It’s been 20 years since the original Audi A6 Allroad was launched.
Based on the A6 Avant but with increased ride height, four-wheel drive and side and underbody protection, it took the estate car further off-road than had previously been possible.
Along with Volvo’s Cross Country cars, the Allroad created a niche of go-anywhere estates.
Now, Audi has unveiled the fourth generation of its rough and tumble load lugger.
Based on the Avant estate version of the latest A6 launched in 2018, the new A6 Allroad features adaptive air suspension with adjustable ride height, providing as much as 184mm of ground clearance to help with all-terrain driving.
Other features that should be handy off-road include hill descent control and tilt angle assist – the latter allows the driver to view the car’s tilt angle on the interior’s multimedia touchscreen.
There’s also a special ABS braking function for loose surfaces, while a selectable off-road driving mode tailors the car’s handling systems for when the going gets rough.
Cosmetically, the Allroad is set apart from the regular A6 due to features such as underbody cladding and roof rails.
Interior technology is carried over from the standard range with a pair of central touchscreens – an upper one controlling infotainment and a lower one for functions such as climate control.
At launch there will be a choice of two diesel engines, with either 231hp or 286hp. Both come with eight-speed automatic transmission and 48V mild hybrid technology.
Two equipment grades will be available: Sport and Vorsprung.
The new A6 Allroad is scheduled to go on sale in the UK in August.
It may be a brave soul who will venture too far off-road in their Allroad though – prices are expected to start at about £55,000, making it an expensive car to wade through streams in.