The 2020 Audi S6 is entering the market with a few tricks up its sleeve. Audi knows the S6 needs ample amounts of power to keep up with the BMW M550i and Mercedes-AMG E53. And in a true Vorsprung Durch Technik fashion, Audi managed to infuse the S6 with some new and exciting tech.
The 2020 Audi S6 is a mild-hybrid V6-powered Autobahn stormer
The outgoing S6 is a peach with the 450-horsepower V8 motor. But in this world of downsizing and turbocharging, having a big and lumbering V8 is considered passé. Audi fitted the new S6 with a gasoline-fed 2.9-liter V6 TFSI motor with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.
In Europe, the hybrid assist system allows the S6 to coast using pure electric power. But in S6 models entering North America, the 48-volt mild-hybrid assist system is tasked to do one thing only: provide electrons to the electric-powered turbocharger, which is the first Audi vehicle in the U.S. to be fitted with this new and unique tech.
Yes, the new Audi S6 comes with electric turbocharging
So instead of relying on an electric motor to provide more oomph, Audi decided the best way to go is to equip the S6 with an electric turbocharger. The compressor draws power directly from the 48-volt mild-hybrid system. In fact, the blower can spin to a maximum speed of 70,000 rpm and has a response time of 250 milliseconds.
You know what this means, right? This means the turbocharging unit doesn’t rely on exhaust pressure generated by higher RPMs to spin at full swing. Audi says the new S6 pre-empts turbo lag, provides an immediate response, and delivers powerful acceleration at any engine speed.
This set-up allows the 2020 Audi S6 to churn out 444-horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers are enough to achieve 0 to 60 mph in 4.4-seconds.
It has standard Quattro AWD and an eight-speed automatic
The previous S6 had a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. But in order to match the better low-end grunt in the new S6, the car is now equipped with a new eight-speed Tiptronic automatic. Power is routed to a rear-biased Quattro all-wheel drivetrain.
During normal driving, the AWD system sends 60-percent of torque to the rear axles and 40-percent to the front. This gives the new S6 the feeling of being pushed from the rear without sacrificing all-weather traction.
But when things get scary, the Quattro AWD system can redirect up to 70-percent of torque to the front and up to 85-percent to the rear wheels. Equipped with wheel-selective torque control, the system employs individual wheel braking to ensure faster cornering and sportier handling.
The new Audi S6 looks the part
The Audi A6 is a great luxury car. But if you want a faster and more aggressive version of the A6, the S6 is your preferred cup of tea. The S6 has new S-model front and rear bumpers with a double-slat Singleframe grille finished in platinum. The exterior side mirrors are also finished in aluminum.
The car also receives a new front splitter connecting the two lower air inlets in the front. The rear of the vehicles also gets a new rear diffuser inlay in a black chrome matte finish. Exhaust gasses are routed to a set of four S-specific tailpipes.
The 2020 Audi S6 comes standard with 20-inch wheels and summer performance tires. If you want bigger wheels, Audi offers 21-inch rollers with summer tires as well. On the inside, the new S6 gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.1-inch upper and 8.6-inch lower touchscreen displays, navigation, sport leather seats, and Apple Car Play with Android Auto.
The 2020 Audi S6 starts at under $74,000
The most brilliant thing about the 2020 Audi S6 is the pricing. The base S6 Premium Plus starts at $73,900 while the Prestige trim starts at $77,800. Truth be told, the Audi S6 undercuts the BMW M550i but is more expensive than the Mercedes-AMG E53. However, the BMW has a more powerful V8 motor while Mercedes lags both Germans with only 429-horsepower from an electrified inline-six engine.
And as you can see with high-end German cars, the price is indicative of the power output. With that in mind, the 2020 Audi S6 is a sterling choice if you want a fast luxury car. Deliveries of the new Audi S6 begins at the end of 2019.