The seamless operation of Audi's long-standing Quattro all-wheel drive technology is the shining star of the A6's

The seamless operation of Audi's long-standing Quattro all-wheel drive technology is the shining star of the A6's awe-inspiring drivetrain. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

awe-inspiring drivetrain. It keeps all four tires fastened to the road like Velcro; I encountered 'zero' wheelspin during uphill, wet road starts under maximum power.

And such adhesion isn't easily compromised when cornering, thanks to an incredibly stable chassis that keeps the sizeable sedan flat and composed. The new A6 rides on a revised four-wheel independent suspension setup that utilizes a four-link design in front featuring upper and lower control arms, a stabilizer bar and gas-charged shocks; at the rear, a trapezoidal-link design bolstered with a stabilizer bar and gas-charged shocks keep the tail in check. My tester was fitted with the Sport Package, which stiffened the spring rates and added 18-inch performance wheels and tires. This package nailed the handling equation like a

My tester was fitted with the Sport Package, which stiffened the spring rates and added 18-inch performance wheels and tires. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian auto Press)

skilled carpenter with a high-impact nail gun. Nothing seemed to unsettle the A6 once a line was chosen and the throttle feathered - and if something were to, Audi's Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) was prepared to step in and help restore order and control.

In spite of the expanded handling prowess imparted by the Sport Package, I would gladly forgo its F1-like handling for a slightly softer, less rigid ride. In my mind, seldom will such unbounded handling thresholds come in to play in real world driving, whereas road erosion is encountered to some degree or another in just about every outing, hence my comfort-over-cornering concession.