Audi Ur-S6 C4 (Typ 4A)

There is something about Audi's made between, say 1980 and 1995. The stark lines, and the unfeeling headlamps. I think their current design language of LED running lamps and the flowing lines penned by Walter da Silva, is an interesting one, but it's no different from all the other overtures other manufacturers are making to 'dress' up their lines.

Unlike Volvo's, for instance, that for many years always had a boxy, angular structure to their look, Audi's weren't so different but had a particular handsomeness to their design. Maybe I'm stuck in a timewarp. The headlamps of a Claus Luthe styled E34 or a late Guigiaro-styled Evoluzione II, say more about those cars than fancy digital 'beads' ever will. Smart, sharp, clean lines can be attractive. They can be especially seductive when allied to big rims and a lot of horsepower under the hood.

Before Audi went all RS, the 'ursprünglich' S models were the potent ones. The first S6, was released at a time when the VAG groups platform sharing and swapping, became very complicated indeed. The first S6 was actually a re-worked S4, but only because the brand was re-arranging it's nomenclature: whilst the first S4 was really a successor for the 200 quattro Turbo, the A4/A6 range took over and re-organised what was left of the 80/100 models.

Specification:
6 speed manual gearbox
2.3 litre 20v I5
Torsen T-1 quattro AWD
225 bhp
240 lb ft of torque @ just under 2000rpm
0-60, 6.1 seconds