The S6 incorporates a 435 hp V10 engine, Quattro all-wheel-drive, and a level of technical sophistication that few cars achieve. It has daytime running LED driving lights, 19″ aluminum wheels, dual-zone climate control, navigation system, and Multi Media Interface high-end radio. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come in a manual transmission and owners are penalized with a $1,300 gas guzzler tax in the US.

With enough power to have some real fun, the 2008 S6 fills the Audi mid-size performance slot. That 435-hp, 5.2-liter V-10 from Lamborghini lays out a consistently high torque plateau throughout the rpm spectrum. All this performance is mediated through a 6-speed automatic with overdrive while the essence of the car is unchanged for 2008.

With classy yet understated elegance, the interior of the S6 is a strongly masculine domain, accented with leather and rare wood. Equipped with up market AM/FM stereo and CD changer, the only sound sweeter than the V10′s exhaust note is the concert-quality sound track you’ll be hearing. The gray headliner is a perfect match for the muted tone of the wood accents. S6′s instrumentation is easy to read and logically organized.

Powerful as the S6 is, its virility is tempered with state-of-the-art safety features such as: front and rear curtain airbags, front and rear seat torso airbags, and Quattro all-wheel drive. As a testament to that point, the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) chose the Audi S6 as a Top Pick for frontal, side, and rear crash test safety.

The Audi S6 is unique for skipping the evolutionary progress common to most cars, as its performance leaps by one league at a time. From a 227-horsepower five-cylinder in the first S6 to a 340-hp V8 in the next and finally to the 435-hp V10 of today, the S6 has been a reflection of Audi’s rapidly rising performance aspirations.
Standard Engine:
5.2L V10, 40 valve, 435 hp @ 6800 rpm
6 speed automatic transmission
14 mpg city / 19 mpg hwy

Standard Features:
Sideguard(TM) Front and Rear Side Head Curtain Airbags
Electronic Brake Assistance
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Pre-Programmed Equalizer