And one of Audi's best options for green-conscious U.S. luxury shoppers might end up being the 2012 A6 Hybrid. The front-wheel-drive, not quattro, sedan will combine the brand's ubiquitous—but efficient and responsive—direct-injected and turbocharged 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine with a strong electric motor (45 hp, 155 pound-feet of torque) mounted ahead of the eight-speed automatic transmission.
The trunk-mounted lithium-ion battery pack allows a peak 39 kW but despite a small 1.3 kWh the A6 Hybrid can go for up to two miles on electric power alone and can run at up to 62 mph without the gasoline engine on.
Like the rest of the 2012 Audi A6 line, the new Hybrid has an all-new structure combining aluminum and high-strength steel, with extensive hydraulic damping to keep the interior experience especially smooth.
And just as in the mainstream A6 models, Audi looks to its all-new infotainment systems, incorporating the latest-generation MMI interface, with Bang & Olufsen sound and Google Maps–based displays, as a centerpiece of the A6 interior. Audi also shows off its knack for beautiful interiors with a hand-crafted interior look that includes real wood veneers, ambient lighting, and a look that takes after that of the larger A8.
Audi hasn't yet given a time frame for the 2012 Audi A6 Hybrid, but it's already provided an estimated 38-mpg EPA Combined figure.
