THE creation of a class-leading executive saloon calls for a broad range of abilities. Supple ride comfort, but with precise and clear feedback; power, but with fuel efficiency; an exhilarating driving experience, but with luxurious accommodation for four. The new A6 launched June 2004 triumphantly reconciles these apparent opposites through advanced technology and design. From the first glance, you know that the A6 marks a significant step forward for the class. A blend of opposing qualities; but a compromise in none.

From the original Audi 100, with its record-breaking 0.30 co-efficient of drag, to the new A6, Audi's executive class car design has always anticipated the future and brought it to life. The new A6 is no exception. Sleek yet spacious, powerful and yet fuel efficient, the new A6, with its single-frame Audi grille and sporting character, is the latest expression of Vorsprung durch Technik in action.

Spacious luxury saloons are not usually celebrated for their responsiveness, feedback and sense of driver involvement. The new A6 changes all that. Designed from principles of strength without excess weight, the A6 delivers exhilarating performance and cosseting luxury in one car. Advanced suspension design achieves handling precision without harshness. Above all, Audi's range of engines for the new A6 combines instant acceleration, high-speed cruising ability and remarkable fuel efficiency.

Vorsprung Durch Technik is part of the Audi DNA. In practice, it means ceaseless research to find new and better solutions to the automotive challenges of an ever-changing world. From quattro® all-wheel-drive to FSI direct fuel injection for petrol engines, Audi's technology commitment means safer, more efficient and more involving cars for all of us to drive.

This is a car that brings to fruition every lesson Audi has ever learned about safety in the following two definitions.

Definition one: a safe car is a car that protects its occupants in the event of an accident.
Definition two: a safe car is one which gives its driver the control and the performance to avoid accidents. In the new Audi A6, the two perspectives on safety – passive and active – are united.