Engine Newly developed V10 with FSI technology and ample torque characteristic Ten-cylinder petrol engines have long been regarded as a particularly sporty type of power unit. In the form of a V-engine they are short, compact and correspondingly light. The number of moving parts required for ten cylinders is moreover relatively low, bringing the added bonus of low friction losses. It is no coincidence that the Gallardo super sports car built by Lamborghini - an Audi subsidiary - is driven by a widely acclaimed V10 engine. The V10 in the new Audi S6 is a completely new engine which first appeared in the Audi S8 and has now been specifically retuned for use in the top model of Audi's luxury class. Its ten cylinders are divided into two cylinder banks arranged at an angle of 90 degrees to each other, and each with two overhead camshafts (DOHC principle); the spacing between cylinder centres is 90 millimetres - one of the reasons why this 220-kilogram, four-valve engine is so compact. A special intermediate frame reinforces the cast aluminium crankcase. The bore is 84.5 millimetres and the stroke 92.8 millimetres, producing a swept volume of 5,204 cc. With its crankpin offset of 18 degrees, the V10 fires at an ideal spacing of 72 degrees crankshaft angle. A balancing shaft located between the cylinder banks eliminates the free inertial forces of the first degree and contributes equally towards the engine's notable refinement. All four camshafts are adjusted continuously through 40 degrees crankshaft angle depending on load and engine speed, thus optimising filling of the combustion chambers and consequently enhancing the power output. The camshafts are driven by no-maintenance chains and actuate the total of 40 valves via roller cam followers. The task of engine management is handled by two separate control units. The V10 in the new Audi S6 uses FSI petrol direct injection. This permits a high compression ratio of up to 12.5:1 and therefore a highly efficient combustion process. The injection system delivers the fuel directly into the combustion chambers in precisely metered amounts, at a pressure of up to 100 bar. The two-stage magnesium variable intake manifold incorporates electronically controlled tumble flaps; these induce a swirling movement in the air drawn in. Innovative FSI technology has impressively demonstrated its potential in motor sport - the R8 racing car equipped with it participated five times in the Le Mans 24 Hours for Audi, winning the race on four of those occasions. The powerful ten-cylinder engine is designed not simply with power in mind, but to an even greater extent for impressive torque. It achieves 420 bhp at 6,800 rpm, but delivers the peak torque of 540 Nm at engine speeds ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 rpm. Over 500 Nm of torque is on tap between 2,500 and 5,500 rpm. The engine exhibits spontaneous throttle response and very refined running, and under load it also produces sonorous acoustics, as befits this dynamic car. The engine gives the Audi S6 the road performance of a high-calibre Gran Turismo. The Audi S6 saloon is capable of racing from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, and the S6 Avant takes a mere one-tenth of a second longer. The speed is not governed electronically until the needle reaches 250 km/h. The engine consumes an average of approx. 13.4 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. The S6 weighs 1,910 kilograms (S6 Avant: 1,970 kg), including the dynamic, sure-footed quattro permanent four-wheel drive. Every horsepower consequently has to propel just 4.55 kilograms (S6 Avant: 4.69 kg) - the power-to-weight ratio of a top-notch sports car. Pages: [1] [2] [3] [4]

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