More stylish new Audi A6 Avant revealed

Audi has revealed the wagon version of its fifth-generation A6 to take the battle to the latest BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate.

Claimed to be the sportiest Audi A6 wagon ever made, the German car-maker says it's proud that, despite the big new wagon's more rakish, less-hearse-like rear-end, cargo space is identical to the car it replaces.

Featuring a claimed class-leading drag coefficient of just 0.27Cd, the A6 Avant shares the same huge single-frame grille that looks borrowed from the original 2015 Audi Prologue concept.

The complex new headlights, meanwhile, hint at advanced LED HD Matrix lighting that uses 16 segments for low beam and another 16 brighter elements for high beam.

Designers are also proud of the new Audi A6's large rear wheel-arches, which are claimed to pay tribute to the original ur Quattro.

Access to the cavernous boot is now also possible via a cheeky waggle of the foot under the rear bumper, if you have your hands full.

Once opened, the Audi A6 comes with 40:20:40-split rear seats that, along with a longer boot floor, boosts practicality even further.

With the rear seats up, its load carrying potential is 565 litres, extending to a generous 1680 litres with the seats down at the touch of a button.

Like the sedan, the wagon has grown in dimensions.

Measuring in at 10mm longer, 20mm wider and 6mm taller, the new A6 benefits from Audi's new MLB platform, ensuring the wagon has shorter front and rear overhangs and a longer wheelbase, boosting cabin space.

Inside, the Avant naturally shares an identical cabin to the A6 sedan, so it shares Audi's latest dual-screen infotainment system that provides haptic feedback when fingertips touch the glass screen.

Like the latest A7, the wagon also comes equipped with the car-maker's 12.3-inch virtual cockpit digital instruments, which are aided by a large head-up display.

Beneath the bonnet the A6 Avant range will mirror the sedan.

That means the range will kick-off initially with the '50 TDI' that comes equipped with a 210kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 diesel.

On the petrol side, the more muscular 55 TSI gets 250kW/500Nm, thanks to its advanced 3.0-litre V6 with mild-hybrid boost for better efficiency, allowing for engine-off cruising between 55 and 150km/h for up to 40 seconds.

Both come with an eight-speed automatic.

Later on, more real-world 2.0-litre turbo petrol and diesels will join the line-up. They will introduce front-wheel drive and a more efficient seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

To help it compete with the very best in the segment, the most expensive A6 Avant models will come with all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, active anti-roll bars and three-chamber air suspension.

In Europe, the A6 is on sale from the third quarter of this year. We're still waiting for Audi Australia to advise whether the new A6 Avant will be released here -- other than in range-topping RS 6 and Allroad crossover forms -- and if so when.