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Audis chief designer, Wolfgang Egger, talks about a "line of lineage" from the first Audi 100 of 1968 to the new 2012 A6 of today. "You should never interrupt history," says Egger. "If you want to sharpen the emotion of the brand you look to the R8, A7 or E-Tron, not the A6." While the A8 asserts its plutocratic status and the A4 screams "upwardly mobile," the A6 has always been the choice of those who want the trappings of success but dont need to tell the world. Its Audis most sensible car and its no surprise to discover that

the latest incarnation is a subtle evolution of the old.

But beneath the familiar skin lies a host of new technology focused on improving efficiency and refinement. Significantly lighter than before, the 2012 Audi A6 takes on the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class and seeks to impress the discerning executive with a newfoun

d depth of ability.

The next A3, to be launched in 2012, will make a leap forward. It is based on VW’s new “Modularer Querbaukasten” (MQB) architecture, meaning “modular transverse matrix.” As the name suggests, its the Volkswagen Groups new modular transverse-engine platform, which is slightly longer and wider than the curre

nt A3 platform and designed to take further cost out of the many variations offered by Volkswagen and its Audi, SEAT, and Škoda subsidiaries.