Audi dealers are taking orders for the rugged new sport utility version of the Audi A6 Avant, which will be priced from £33,530 on the road.

The all-terrain A6 allroad quattro will initially be powered by 2.7-litre TDI and 3.0-litre TDI engines, and will reach its first UK customers in July.

The understated elegance of the A6 Avant takes on a harder edge for the new A6 allroad quattro through an exclusive grille and front and rear bumper design, flared wheel arches, extended sills and stainless steel under-body protection panels. The wheel arches and sills are particularly prominent in their contrasting colour, but can be painted to match the body if preferred.

The go-anywhere appearance is justified, because the new A6 allroad quattro combines powerful, engines with quattro four-wheel-drive incorporating a mechanical self-locking centre differential, plus five-level height adjustable air suspension giving maximum ground clearance of up to 185mm for negotiation of difficult gradients.