Quick sales drive home Audi's superiority

The latest range of Audis is selling so well that the dealer, Premium Motors, is having trouble keeping up with demand.

During its launch at a three-day motor show at Ocean Terminal, more than 70 Audi A6s were sold - a record for the model.

It is not difficult to understand why Hong Kong motorists are queueing up. The Audi A6 has always been progressive, but the latest, the sixth generation, leads the way in technology.

Adopting new approaches is part of the company's philosophy, its motto being 'Advancement through Technology'.

The Audi A6 body demonstrates a sporty progressiveness. Step inside, and the visual theme is confirmed.

It is first-class in technology, road dynamics, performance potential and quality - everything a premium car in this sector should have, and more.

The A6 sets a new benchmark in the executive class. With the configuration of its body, now 4.92 metres long, 1.86 metres wide and 1.46 metres high, it sets trends in style.

Settle into the driver's seat and you instantly notice the sporting character, in addition to the ideal ergonomics motorists have come to expect from Audi.

The so-called 'cockpit architecture' is designed to integrate the driver into the car.

The high, wide centre console, with controls within easy reach, puts the driver completely in charge.

The six- and eight-cylinder power units come from Audi's new 90-degree V-engine family. The engine has compact dimensions, a maintenance-free camchain and a low-friction roller-arm valve drive.

The 4.2 V-8 drivetrain yields a blistering 335 bhp at 6,500 rpm with maximum torque of 420 Nm, available from 3,000 to 5,000 rpm. The torque curve has been dramatically improved, promising maximum engine speed with agile response despite superior fuel economy.

And its acceleration claim is a stunning zero to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds.

All A6 engines are fully compliant with EU4 emission standards, which come into effect in 2006.

The 2.4 V-6 is introduced with Audi's new seven-speed Multitronic? transmission. Audi's dynamic suspension is the combination of four-link front suspension with self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension, providing comfort with unparalleled driving dynamics.

And all of this with Audi's very own quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system, making the A6 one of the most sure-footed cars on the street, even in heavy rain and or on oily surfaces.

On the safety side, the A6 offers, as standard, 10 airbags, including the SIDEGUARD head-level airbag system and the new active head restraints in the front seats for maximum head and neck protection.

Subtle but important for safety, the new adaptive lighting system has bi-xenon headlamps moving in response to steering, to better illuminate the road ahead.

The car also sports LED tail lights for greater visibility.

The newly developed electro-mechanical parking brake, operated by a simple pull/push button in the centre console, offers significant advantages over a conventional handbrake.

Meanwhile, more safety is found in the eighth-generation ESP - electronic stability programme - with a brake wiper system. The wiper cleans the brake disc, ensuring optimal performance.

An additional and long-awaited feature is the hill-hold function, making it so much easier to get under way on a gradient. The MMI - Multi Media Interface - first seen on the Audi A8, now makes the A6 car systems control easier than ever.

In addition to the comfort of the cabin, the Bose surround-sound system, with 13 speakers, gives you stereophonic sound as if you were in a concert hall.

The Advanced Key, which comes as standard, offers a system that combines maximum security with a high level of convenience.

A final touch of finesse is the rain sensor that automatically switches on the windscreen wipers when it rains.

The Audi A6 is the epitome of fine motoring - blended with absolute leading-edge technology. Responding to massive demand and interest from the public, Premium Motors has arranged for test drives on request.