that begs admiration and desire.
Inside the A6 lives up to Audi’s reputation as one of the best in the business. The inviting, contemporary interior is quiet and inviting.
Operational switches and knobs have been reduced to a minimum with the use of two screens stacked above the centre console. The top screen deals with the infotainment system and other vehicle operations while the lower screen handles heating and cooling the interior.
Big visuals make it relatively easy to activate the functions.
At first, I found the twin screens somewhat confusing. But as with any new technologically advanced automobile, the first few hours behind the wheel should be parked in the driveway getting familiarized with its features and how to manage and operate them.
The only knob is the radio volume. My tester was equipped with the optional 1,820-watt, 19 speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D Advanced sound system. What an audio showcase! As a $5,100 option, it should be.
The base price of Audi’s new A6 is $75,800 although freight and $21,200 of options like adaptive air suspension, individual contour seats along with driver assist and s-line trim packages bumped the price tag to $99,095.
That’s not small change, but if you want to play with loaded up high-end road sedans like the Mercedes Benz E-Class and BMW 5-series, it comes at a price.
What I liked the most about this car was how it made me feel. It may seem understated but every time I looked at it, like a piece of fine art, there was more reason to appreciate it. From the tucked out of sight dual exhaust to the sequential taillights and its perfectly rounded wheel wells filled with 255/35/21 tires mounted on dazzling 21-inch wheels, this car grew on me.
There is no roar from the muted exhaust and the interior is so quiet, you can hear yourself think. Lurking in the A6’s DNA is the all-wheel drive, rally-prepared, Audi Turbo Sport Quattro in which John Buffum screamed by me on a lonesome stretch of the Alaska Highway all those years ago.
Follow Garry on Instagram: @garrysowerby
