2013 Audi A6 3.0T / S6 / A7 3.0T / S7

audi a6 3.0t/s6/a7 3.0t/s7

All hail the new autobahn—and interstate—kings.

For the second consecutive year, we're bellying up for a helping of Audi's alphanumeric soup. To the "As" and "6s" and "7s" from the A6 3.0T and A7 models that made the list last year, we're happy to see a couple of hot "Ss" float to the top in 2013. For the S6 and S7, Audi takes the "A" models' rich mix of virtues and turns it lethal, thanks in no small part to a 420-hp, twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8. In a recent comparison test, the S6 put the hurt on the vastly more powerful BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. On the road, the S6 is an inexhaustible cannon, more cohesive and less fiddly than cars costing an additional $20,000. Audi's modus operandi for the non-S varieties is basically the same, minus 110 horsepower. Understated bodies cover stout structures into which Audi crafts beautiful and sensible interiors, without unnecessary complication. Combine that with an unflappable chassis, accurate steering, ample power, and a general sense of quality and you have an unbeatable luxury/sports-car range.

specifications

vehicle type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 4–5-passenger, 4-door sedan or 5-door wagon
base price: $51,295–$79,695
engines: supercharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter V-6, 310 hp, 325 lb-ft; twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve 4.0-liter V-8, 420 hp, 406 lb-ft
transmissions: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with manual shifting mode, 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode
wheelbase: 114.7 in
length: 193.9–195.6 in
width: 73.8–75.2 in height: 55.9–57.8 in
curb weight: 4050–4550 lb
epa city/hwy fuel economy: 17–18/27–28 mpg