Audi used the launch of its A4 Avant to also introduce the flagship offering to its sedan line-up - the 3.2-litre V6.
Compact and relatively lightweight (it weighs only 171 kg), the new V6 features a range of Audi engine technology including its Valvelift system and FSI direct petrol injection.
The 3.2-litre V6 produces 195 kW at 6 500 r/min and peak torque of 330 Nm from 3 000 to 5 000 r/min.
Matedto a six-speed Tiptronic gearbox, the sedan covers the 0 - 100 km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds before hurtling to a top speed limited at 250 km/h.
This sedan is said to slurp about 9.2 l/100 km on a combined cycle of city and highway driving, a notion that is a lot more impressive when considering that the previous 188-kW V6 used about 1.2 l more over the same distance and was slower to 100 km/h.
Audi credits its valvelift technology for most of this fuel saving, said to be up to 5%. This variable valve timing system controls lift in two stages to more accurately control the amount of air entering the combustion chambers.
Fitted with quattro all-wheel drive and available with the high-level Ambiente trim level, Audi's 3.2 V6 sedan costs R405 000.