1999 Audi A6 Quattro A luxury sedan with sport coupe flair. By Kevin Ransom, New Car Test Drive .com

Does a sedan have to look like a sedan? That was the question that guided Audi engineers when they took on the task of redesigning the A6 sedan. If the final product is an indicator, the answer is a bold no. Because the fruit of their efforts is a luxury sedan that boasts the stylish flair and sweeping lines of a luxury coupe.

The A6 competes with such luxury sedans as the Cadillac Catera, Mercedes Benz C280, Lexus GS 300 and Infiniti I30-all of which start in the $32,000 to $36,000 range.

Audi's A6 also aims to tempt buyers who would like to luxuriate in the plush comforts of high-end luxury cars like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but can't quite justify their price tags.

Chock full of luxury amenities, the A6 sparkles from bumper-to-bumper. It exudes the confident air of a jewel whose every detail was given a thorough going-over. And it provides a reassuring sense of its status as a truly class act.