The Audi ICE-powered A6 is gone. Long live A6 e-Tron
Yes, you read the headline right. The era of the ICE-powered Audi A6 has come to an end. This comes after Audi announced at the debut of the new A5 that even-numbered models would be electrified, while odd-numbered variants would continue to be powered by combustion engines. In this instance, the next generation of the ICE-powered A6 will be called the A7 when it debuts sometime in 2025.
As for EVs, Audi has now revealed the new A6 e-Tron, which is available in Sportback and Avant guises, as the second model to be based on the same PPE architecture that also underpins the Q6 e-Tron SUV.
Audi has truly excelled in the design department, and the attention to detail is remarkable. While we leave you to appreciate its striking aesthetics, it’s worth highlighting that Audi claims the Sportback is the most aerodynamic vehicle in the history books of the VW Group, boasting a drag coefficient of just 0.21. The Avant, too, impresses with a Cd of 0.24, making it one of the most aerodynamically efficient station wagons around.
To add to that, it comes fitted with 19-inch 5-arm dynamic wheels as standard, while the S Line upgrades to 20-inch 5-spoke tripod alloys in a graphite grey hue. The S6 e-Tron comes standard with 20-inch alloys, but you can upgrade to bigger 21-inch alloys at an additional cost.
Like in the Q6 e-Tron, the interior of the A6 features a free-standing 14.5-inch Audi MMI panoramic display with a curved design, a virtual cockpit that measures 11.9 inches, and an optional 10.9-inch front passenger display plus a configurable head-up display.
Powering the range is a newly developed 100kWh battery pack that gives the cars a cruising range of up to 756km in the case of the Sportback and 720km for the Avant. The former produces 270kW and 565Nm to the rear wheels, enough to send the sedan from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds before maxing out at 210km/h.
The performance-focused S6 e-Tron gushes out 370kW or 405kW with launch control. It whisks silently from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds, en route to a top speed of 240km/h. However, there’s a cost to that; the range drops to 675km for the S6 e-Tron Sportback and 647km for the Avant.
As standard, the cars feature 800-volt technology and a maximum DC charging capacity of 270kW, with the regular A6 e-Tron Sportback having the ability to add 310km in 10 minutes. A charge of 10 to 80% can be achieved in 21 minutes. Audi further says AC charging with up to 11kW is possible using standard home chargers, while a 22kW AC charging option will be offered later.
It’s somewhat bittersweet to witness the transition of the venerable Audi A6, once a formidable competitor among its well-established sedan rivals, to an electric vehicle. However, it is comforting to know that this iconic nameplate will endure even in its new electrified form.
Audi has announced that the A6 e-tron Sportback is under consideration for introduction to the local market in mid-2025. When it comes, it will go head-to-head with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz EQE and BMW i5.
