Audi has bitten the bullet and ditched the combustion engine in one of its most popular models. The A6 Sportback and Avant are now fully electric.
How do we know? Well, the German brand has conveniently added “e-tron” to the model name, but it has also decided that all of its odd-numbered models (A3, A5, A7, etc.) will henceforth be the ones with the nasty exhaust pipes.
In addition to the new naming, there’s also a bold new look, which stays true to the original concept first revealed at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show and borrows some elements from the sporty e-tron GT.
Far from just looking good, many of these styling cues work hard, with Audi claiming this is the most aerodynamically efficient model yet.
The A6 Sportback has a drag coefficient of 0.21 Cd, while the estate-style Avant has a factor of 0.24 Cd. If those figures mean little to you, fear not, but a quick scan of the internet will reveal that it’s as slippery as the McLaren Speedtail and Porsche Taycan – both of which are among the slickest vehicles ever to roll off a production line.
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This is achieved with air curtains at the front, an electronically controlled air intake, an aerodynamic underbody, multiple spoilers and even the option of special aerodynamic rims.
Oh, and the slim stalks with cameras on the ends are now a permanent Audi aero feature, replacing standard wing mirrors to the frustration of some. Apparently, designers have positioned the live video feed screens higher in the cabin, making for a more natural viewing experience for the driver.
All of these marginal improvements have a big impact on battery range, with Audi claiming the Sportback variant can get 750 kilometers from its 100 kWh packs, while the larger and arguably more practical Avant can do 710 kilometers.
The new A6 e-tron is equipped with the new PPE platform (shared with Porsche and no, it has nothing to do with face masks) and features an 800V electrical architecture for faster charging speeds, with maximum DC speeds of 270 kW.
Even the standard cars, oddly called Performance, offer 362bhp from a rear-mounted engine, while the high-performance S6 benefits from all-wheel drive via dual motors and a total system output of 543bhp. It can do 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds.
Advantage through technology
Audi has harnessed its technological might in the new A6 e-tron, equipping the interior with an 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit for the driver, a 14.5-inch MMI touch display in the center and an extra-special 10.9-inch MMI display for the front passenger to keep the passengers entertained.
It’s a similar setup to the one we’ve used in the all-new Porsche Panamera, and allows the passenger to browse cat photos on social media without distracting the driver. It’s all thanks to a special screen coating that makes it invisible from certain angles.
There’s no official word on pricing, though we’d expect it to start around $90,000/£70,000/AU$140,000 when it goes on sale. That puts it squarely in the firing line against its two nearest Teutonic rivals: the BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE.
