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It’s easy to get lost in the alphanumeric soup of Audi.

Take this week’s test car, for example.

Depending on the source you’re consulting — including Audi — it’s called the 2007 Audi A6 Sedan 3.2 quattro AT6 … or the 2007 A6 3.2 Tiptronic … or the 2007 Audi A6 3.2 S line …

And that’s the short list. Kind of makes you long for the days when cars had names like Ford Falcon, doesn’t it?

OK, it’s a minor annoyance, because the tested A6 might be a mouthful, but its performance, handling, luxury appointments and safety features make it easy to swallow.

In fact, among the Audi “A Team” lineup — which includes the A3, A4, A6 and A8 — the A6 is a wise choice: It’s a sweet-moving luxury/sports sedan that, while pricey, does not soar anywhere near the six-figure stratosphere.

The tested A6 started at a comparatively modest $45,100, but it was dressed up with so many primo options that the bottom line came in at a somewhat thunderous $58,870.

But one of these options was the “S line Package,” and that is worth the extra $3,350 if you want your A6 to be firmly entrenched in the sporty camp. The package includes 19-inch alloy wheels, 19-inch high-performance tires, a sport-tuned suspension, special bumpers, S line badging (very cool-looking on Audi’s oversize grille), headlight washers, gray birch wood trim and a four-spoke steering wheel with buttons to control various systems.

With the S line performance features working, the A6 is a serious rush. The 3.2-liter V-6 with four valves per cylinder feels much stronger than its advertised 255 horsepower, especially when the revs are up and you’re making aggressive moves with the car.

Climbing hills with the all-wheel-drive system is blast; the A6 seemed to effortlessly breeze past other cars struggling to keep pace. On twisty roads in the Sierra Nevada, the A6 whipped around corners with monorail-like stability.

Steering was instantly responsive, and the six-speed Tiptronic transmission — Tiptronic being the label for combined manual/automatic gearbox technology that Porsche/Audi helped pioneer — was seamlessly effective.

Give me this kind of performance, and I’ll gladly pass on the $2,750 Convenience Package (including xenon adaptive headlights, folding exterior mirrors and an upgraded Bose sound system) and the $1,450 Premium Package with a power glass sunroof and heated front seats.

The lengthy list of A6 standard features is likely more than adequate for most tastes. It includes a six-disc CD changer, 12-way power front seats, automatic dual-zone climate control, leather seating surfaces and wood inlays on the dash, center console and doors.

Please note, a DVD-based navigation system was part of a $4,000 Technology Package on the tester. It’s hooked into a high-resolution 7-inch color screen on the dashboard. Given the blizzard of options, you’ll want to carefully consider exactly what you want if you go A6 shopping.

Also, the traditional hand-brake duties are handled by an electromechanical button on the center console. It takes some getting used to, and you have to make sure you’ve fully depressed/lifted the button to engage/disengage the brake.

The tested A6 was a technology-rich sedan, but the jumble of interior controls took some time to learn. The dash and the center console were a little too busy for my taste.

This is a midsize sedan, so back-seat space is not cavernous, but I’d call it adequate for most short outings with five folks on board.

For all its gutsy performance, exterior styling on the A6 is somewhat conservative. The big grille up front is an attention- getter, but styling from there on back is fairly standard sedan-like.

Safety and security features are outstanding. A carful of air bags includes Audi’s Sideguard inflatable curtain air bags. Seat belts have pretensioning/force-limiting features. The body is reinforced for side impacts, and there are front/rear crumple zones on the A6. In crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the car received a “top safety pick” rating.

All things considered, this Audi A6 is a sterling piece of German engineering.

With so many sporty, luxury-laden cars on the market, it’s hard to narrow your choices down to just one automobile. But this A6 competes nicely in that segment.

And prospective buyers can opt for the generously equipped, basic A6 package or open the pocketbook for numerous options like those adorning the tester.

Performance, luxury and choices. Life is good.

2007 Audi A6 at a glance

Make/model: 2007 Audi A6 3.2 S line quattro AT6 Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door, all-wheel-drive, luxury/sports sedan Base price: $45,100 (as tested, $58,870) Engine: 3.2-liter V-6 with 255 horsepower at 6,500 revolutions per minute and 243 foot-pounds of torque at 3,250 rpm EPA fuel economy: 19 miles per gallon city; 27 mpg highway (premium regular recommended, but not required) Transmission: Six-speed Tiptronic automatic with overdrive Steering: Power-assisted rack and pinion with speed-sensitive feature Brakes: Power four-wheel discs with antiock and other braking-enhancement features Suspension: Independent, multi-link on front; independent, trapezoidal-link on rear (with special sport-tuned feature) Fuel tank: 21.1 gallons Passenger volume: 98 cubic feet Trunk volume: 15.9 cubic feet Curb weight: 4,034 pounds Height: 57.4 inches Length: 193.5 inches Wheelbase: 111.9 inches Width: 79.2 inches Track: 63.5 inches on front; 63.7 inches on rear Ground clearance: 4.6 inches Towing capacity: 2,000 pounds Tires: P255/35R19 performance radials Final assembly point: Neckarsulm, Germany