I first saw the new A6 at its unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show last March, and kept coming back to the stand and to its elevated restaurant to drool over the cars. It is stunningly styled, with a lovely swooping roofline and flowing rear treatment that almost demands you run your hand over it, like a fine human body. This is a hell of a capable car, with remarkable grip on every surface and quite brilliant ABS brakes, which thankfully aren't over-servoed like some Audi models, and the ABS combines with an electronic differential lock. The steering feeds back all the proper information, and the car's balance is neutral until you start to shove it hard into corners, when it tends to understeer, or run wide.
Suspension is by four links up front and double wishbones with air springs at the rear.
You sit well behind a nice thick-rimmed wheel, with the gated shift for the Tiptronic automatic in the right spot. Knock the lever across towards you and you can belt through the five gears like lightning - up for up, down for back. There's heaps of storage space, with two pull-out bins in each front door and big centre console and large boot. However, the polished wood looks a little placky - Jaguar still does it better than anyone. Dual front and side airbags are standard, along with automatic airconditioning, remote security with immobiliser, cruise control, trip computer, electric windows, three rear head restraints, electric front seat height adjustment, and on the 2.8, electric lumbar adjustment for the front seats and electric rear sun blind.