First drive: Audi A6

Possibly Audi's most significant launch in what will prove to be a busy 2011 is the new Audi A6, a car that represents the German manufacturer's serious assault on the market share of its arch rivals, BMW and Mercedes.

Aimed squarely at an executive audience the new A6 saloon (an estate version will come later in the year) comes loaded with options that will see the purchase price quickly move north of the £30,145 entry-level 2.0 TDI. Three other engines are available when the range reaches showrooms in April - the 3.0 TDI, A6 TDI quattro and the sole petrol version, the 3.0 TFSI quattro which tops the price range at £41,620. So, has Audi done enough to tempt buyers away from the opposition?