OK, so there's still nothing in Audi's attic that will rock, rattle or rival Porsche's high performers. BMWs will continue to be a fixation among enthusiasts interested in quick and nimble and better-handling sport sedans. But Audi does have its spunky TT coupe and roadster as novelty purchases among an impressive range of more practical cars stretching from dinky to luxurious, with a very capable Avant wagon in between. If you want to add the Lexus GS 400, BMW's 540i and Jaguar's new 4.0 S-Type to the list of competitors, all within the A6's price, power and panache range, Audi will not be offended. The 4.2 is the pick of a litter of four variants of A6.
Shapes range from sedan to wagon.
Owing to the size of the engine, its shape is shared with no other A6 in the lineup. The car is wider and flatter, with lower side skirts and oversized fender flares over optional 17-inch wheels. Such clear borrowings from Audi's touring car racing program deliver a bulldog-squat front and rear that are suggestive of some very serious horseplay. Out of my way. Yet what is menacing from head-on and directly behind softens as viewing angles change until a bold warning is transformed into a gentle invitation to elegant travel.