AUDI is aiming to achieve the best of all worlds with a V6 four wheel drive version of its A6 executive saloon model equipped with tiptronic transmission.
The turbocharged V6 engine has the same power output as a V8 but with the emissions and economy of a six-pot.
This means prodigious performance for such a large car with the advantage of reasonable running costs.
It can scorch to 60mph in just 5.9 seconds, which is quicker than many sports cars and comes with the added grip of Audi's four wheel drive quattro system.
In tiptronic guise it also has the advantage of a fully automatic gearbox that can also be operated manually simply by nudging the lever or via paddle shifts on the steering wheel, which is more fun.
The top speed is electronically limited to 155mph as are most Audis although its high performance R8 supercar in V10 guise can almost manage 200mph.
However, unlike the 19mpg R8, the A6 3.0 V6 TFSI quattro S line tiptronic averages 30mpg.
The list price is £37,830 although in the current climate it should be possible to get that figure discounted and of course Audis are renowned for hanging on to a fair slice of their original value with very strong residual values.
This is largely down to the build quality that makes them so sought-after on the second-hand market.
In the case of this particular model the reasonable running costs also help, with the C02 figure of 219g/km meaning that the car escapes high tax liabilities for company users too, weighing in at 31per cent in comparison to the top rate of 35 per cent.
On the road the car is blisteringly quick when required but as docile as a lamb otherwise, especially in easy-drive tiptronic form, although that does add £1,420 to the price.
Equipment levels are high, naturally, with climate control, nice alloys, electric operation of most things plus high safety kit that includes side and curtain air bags, electronic stability programme and traction control.
There is a nice CD sound system plus Bluetooth but metallic paint and sat-nav are unexpected extras.
In terms of overall desirability, however, this A6 is up there with the best of them.
The Audi is quicker than a BMW 540i M Sport, which incurs a maximum 35 per cent company car tax liability yet undercuts it by £5,000 or so with a significant advantage in terms of emissions and economy into the bargain.
Figures like this back-up Audi's claim to achieve the best of both worlds.
FAST FACTS
Audi A6 3.0 V6 TFSI quattro S line tiptronic
Price: £39,250
Mechanical: 286bhp, 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine driving all four wheels via a tiptronic gearbox
Max speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 5.9 secs
Combined mpg: 30
Insurance group: 17
CO2 emissions: 219g/km
Warranty: 3 years/ 60,000 miles, 3 years paint, 12 years anti-rust