2021 AUDI A6 suspension

Table of contents

About this Owner's Manual......
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Cockpit. ...... 0... eee eee eee eee
Indicator lights overview...........4..
Display and operation...........
Instrument cluster...............
Instrument cluster overview...........
Operating. ecccuse w+ were oo wens oo ayes 9 ¥
Adjusting the display.................
Coolant temperature display...........
Tachometer’ series i ewe so snes ¥ & ome
Odometer.............. cee eee eee ee
Outside temperature display...........
Engine oil temperature indicator.......
Boost indicator...............0--000.
Shift light indicator..................
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Vehicle functions ..............00000.
TOUCKHAISPLAYS « esis 6 6 sccm 6 x wees
General touch display operation........
Multi Media Interface................
Head-up display..................
Description............0.. ee cee eee
Voice recognition system........
General information..............00.
DESGriptiOns « = seen ¢ = seme xs eee st eee
External voice operation..............
Global functions.................
Additional function buttons...........
Starting and driving.............
Personalization..................
Opening and closing.............
Central locking) sani x x swasien © x sponae 2 aaaonor
Keys... eee
Luggage compartment lid.............
Childisafety lock seis 2 « sere ¥ © were 3 ¢ overs
Power windows............000eeeeee
Panorartiic glass roof 0... ieee s ieee es
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13
14 14
15 15
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15
16
16
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16 18
18
20
27
27 28 28 28
29
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31
32 32
32
35 35
39
42
46 47
48
Valetiparking = s ssse «x cscs ov crue a ¥ oe 49
Garage door opener..........--.00 eee 50
Lights and Vision................. 53
Exterior lighting...................4. 53
Interior liQhting ss =e aves ss eews so eos 57
ViSIOMsn « 3 ses 3 3 ema oo wena vo ae © ove 58
Windshield wipers.............-..45- 60
Digital compass.............-.-0000- 63
Sitting correctly and safely...... 65
Correct passenger seating position...... 65
Frontseats:: » ssw. « ¢ sews & » saws +s ewe < 65
Steering wheel seis < «cies ¥ eerie ss eee 68
Head restraints.................0000. 69
Safety Beltsi: s sass x eeups ¢ < saves 2 e cee 70
Memory function . « scons ecw ee cro ee 73
Airbag system... ... 2.62... 0 ee eee eee 74
Child safety seats.................04- 78
Storage and convenience........ 84
POWErSOURCES coisa gs seen ss wae se aes 84
Gup holders. ¢ ssn ss wee 2 2 see 2 & pee 84
Storage and compartments............ 85
Luggage compartment............... 85
ROOF hacks « = weies x = wae 2 s eae 2 & ween 2 90
Warm and cold................... oF
Climate control system............... 91
Steering wheel heating............... 94
Fluids in the A/C system.............. 94
DOING): & eesc% 5 6 sccm 6 & ares 6 ores 6 2 oe 96
Starting the vehicle.................. 96
When OFIVING ws « ¢ cee, ss ews sa ews a os 97
Drive SYStEM sia 5 & enswee 6 2 ween oo OAK a Fa 103
Start/Stop system............220200- 104
Brakes; + 5 saa.a 2 aauaas s aaa @ 3s eae Ee Be 105
Electromechanical parking brake....... 107
Special driving situations.............. 109
Driving dynamic.................. 112
Audi drivesselecti. « cccas + 6 ersaew + « eueio + a6 112
Suspension ..............0 2.02 e ee eee 173
SteGritig « scan s + maw & = meen ve eee a ee 114

Quick access

Steering lock
=>page 115
Air suspension
=>page 114
Electrical system
=> page 251
Engine oil level (MIN)
=> page 246
Engine oil pressure
=> page 246
Cooling system
=> page 249
Hood
=> page 244
Loose wheel warning
=> page 272
Night vision assist
= page 133
Night vision assist
=> page 133
Distance warning
=> page 148
Steering intervention request
=> page 142
Safe start monitor
=> page 145,
Driver intervention request
=>page 146
Adaptive cruise assist
=> page 139
Lane departure warning
=> page 149,
Emergency assist
=> page 158
Audi pre sense
=> page 151,
Intersection assist
=>page 157


Yellow indicator lights

Central indicator light
=>page 7

Safety systems
=> page 74
Transmission
=> page 102
Drive system
=> page 104
Cooling system
=> page 249
Engine start system
=> page 97
Keys
=> page 97
Electromechanical parking brake
=> page 108
Brake system
=> page 107
Electronic Stabilization Control
(ESC)
=> page 117

Electronic Stabilization Control
(ESC)
=>page 117
Electronic Stabilization Control
(ESC)
=>page 117
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
=>page 118
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
>page 118
Steering
=>page 115
Steering lock
=>page 115
All wheel drive
=>page 116
Suspension control
=> page 114
Air suspension
=>page 114
Engine speed limitation
=>page 15
Tank system
=> page 239

Quick access

Efficiency assist Electromechanical parking brake
=> page 136 => page 108
Efficiency assist
=> page 136
Electromechanical parking brake
=> page 108
Hill hold assist
=> page 110


















Efficiency assist
=> page 136
Efficiency assist
> page 136
Steering
>page 115
Efficiency assist
> page 136
Air suspension
=>page 114
Efficiency assist
> page 136
Parking systems
=> page 162
Adaptive cruise assist
> page 139
Park assist plus
=> page 174
Adaptive cruise assist
=> page 139
Park assist plus
=>page 174
Adaptive cruise assist
> page 139
Adaptive cruise assist
=> page 139
Adaptive cruise assist
> page 139
Adaptive cruise assist
=> page 139
Park assist plus
>page 171
Lane departure warning
=> page 149
High beam headlights
=> page 54
Maneuver assist
=> page 180
High beam assistant
=> page 54
Door lock
=> page 37
Child safety lock
=> page 46
Speed warning system
=> page 127
Speed warning system
=>page 127
Camera-based traffic sign recog-
nition
> page 128
High beam assistant
=> page 54
Laser lights
=>page 55 Night vision assist
Rear safety belt => page 133
=> page 72 Cruise control system
Rear safety belt >page 135
=> page 72
Transmission
O; => page 102
Convenience key
=> page 97
10
Cruise control system
=>page 135
Intersection assist
=>page 158

4K0012721BE
Driving

Special driving situations
Sy Tae ALAL |
Applies to: RS models
When driving in a sporty style, the wear on all ve-
hicle components is greatly increased, especially
on the engine, transmission, tires, brakes, and
suspension. This can result in increased wear. Al-
so note the following points:
— Make sure the vehicle is in good condition.
Make sure to check the brake pads, tire tread,
and tire pressure (when tires are warm).
— Beforehand, warm up the engine by driving no
higher than two-thirds of the maximum permit-
ted engine RPM. The engine oil must be
brought to a minimum temperature of 158 °F
(70°C).
— Before stopping the vehicle, allow the engine
and brakes to cool back down to a regular oper-
ating temperature by driving normally.
If necessary, use the following functions:
— dynamic Audi drive select mode* > page 112
— Launch Control > page 101
— Limit ESC > page 117
@® Tips
Wear caused by load does not constitute a ve-
hicle fault as defined by the terms of the war-
ranty.
Driving uphill and downhill
When driving uphill, downhill, or at high alti-
tudes, note the following information:
— Drive slowly and carefully.
— Do not try to turn around if you cannot safely
drive on an incline or hill. Instead, drive in re-
verse.
— When driving down hills, you can activate the
hill descent control if you press the brake pedal
while driving in “D” gear. The automatic trans-
mission will select a gear suitable for driving
down the hill and will attempt to maintain the
speed at which the vehicle was traveling at the
time the brake pedal was pressed. Press the
brake pedal if necessary. The hill descent con-
trol will switch off once the hill levels out or
you press the accelerator pedal.
— Utilize the engine braking effect when driving
downhill by selecting the “S” driving program
= page 99. This especially applies when towing
a trailer. This reduces the load on the brakes.
— Apply the brakes in intervals and do not press
the brake pedal continuously.
— Use the hill descent assist if necessary
=>page 110
Inclinometer
Applies to: vehicles with a tilt angle display
You can display the vehicle's sideways angle and
lengthwise angle in relation to the horizon.
— Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
VEHICLE > Vehicle data.
— You may need to scroll down to the Inclinome-
ter display.
The sideways angle of your vehicle should not ex-
ceed the yellow range in the gauge. If it reaches
the red range, there is a risk that the vehicle
might tip.
The steering wheel angle, the elevation, the com-
pass direction, and the geo-coordinates of the
current vehicle position are displayed in addition
to the current vehicle angle. You will also receive
information about the maximum sideways and
lengthwise angle that was reached in the current
driving cycle. These values are reset when the ig-
nition is switched off.
Note that the accuracy of the display depends on
the driving situation.

Z\ WARNING
— Only drive on inclines that your vehicle is de-
signed to handle. Do not exceed the hill
climbing ability of your vehicle. Your vehicle
could tip or slide.
— Do not drive at an angle on steep inclines
and hills. If your vehicle is about to tip, you
must immediately start steering in the di-
rection of the downward slope to reduce the
risk of an accident.
— Always be ready to brake when using the hill
descent control function. >

109

Driving


— Applies to: vehicles with an inclinometer: Do
not rely only on the inclinometer when as-

sessing the driving situation.
Offroad driving
Applies to: allroad

Your vehicle is not an offroad vehicle. Note the
following points when driving offroad:
— Drive slowly and carefully.
—To reduce the risk of underbody damage, pay
attention to the vehicle's ground clearance and
drive across raised areas of the ground with the
wheels on one side of the vehicle, instead of al-
lowing the center of the vehicle to pass over the
raised areas.
—To reduce the risk of becoming stuck, drive
through sandy or swampy areas at a steady
speed and without stopping, if possible.
If necessary, use the following functions:
— Audi drive select* offroad mode > page 112
— Hill hold assist* > page 110
—Inclinometer* > page 109
— Raising the vehicle > page 113
— Limit ESC > page 117

ZA\ WARNING
Only drive in terrain that is suitable for the ve-
hicle and your driving ability.

@ For the sake of the environment
Avoid actions that are damaging to the envi-
ronment. Show respect for the natural envi-
ronment and remain on marked routes.
@ Tips
Clean your vehicle after driving offroad. Dirt
and stones falling off your vehicle can affect
other road users.
Driving through water
If you must drive through water, follow these in-
structions:
— Check the stability of the ground, the current,
and the water depth. If the ground is unstable,
110
there is a strong current, or there are waves,
the water must only reach up to the lower edge
of the body at the most.
— Deactivate the Start/Stop system.
— Drive carefully and no faster than at walking
speeds to prevent the front of the vehicle from
creating waves, because they could splash
above the lower edge of the body. Oncoming
vehicles could also create waves.
— Do not stop the vehicle while in the water.
— Drive in reverse.
— Do not turn the engine off.

ZA WARNING
After driving through water, press the brake
pedal carefully to dry the brakes so that the
full braking effect will be restored.
@) Note
Vehicle components such as the engine, drive
system, suspension, or electrical system can
be severely damaged by driving through wa-
ter.
(i) Tips
If possible, avoid driving through salt water
because it increases the risk of corrosion. Use
fresh water to clean any vehicle components
that come into contact with salt water.
Hill descent assist
Applies to: vehicles with hill hold assist

The “2 button is located in the function bar on
the lower display. It lights up when the system is
turned on.
Hill descent assist can assist you when driving
down hills by maintaining a constant vehicle
speed by automatically braking all four wheels.
You can adjust the speed using the accelerator
and brake pedals. The regulation depends on the
hill and the vehicle speed.
> Switching on: press “2.
> Switching off: press “2 again.

Driving dynamic

Driving dynamic
Audi drive select
Introduction
Applies to: vehicles with Audi drive select
Drive select makes it possible to experience dif-
ferent types of vehicle characteristics in one vehi-
cle. With different driving modes, the driver can
switch the setting, for example from sporty to
comfortable. This allows you to adjust the set-
tings to your personal preferences. This makes it
possible to combine settings such as a sporty
drivetrain setting with comfortable steering.
Selecting an Audi drive select mode
Applies to: vehicles with Audi drive select
The sie button is located above the selector lever
in the center console.
> Press the left or right arrow key until the de-
sired mode appears in the MMI. Or:
» Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Audi drive select.
You can change the driving mode when the vehi-
cle is stationary or while driving. If traffic per-
mits, briefly remove your foot from the accelera-
tor pedal after changing modes so that the mode
you have selected will be activated for the drive
system.
The following modes may be available depending
on the equipment:
offroad - Provides assistance when driving off-
road. The vehicle will be raised to the second-
highest level using the air suspension®. The ESC
will be restricted and the hill descent assist* will
be activated. The vehicle will exit this mode after
the ignition is switched off.
allroad - Provides balanced vehicle handling. The
vehicle will be raised to the second-highest level
using the air suspension*.
comfort - Provides a comfort-oriented vehicle
setup and is suited for long drives on highways.
auto - Provides an overall comfortable yet dy-
namic driving feel and is suited for everyday use.
112
dynamic - Gives the driver a sporty driving feel
and is suited to a sporty driving style. The “S”
driving program is selected.
Individual - Provides the option for personalized
vehicle settings. Press ¥ to configure the mode
=> page 112, Individual settings.
(i) Tips
When the ignition is being switched on, indi-
vidual systems, such as the drive system, will
be reset to a balanced setting. Select the cur-
rent mode again to attain its full configura-
tion.
Selecting RS mode
Applies to: RS models
In RS models, there are two individual adjustable
RS modes instead of the Individual mode.
Selecting the mode
> Press the fds button on the multi-function
steering wheel to switch between the RS modes
and the last selected Audi drive select mode.
Or:
» Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Audi drive select.
Adjusting the mode
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Audi drive select.
> Press ¥ to configure the respective RS mode
=> page 112, Individual settings.
Individual settings
Applies to: vehicles with Audi drive select
The equipment in your vehicle will determine
which settings you can adjust.
Drive
The drive system will react to accelerator pedal
moves more quickly or in a more balanced man-
ner. The shift points are placed in higher or lower
speed ranges.

4K0012721BE
Driving dynamic

Depending on the setting, the drive power at the
rear axle will be distributed with the sport differ-
ential* to be more sporty or moderate
> page 116.
In RS models, the sport differential is adjusted
using a separate menu item.
Steering
The power steering will adapt. Light steering is
suitable for long trips on highways or smooth
driving around curves, for example.
Suspension
The suspension adjusts to be tighter or more
comfort-oriented when it comes to compensat-
ing for uneven spots on the road.
The vehicle ground clearance is adjusted by the
air suspension* based on the setting.
Engine sound
The engine sound adapts and can be subtle to
sporty. In the automatic setting, the engine
sound depends on the selected driving program.
quattro with sport differential
Applies to: RS models
Depending on the setting, the drive power at the
rear axle will be distributed with the sport differ-
ential* to be more sporty or moderate
=>page 116.
ESC
Applies to: RS models
The ESC sport mode can be activated. Also refer
to the important information regarding driving
with ESC limited > page 117.
Suspension
Adaptive dampers
Applies to: vehicles with suspension control
The adaptive dampers are an electronically-con-
trolled damping system. The firmness of the sus-
pension will adapt to the driving conditions and
the driving situation. The settings depend on the
selected Audi drive select* mode.
PN Taetey lard fe) a)
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
The air suspension is an electronically-controlled
suspension and leveling system. The firmness of
the suspension will adapt to the driving condi-
tions and the driving situation. The system balan-
ces out changes in load. The vehicle level will also
adapt gradually to the vehicle speed in order to
reduce the wind resistance at high speeds and in-
crease the ground clearance at low speeds. The
settings depend on the selected Audi drive se-
lect* mode.
Displaying the vehicle level
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Audi drive select.
The filled-in boxes represent the current vehicle
level. The more boxes that are filled in, the high-
er the ground clearance. The box that corre-
sponds with the current vehicle level will flash
while the vehicle is lifting or lowering. The target
level is highlighted in color.
Raising the vehicle
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Audi drive select.
> Press Raise to reach the highest vehicle level
and thus the maximum ground clearance.
> Press Lower to lower the vehicle down again.
The Audi drive select* mode will be changed if
necessary when the vehicle is raised.
The vehicle will lower at speeds of approximately
22 mph (35 km/h) and below. This function may
only be used temporarily when increased ground
clearance is necessary. It is not intended for long
drives.
@) Note
— Also refer to the information about ground
clearance > page 114.
— When transporting the vehicle on a road
carrier, rail carrier, ship carrier, or other car-
rier, it may only be secured at the running
surfaces of the tires (circumference). Secur-
ing the vehicle at the axle components, sus-
pension struts, or towing eyes is not
113
>

Driving dynamic

permitted because the pressure in the air
suspension struts can change during trans-
port. The vehicle might not be secured suffi-
ciently if this happens.
Ground clearance
The vehicle height and clearance can be influ-
enced by the following factors:
— Change in temperature
— Change in load
— Change to the Audi drive select* mode
— Lifting and lowering via the air suspension*

ZA WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury, make sure no one
gets pinched when the vehicle level is chang-
ing, for example when cleaning the under-
body or the wheel housings.
@) Note
Always make sure there is enough clearance
above and below the vehicle. This is especially
important for entrances with height restric-
tions, for example, before driving into under-
ground garages. You could also scrape the
ground when driving over the edges of curbs
or on steep ramps, which could damage your
vehicle.
Messages
B Air suspension: malfunction! You may con-
tinue driving slowly at max. XX mph (km/h)

There is a malfunction. Driving stability may be
limited. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility immediately. Do not
drive faster than the speed given in the message.
E@ Air suspension: malfunction! Safely stop ve-
hicle. Steering and ground clearance limited
There is a malfunction. Do not continue driving.
Secure the vehicle against rolling before exiting
the vehicle > page 97. Avoid turning the steering
wheel, because the vehicle ground clearance may
be so low that turning the steering wheel could
114
result in damage to the wheels and wheel hous-
ings.
1 o | Suspension: malfunction! You can continue
driving
There is a malfunction. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance.
B Air suspension: vehicle too low. Limited
ground clearance
The vehicle ground clearance is very low. Wait un-
til the air suspension system has restored normal
ground clearance. Have an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility repair the mal-
function immediately if the indicator light does
not turn off after a significant period of time.
B Air suspension: malfunction! Please contact
Service
There is a malfunction. The driving stability may
be limited and the ground clearance may be low.
See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
Audi drive select: automatic suspension low-
ering. See owner's manual
The vehicle level is adjusted to the setting stored
for the active personal profile > page 32.
Audi drive select: automatic suspension lift.
See owner's manual
The vehicle level is adjusted to the setting stored
for the active personal profile > page 32.
Steering
Electromechanical steering supports the driver's
steering movements by electronically adapting
the power steering depending on the vehicle
speed. The settings depend on the selected Audi
drive select* mode.
Progressive steering
Applies to: vehicles with progressive steering
The driving dynamic and driving stability are in-
creased by the steering ratio based on the steer-
ing wheel angle. The steering is very direct when