The 2019 Audi A6 premiered at the 2018 Geneva Auto Show with a new look and some interesting technology and mechanical upgrades. Even though it's a little long in the tooth, the current Audi A6 remains one of our favorites in the midsize luxury sedan class. We like its impressive handling, powerful turbocharged V6, and classy, comfortable interior. Our biggest complaints center on the overly sporty ride and the fact that Audi's latest technology features, such as Virtual Cockpit, couldn't be optioned.
The 2019 A6 certainly adds technology features. This is the second car, after the redesigned A8, to receive Audi's MMI Touch Response system. It replaces the old rotary-knob-based interface with a dual touchscreen display, much like what we've seen with Land Rover's InControl Touch Pro Duo. It makes for a clean, modern look, but we'll be very curious to see how this new system performs in the real world. We're big fans of the knob-based MMI interface: We even gave it an award.
Of course Virtual Cockpit is available, along with new driver aids and active safety features. The A6 will get Audi's Adaptive Driving Assistant, which combines adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist to maintain distance from other traffic and keep the car in its lane — even if the lane narrows or is diverted by roadwork. The Parking Pilot and Garage Pilot systems, meanwhile, will automatically park the A6 in either a parallel or a perpendicular space.
Mechanically, the big news with the 2019 A6 is a new all-wheel steering system, which promises a tighter turn radius and more maneuverability on the road. It's a system we already like in the Audi Q7. Audi will also offer a new suspension system, which is supposed to increase feedback from the road. That's not a bad thing since the existing A6 does lack feedback, but hopefully Audi will balance that need with ride comfort.
The 2019 Audi A6 will go on sale this summer. Official pricing has not yet been announced.