HOT on the heels of another groundbreaking victory at Le Mans, Audi is about to deliver some more sophisticated diesel technology - this time in a go anywhere estate car.
The latest generation of the A6 allroad quattro has Audi's new twin turbo V6 diesel as its flagship.
Pumping out more than 300bhp it brings a new dimension to this exclusive niche in the estate car market.
At the moment only Volvo with its all-wheel-drive XC70 estate offers any sort of competition but with its three-litre diesels Audi is now in a league of its own.
In the Audi line up the allroad models are where luxury estates meet SUVs and they are aimed at an exclusive set.
That's reflected in the prices and the biturbo costs from £49,445 yet with extras can easily tip the scales at more than £60,000.
The one we tried came in at almost £64,000 thanks to a heady array of options which included 20-inch alloys at £2,445, LED headlamps for £2,175 and a £1,200 panoramic sunroof.
At such a premium the allroad has to be special - and that's a task made easier by the incredible engine.
While Audi's latest Le Mans winner was fitted with a hybrid diesel, the biturbo in the allroad has to be the best high performance diesel on the market at the moment.
It delivers sports car performance in a vehicle weighing almost two tonnes while Audi claims it will average more than 40 to the gallon.
There is masses of torque which makes the car lively and responsive yet it comes on stream in a delightfully managed fashion.
Make the engine work hard and there is a throaty growl from the exhaust - a sound which is electronically enhanced but bound to create a smile.
The top speed is restricted at 155mph and 0 to 60 takes 5.8 seconds which is phenomenal for an estate yet despite such performance the CO2 emissions are a credible 176g/km.
It's almost on par with the regular A6 Avant - no mean achievement considering the allroad is slightly bigger, sits higher and comes with extra body kit including wheel arch protectors, roof rails and stainless steel unberbody panels.
The handling of the allroad BiTDI and its eight speed gearbox are other eye openers.
On twisty country lanes around Devon where we drove the allroad it proved to be as nimble as any sporty model with minimal body roll and positive gear changes.
With air suspension as standard the ride is accommodating on or off the road and while it is by no means a full blown 4x4 the all wheel drive system is backed up by electronics such as hill descent control which deliver more than adequate ability over rough or muddy terrain.
The allroad is also fitted with a tilt meter to show when gradients are becoming critical - a valuable device especially when towing off road.
Luggage capacity ranges from 565 to 1,680 litres which is the same as the A6 Avant but the allroad has greater towing ability at 2.5 tonnes. It also has almost eight inches greater ground clearance.
Inside, the allroad is as posh and well equipped as any top specification of the new A6.
Leather, classy veneers and high tech media kit festoon the cabin and the slimline retractable colour display screen is a delight to see in operation as it slides in and out of the dash.
It is a feature which sums up the quality of fit and finish which has become the standard for Audi.
A variety of driving patterns can be selected from the electronics and those include a mode specifically for the allroad which brings into play the car's off road devices.
Stop/start is standard across all four engines Audi is using in the new allroad range and although we failed to match Audi's claimed 42.2mpg in the biturbo we achieved almost 33 to the gallon - not far off the figure we managed in lower powered versions of the three-litre diesel.
Although the twin turbo is undoubtedly a masterpiece of engineering it is the V6 diesel in 245 and 204ps states of tune which are likely to account for more than 90 per cent of the 800 allroads a year Audi expects to sell in Britain.
Those are priced from £44,690 and £43,150 respectively and the cheaper one comes with the bonus of CO2 emissions below the 160g/km mark making it particularly attractive to business buyers.
A solitary petrol engine - a three-litre 310ps turbo - is also included in the range priced from £45,020 but it is the blend of power and economy from the diesels which will have the edge in this very exclusive multi role estate.