Engine additions aren’t often the most exciting things in a car’s life, but the new 2.8-litre petrol that’s just become part of the Audi A6 line-up is a little bit special.

Its claim to fame is the impressively efficient CO2 and mpg figures which stand at 209g/km and 43.5mpg when twinned with Audi’s multitronic auto gearbox. The result is that the A6 will keep below the proposed top £25 London C-charge.

The car’s not down on power and performance either, with the 210PS engine giving the A6 a 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 147mph.

Best of all the engine makes the car a joy to drive. The engine note is sporty without being too intrusive and the response is first rate too.

With a P11D of £28,775 and a 44.9p cost per mile, the Audi’s strengths continue, and with diesel and petrol prices converging, this could be the pick of the A6 range.

Verdict: Clever engine, shrewd purchase