2020 has arrived. Looking back on my past few years in the automobile industry, in addition to test driving countless new cars, another countless thing I have done is probably recommending car models to relatives and friends around me.
Most of them would say something like this when consulting me: "With so many cars, is there any one that you feel is the best and the most worth buying?".
Every time I hear this question, I actually hesitate for a moment. Although I am a practitioner in the automobile industry, I should actually be considered a senior car fan. Therefore, in my heart, I also have my own "Draem? Car". Maybe it is not the most powerful product, but it is the most irreplaceable existence in my heart. It is the A6L from Audi.
Maybe many people are curious. Isn’t the Audi A6L the obsession of middle-aged men? Why do I like this slightly greasy car?
Actually, my yearning for it started when I was a child. It was probably when I was in elementary school, around 2005. Private cars were not so common at that time. There were very few people in our class who owned private cars, and most of them were family cars such as Suzuki Swift and Ford Focus. There was only one "gongzi brother", my father drove a black Audi A6 that was not very common on the road at that time. At that time, every time after school, A6 would always line up at the small door to pick up the children in the "C position" of the motorcade. Of course, at that time, such a car was the center of attention wherever it was placed. That’s when I became familiar with the name “A6”.
Oh yes, speaking of names, the second-generation A6 code-named C5 at that time was indeed not called "A6L". However, here is a little knowledge point. Although there is no "L" in its name, the domestic version of the A6 is 90mm longer than the international version.
Perhaps it was because there were not many options to choose from at the time, and the overall design of the second-generation A6 was really amazing at the time. Therefore, the launch of this second-generation Audi A6 immediately reshaped the domestic mid-size luxury sedan market at that time, and quickly became the vane and leader of this market segment. Of course, the main reason why it can remain popular in people's hearts is mainly because of the government procurement at that time. With the blessing of the "Official Car Buff", it has a special temperament that is different from other luxury cars.
Everyone should also know its subsequent development. For a long time, the Audi A6 has been synonymous with "powerful people". As ordinary people, we admire this car or this class more. I think this is true for most people besides me.
Until later, probably in the C7 era, for some reasons, A6L successfully took off the hat of "designated car" and successfully became an "ordinary person". It was at this time that Audi also began to change its brand tone and move toward a younger generation! Since the launch of the C7 platform A6L, it has attracted countless controversies. Some people think that it has become something that everyone does not like, while others think that this kind of self-breakthrough is more worthy of appreciation. But no matter how you put it, the results are in front of you. It is still at the top of the sales volume in the market segment and perfectly fits the saying: "Your uncle is still your uncle."
If the A6L in the C7 era is Audi's attempt to change its route, then the new generation of Audi A6L on the C8 platform launched in 2019 is the perfect transformation of the success of the A6L. Although the calm and mysterious feeling in the past has brought it brand added value that neither Mercedes-Benz nor BMW can match, this time, the new generation of Audi A6L is determined to "change its way of life."
The huge hexagonal one-piece air intake grille, sharp and highly technological matrix LED headlights, and rigid and industrial design aesthetic body lines give the new generation of Audi A6L the temperament Show everything. It is no exaggeration to say that although the style has changed drastically, I think this is the most beautiful generation of Audi A6L, bar none. Moreover, this unreserved radical beauty can actually capture people's aesthetic preferences today.
Of course, Audi also knows that after so many years of intensive cultivation, it still has to consider the feelings of "old fans". Therefore, in terms of appearance, the new generation of A6L does not completely become younger-looking across the board.
Instead, it adopts an elegant/dynamic exterior design to cater for as many consumer groups of different ages as possible. This approach is very wise.
In addition, the reason why the new generation A6L has become my most admired generation model is mainly due to its interior innovation. Although this set of "three large screens" design has actually been seen on other models. But trust me, when you open the car door and see it with your own eyes, you will still be amazed. This kind of cold mechanical industrial beauty and appearance and its matching, in other words, this is one of the few models I have seen that has a highly consistent interior and exterior design style.
The 12.3-inch LCD instrument panel is excellent in terms of UI design, response speed, and function division, and is at a high level in the industry. It is worth mentioning these two touch screens. Many people speculated that their actual use experience would be greatly reduced when they first saw them. But in fact, if you really use it, it will definitely subvert your understanding of touch screens. Different from the setting logic of ordinary capacitive screens, you only need to exert a little force with your fingers, and you will get feedback similar to the texture of metal buttons. If I had to describe this feeling to you, I would say it is similar to the feedback feeling of Apple's 3D Touch.
As for space, configuration, and comfort, there is no need to worry about these for an A6L. As a veteran in the domestic medium and large luxury car market, Audi A6L knows very well what are the most basic.
Let me talk about something that everyone is concerned about, which is mechanical quality. The new generation A6L has canceled the old 1.8T model and replaced it with two high- and low-power 2.0T engines and a 3.0T engine. The gearbox has also been changed to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. As for the most controversial four-wheel drive. Indeed, from a structural point of view, the new generation A6L has indeed transformed the previous full-time four-wheel drive into an intelligent real-time four-wheel drive. However, Audi has done this after some trade-offs. You know, the current quattro?ultra four-wheel drive system can reduce power loss by up to 10%, and the average fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is at least about 0.3L less than the conventional quattro system.
But in actual driving, the performance of this new generation A6L still won't let you find fault. There are no problems with sound insulation, acceleration, braking, body support, road feel, and comfort.
With the rise of the new generation of consumer groups, Audi also knows very well whose era it is now, so it carries out reforms for its products in a timely manner. At present, its rising monthly sales have once again confirmed Audi's predictions. And if I were asked to personally evaluate this new generation A6L, assuming a full score of 100 points, I would give this new generation A6L 95 points. What about you?
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.