The entry level (and fairly unpopular) Audi A6 2.0T is currently offered only with a front wheel drive configuration and the Audi Multitronic® continuously variable transmission (CVT) but when the 2013 models arrive, the base A6 will benefit from the Quattro all-wheel drive system and a traditional 8-speed automatic transmission.
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Sales of the “base model” 2012 Audi A6 have been very slow and that could be due to the fact that it is only available with the CVT and front wheel drive but the blame shouldn’t be placed on the turbocharged 2.0L. This engine makes for a great drive in the smaller Audi A4 but in that model, the 2.0L engine is offered with a 6-speed manual transmission, the Audi Quattro all wheel drive system and the 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission in addition to the standard front wheel drive setup with the CVT. The company believes that the AWD drivetrain and the traditional automatic transmission could help make the 2.0L A6 more popular with consumers.
According to Car and Driver, when the 2013 Audi A6 2.0T arrives later this summer with the Quattro drive system it will carry a starting price of $45,295 – just $2,200 more than the base price for the A6 4-cylinder model of $43,095. Unfortunately, there is no indication as to whether or not that price will include the 8-speed Tiptronic but considering that the CVT is not available on the 4-cylinder Audi A4 with the Quattro system, perhaps that price hike includes both the all wheel drive system and the traditional 8-speed automatic transmission. Having spent time in the Audi A6 with the 3.0T supercharged V6 and the Tiptronic 8-speed automatic transmission (and Quattro), I can attest that this is one great transmission setup that allows great shift control via the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.
The other main factor that could be slowing sales of the 2.0L models is the sheer awesomeness of the 2012 Audi A6 3.0T, which sends 310 horsepower and 325lb-ft of torque to all four wheels via the 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission that is controlled via the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. The A6 with the 3.0T is so much fun to drive that there leaves little question as to why consumers prefer this engine over the 211hp and 258lb-ft of torque offered by the 2.0T models. However, considering that the 2.0T models will now feature the same advanced all wheel drive system as the supercharged V6 models along with all of the interior and exterior amenities across the trimline range, perhaps consumers considering a 2013 Audi A6 will vote in favor of less power and a lower price – since they no longer have to skip out on the go-anywhere all wheel drive system.
The 2.0T engine found in the Audi A6 with front wheel drive affords a highway fuel economy rating of 33 miles per gallon with 25mpg around town and an average of 28mpg while the all wheel drive V6 models with the 8-speed transmission offer 19mpg around town, 28 on the highway and 22 combined. We can expect to see a drop in fuel economy compared to the 2.0T front wheel drive models but the 2013 A6 2.0T with the 8-speed transmission and the Quattro drive system should still offer fuel economy that is quite a bit better than the 3.0T models.
Source: Car and Driver
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