IF EVER there was an executive car to lead the pack it has to be the Audi A6 - it oozes luxury, power, performance and style.
It may not come cheap - with all the extras, just over £32,000 for the test drive model - but at the end of the day you get what you pay for.
The version that I cruised around town in, and up and down the nearest motorways, was the 2.5 TDI saloon with automatic multitronic transmission, and I have to admit it was difficult to find fault with.
Audi claims its A6 is the most economical and cleanest executive car available, and as it has the lowest benefit-in-kind tax liability through its low CO2 emissions, it makes for quite a company car package.
Added to this the diesel version simply runs and runs before a visit for fuel is called for. In fact, I was tapping the fuel gauge on more than one occasion to make sure it was working - it was!
The A6 is at the luxury executive end of the market and every eventuality has been taken into account to ensure a comfortable and safe journey.
It is also the first car in any class that offers a TDI engine combined with continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
In the new generation A6 with its critically-acclaimed multitronic transmission, (£1,450 extra on the model supplied) driving performance is almost identical to a manual, without any sacrifices in fuel economy or CO2 output normally associated with automatic gearboxes.
And when it comes to standard equipment the list is so long that Audi lists it alphabetically. Included are electric front seat height adjustment, electric windows, anti theft device with interior ultrasonic protection, colour keyed front and rear bumpers and a dust and pollen filter.
Safety aspects as one would expect are top-of-the-range with Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) traction control, Electronic Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) with brake assist, an Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and the list goes on and on...
But what all the techno-talk amounts to is a great drive in a vehicle that performs superbly and has all the safety features one could hope for.
The A6 tackles any conditions with ease. Night driving is made easier with the impressive Xenon Plus headlights and all round visibility is excellent. Despite the car being almost 4.8 metres, it is very easy to manoeuvre and parking is never a challenge as it can be with some of the larger models!.
The A6 can honestly be described as the perfect car for all occasions.
FAST FACTS
Audi A6 2.5 TDi Auto
Price: £26,455
Mechanical: 163bhp, 2,496cc V6 turbo diesel engine driving front wheels via multitronic CVT automatic transmission.
Max speed: 135mph
0-62mph: 9.3 secs
Combined mpg: 40.9
Insurance group: 14
CO2 emissions: 186 g/km
BiK rating: 22%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 12yrs anti-rust; 3yrs paint