Slide into Eloquence in the New Audi A6!

Starting its sixth-generation, the 2026 Audi A6 runs with standard all-wheel-drive and a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6. Style follows the recently released new A5.

Expected to arrive at dealers in the second-half of this, year, Audi just revealed the sixth-generation, 2026 Audi A6. The U.S. spec of the new incoming sedan only offers the largest, most powerful powertrain option, no complaints here. It also includes a new design, plenty of new tech, and more luxury too.

Sharper Exterior

Following a similar path to the recently revealed, 2025 Audi A5, the new A6 looks wide and low and serious. At the front, you see a large, black, single frame Audi grille. It sits low on the fascia and spans all the way to the base of the front spoiler. Sitting high, by the way, is a panoramic glass roof.

On either side, 48 individual LED bulbs make up the daytime running lights. The main beams rest just below. Finally, two front air-intake hangout out on either side to channel air cleanly through and around the front wheels and help drop the coefficient of drag to an impressively low 0.23.

2026 Audi A6, in profile. Image courtesy of Audi

The A6 maintains its long sedan silhouette in profile, but you see that the back of the rear-end tilts slightly skyward to make an integrated rear spoiler, which also airs in the overall aero of the sedan. At this angle, you also get a good look at all 196.5-inches of A6, more than two-inches longer than the outgoing model. The wheelbase measures 115.2-in and it’s 74-in wide.

At the rear, Audi added a light bar that runs straight across the full width of the car. It resides beneath the taillights, just above the mounts for your license plate. Pop the trunk, and a big hunk of the light bar goes up with it and reveals nearly 18 cubic feet of trunk space. Also, the second-row seats fold 40:20:40 for plenty of carrying-longer-items options.

2026 Audi A6, interior. Image courtesy of Audi

More Screens Inside

Keeping up with the trends, Audi, of course, enlarged the size of—and increased the number of—screens inside the new A6. To start, you get a single stretch of curved OLED glass to across the driver’s side of the car. It makes up both the digital instrument cluster and the center display. The former measures 11.9-in, the latter, 14.5-in.

From there, Audi will offer a head-up display as an option. And that display will allow the driver to control what’s seen on it, as well as the other screens, using steering wheel controls, which is handy. Audi will also install a 10.9-in display for the passenger. This display will also stream videos and offer other entertainment, not available to the driver.

2026 Audi A6, a look inside. Image courtesy of Audi

More fundamentally, Audi worked to quiet the cabin of the latest A6. To start, more sound insulation helps keep things muted. And engineers also tightened up the seals around the windows and doors. From there, the highest equipped A6 will get acoustic glass for both the front and rear side door windows. While not explicitly stated, I presume that means the windshield has acoustic coating as standard.

Still not done, Audi says all the tires mounted on the A6 include noise absorbers. Even the engine and transmission mounts use a new type of bushing that better dampens out noise and vibrations of these two big moving parts.

Getting back to more classic, luxury car traits, Audi adorns the new A6 with something called Softwrap. Theoretically, the approach invokes a feeling of a wider available space and one that is comfortable and refined. That wide looking space includes up to four-zones of climate control and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. And don’t strain yourself closing the doors, the A6 will have the option of soft-closing doors once they reach the first latch.

2026 Audi A6, front in action. Image courtesy of Audi

Powertrain

U.S. bound Audi midsize premium sedans now come standard with the turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6. It’s the same basic layout offered for several years now. But Audi thoroughly went through the engine. It uses new turbos, modifications to the injections system, and other updates to elevate horsepower to 362 between 5550-6300 rpm. Peak torque increases as well, topping 400 lb.-ft. More precisely 406 lb.-ft of torque between 1700 – 4000 rpm. That’s an increase of 27 HP and 37 lb.-ft over the 2025 A6, respectively.

A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission handles shifting duties. Fair enough. And Quattro all-wheel-drive comes standard here in the U.S. All combined, Audi says the latest A6 will reach 62 mph (100 kph) from rest in 4.7 seconds. That’s a quick sprint, to be sure. Keep your foot in it and the A6 taps out at 155 mph.

2026 Audi A6, rear 3/4 in action. Image courtesy of Audi

Chassis

Riding on a new platform called Premium Platform Combustion, the A6 now shares the same platform as the new Audi A5 and the Q5. Both the front and rear suspension use a multilink suspension geometry. And plenty of options make their way to the new A6 here, too.

Audi will mount up an air-suspension on the A6. If chosen, the suspension will nominally ride 0.8-in lower than the standard steel spring car. And, when you put it dynamic mode, it will drop another 0.4-in to keep center of gravity nice and low while cornering.

Furthermore, all four wheels will turn in a corner, courtesy of a new, also optional rear-axle steering system. I say optional, but it may actually come as standard equipment. In Europe, the rear-axle steering system comes with quattro all-wheel-drive. And quattro is standard in the U.S. But, as more details of the U.S. spec car arrive, we may still find it as an option. I’ll keep a close eye on that particular point.

2026 Audi A6, rear in action. Image courtesy of Audi

Standard across the board, Audi put a lot of work into the steering system. Beefing up the mechanics to mitigate flex in the steering and improving precision in the process. Audi also tuned more camber into the front axle to aid in feel and response. These are all promising things to read. I am excited to see how it feels.

When I do get the chance to feel it, the final piece of the driving feel puzzle will channel through a set of 19-, 20-, or 21-inch wheels.

2026 Audi A6, second row. Image courtesy of Audi

Conclusion

As we still need to wait several months for the new A6, things like starting and price, fuel economy, and other details remain unknown. But the 2025 Audi A6 provides a several clues. When equipped with the V-6 and the same seven-speed DCT, it achieves 22 mpg in the city, 30 on the highway, 25 combined. I see no reason for that to change.

As for price, given the new platform, upgraded specs, and all the fancy screens, it will likely cost a bit more than a 2025 A6 with the V-6, I guess something starting in the $66,000 range. And, of course, that’s before considering how tariffs may affect the price.

Regardless, if Audi tuned this new chassis well, it sounds like a bargain to me. I will find out as soon as I get the chance to review one. Cannot wait to share!