New Audi S6 and S7 get 342bhp from mild-hybrid diesel

The new Audi S6 and S7 have been revealed and both will use a new mild-hybrid diesel powertrain. The S6 will be available as both a saloon and an estate, while there’ll be a single S7 Sportback model. Both models arrive in the UK later this year but pricing has yet to be confirmed. We expect the S6 to start at around £66,000 and the S7 to have a price of £71,000.

The S6 and S7 share a new powertrain with the upcoming Audi SQ5 SUV, namely a 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine and a 48-volt mild-hybrid generator system. The mild-hybrid system consists of a lithium-ion battery that is charged by a belt-driven alternator-starter that can recover up to 8kW of energy from braking. Together, the diesel engine and mild-hybrid powertrain give the new S6 and S7 a power output of 342bhp.

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The 48-volt mild-hybrid system can power the new S6 and S7 to speeds of up to 13mph over a short distance. Audi claims a fuel economy figure for the S6 Saloon of 45.5mpg, with the S6 Avant and S7 Sportback achieving up to 43.4mpg.

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All models feature permanent quattro four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which is capable of sending up to 85% of the available power to the rear wheels or 70% to the front wheels, depending on the conditions. The Audi S6 Saloon completes the 0-62mph sprint in five seconds, with the A6 Avant (the estate) and A7 Sportback completing it in 5.1 seconds. All models are electronically limited to a top speed of 155mph.

The S6 and S7 get further performance upgrades over the standard A6 and A7, including larger brakes, optional all-wheel steering, adaptive air suspension, which can raise or lower the ride height depending on the mode selected, and an optional sports differential.

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Exterior styling updates for the new Audi S6 and S7 include a restyled front bumper with larger air inlets, a deeper front spoiler, and dark chrome and silver trim on the radiator grille. The rear also gets a restyled rear bumper, a deeper rear diffuser and chrome quad exhausts. All variants come with 20-inch alloy wheels as standard, with 21-inch alloy wheels available as an option.

Inside, both the S6 and S7 have Audi’s 12-3-inch virtual cockpit digital dash display, an 8.8-inch infotainment screen with sat nav, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, Alcantara trimmed sports seats and four-zone climate control.

Want to know more about the current Audi S6 and S7? Read our in-depth reviews, or check out the best hybrid and electric sports cars to buy in 2019.