Is Audi’s A6 MHEV As Cutting Edge As The ‘70s 100 GL?

Motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby pit two Audis head-to-head. But how does the new A7 MHEV stack up to the classic ’70s 100 GL?

Head To Head: Audi’s A6 MHEV vs. 1970s 100 GL

JT-P: Wow! That’s a cool-looking classic.

JT: Yes, move over Mercedes! The 100 GL saloon helped Audi muscle in on the posh car market in the late ’60s and early ’70s, when flower power and then glam rock were cultural catnip. Today there are just 17 of these beautiful Audis left on UK roads.

There are just 17 Audi 100 GLs left on UK roads (and fields).

So this was a massively important car for the German brand back in the day?

Correct. Volkswagen took over what was Auto Union in the mid-1960s – Audi was a part of that brand and needed a completely new range to take on the competition. The 100 GL was a proper executive car for middle management types.

That interior is super basic – very much of the era. Highlights inside include some fake wood veneer on the dashboard and very simple controls. That said, the seats are soft and comfortable, like a favourite armchair.

Note the lack of headrests! They were expensive options back then. However, with a 1.9-litre petrol engine, the 100 is still more than capable of keeping up with traffic today.

The interior of Audi’s 100 GL oozes charm.

And while it lacks electric windows, central locking and an infotainment screen, our 1972 car oozes charm.

It steals the show, especially when parked alongside the very latest Audi: the all-new A6 saloon. We drove the Launch Edition Plus, a high-spec car that would have been a pipedream for drivers 50 years ago.

All those things we take for granted now in luxury cars – like air suspension, LED headlights and all-wheel steering – were simply unheard of back then. 

Our test car was also a diesel – unusual given that petrol, hybrid and EVs are what most people buy these days. This A6 does have a secret weapon though: mild hybrid technology. For this model that’s essentially two small electric motors that assist the diesel engine, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. It has the ability to move on electric power only but this A6 doesn’t plug in to charge up the batteries  – that’s done by the engine as the wheels turn.

Why has Audi not replaced the old A6 with an all-electric model?

Quite simply, the public hasn’t taken to EVs as quickly as was originally expected. Many brands are delaying the switch to battery power and offering petrol or diesel alternatives for the foreseeable future at least. The A6 has always been a big seller for Audi in the executive market. If people aren’t buying as many EVs as predicted, keeping a model with a combustion engine seems like an obvious move.

It’s amazing how advanced the interior is compared to the old 100 GL. It feels more like a spaceship in the cabin, bristling with technology and, of course, the obligatory giant digital screens.

The Audi A6 MHEV is like a greatest hits of Audi saloons – very classy indeed.

Not exactly a characterful car, but the latest A6 is an exceptional driving experience. It’s a saloon instead of an SUV and wonderful to drive. However, it’s not exactly quick: the 2.0-litre diesel engine strains at times. But the feelgood factor makes up for that.

You can’t deny this is probably the best executive saloon available for just under £70,000. It’s like a greatest hits of Audi saloons – very classy indeed. I do wish it had a bit more power though.

I suppose this is what you might call ‘efficient luxury’, with the bonus of hybrid technology. Audi will likely launch a faster S6 version too.

The question is, which one do you prefer to drive the most?

That’s tricky. Obviously, the A6 is a state-of-the-art modern car but the 100 GL is a very useable classic that’s endearing to drive. Can I have both?

Discover more about Audi’s A6 MHEV at audi.co.uk

Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby is Director of Programmes at London College of Fashion, studying for a PhD in sustainable e-textile design.