Debuted at the 2021 edition of the Shanghai Motor Show, the Audi A6 e-tron concept was the forerunner of an innovative family of all-electric volume models.
Now, Audi is now launching the A6 e-tron as a Sportback and Avant. As the second model on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) platform, it picks up on the familiar product strengths of performance, range, efficiency, and charging. The A6 e-tron is also the platform’s first model with a flat floor concept.
While the exterior is powerful and sporty, the interior is defined by Audi’s new design philosophy. Depending on the equipment level, there are many innovative features, such as second-generation virtual exterior mirrors, a panoramic glass roof that becomes opaque at the touch of a button and illuminated rings at the rear.
The A6 e-tron’s clean design focuses on dynamism, progressiveness, and elegance. The slim design of the daytime running lights and the wide grille make it appear flat and wide on the road.
The Sportback’s dynamic roofline rests on a powerful foundation with a low ride height. As the heart of the car, the battery is emphasized by a black insert in the sill area. The insert gives the car a flat, slim, and dynamic appearance from the side.
The Avant is characterised by a very flat roofline, with the D-pillar sloping steeply forward. An aluminium-look trim piece from the A-pillar to the roof spoiler is a new, distinctive feature and creates high recognisability.
As standard, the A6 e-tron gets 19-inch five-arm dynamic wheels, while the S line gets 20-inch “five-spoke tripod” wheels. The S6 e-tron comes with 20-inch wheels as standard, with 21 inches available as an option. In total, there will be nine distinctive wheel designs to choose from, ranging from sporty to elegant.
Aerodynamic efficiency is especially important with electric cars, and the A6 e-tron is no different. With a drag coefficient of 0.21 for the Sportback and 0.24 for the Avant. This makes the A6 e-tron Sportback the most aerodynamic Audi of all time, and the most aerodynamic vehicle in the entire Volkswagen Audi Group.
The front is aerodynamically optimised and has air curtains that positively influence the flow around the front and the wheels. The greenhouse is extremely slim, and the roofline slopes towards the rear.
The optional second generation virtual exterior mirrors have a flow-optimised shape, which reduces the front area of the vehicle and improves the drag coefficient. Plus, they can now fold in electrically.
The headlights and rear lights have a three-dimensional design and offer digital light signatures, bringing the physical and digital worlds together. At the front, the Audi A6 e-tron family offers digital daytime running lights with LED technology as an option as well as second-generation digital OLED rear lights.
A particular highlight of the new Audi A6 e-tron is the illumination of the four rings at the rear, which emphasises Audi’s corporate identity while giving the new A6 e-tron a distinctive personality.
Expanding on the existing MMI, the A6 e-tron is fitted with a MMI panoramic display consists of the 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit and the 14.5-inch MMI touch display, together with a 10.9-inch MMI front passenger display.
A new panoramic glass roof, utilising electrochromic technology, can now switch from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button. If no voltage is applied, the glass roof is non-transparent. If voltage is applied, it becomes transparent. It can also be individually controlled like a “digital curtain” via four presets.
The infotainment system uses Android Automotive OS as its operating system, allowing for over-the-air updates. This ensures the latest Audi connect services and the enhanced e-tron route planner are always up to date.
Apps such as YouTube are available via the Audi Application Store. The store gives access to a wide range of apps from varying categories like Music, Video, Gaming, Navigation, Parking and Charging, Productivity, Weather, and News Services. The store is constantly expanding, and the app portfolio is market-specific.
The new A6 e-tron receives a Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System featuring a 830W, 20 speakers setup. With four speakers integrated into the front seat headrests, this enables personal surround sound, personal navigation announcements, and one-on-one phone calls.
Additional loudspeakers in the A-pillar and mid-range speakers create an incomparable 3D surround sound. The dynamic interaction light offers a variety of communication functions, supporting the vehicle’s interaction with the occupants.
The battery, consisting of twelve modules and 180 prismatic cells, has a gross capacity of 10 kWh, with 94.9 kWh usable. Range for the A6 e-tron is rated at over 750 kilometres for the Sportback and over 720 kilometres for the Avant, while the S6 e-tron is rated at over 670 kilometres for the Sportback and over 640 kilometres for the Avant/
Power is rated at 270 kW/362 bhp in the A6 e-tron Sportback and Avant, with a century sprint time of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h. The more powerful S6 e-tron is rated at 370 kW/496 bhp (405 kW/543 bhp with launch control), accomplishes the century sprint in 3.9 seconds, and a top speed of 240 km/h.
The A6 e-tron with rear-wheel drive and the S6 e-tron with quattro all-wheel drive, in Sportback and Avant variants, will be available on launch. Depending on the market, further models with rear-wheel drive or quattro all-wheel drive will follow at a later date.
With 800-volt technology and a maximum DC charging capacity of 270 kW, this allow the
A6 e-tron to be gain 310 kilometres of range in just ten minutes, or recharge from 10 to 80 percent in 21 minutes. AC charging with up to 11 kW is possible at standard home chargers, and a 22 kW AC charging option will be offered at a later date.
With optional adaptive air suspension, this lends the A6 e-tron a broad spread between high ride comfort and sporty handling. Depending on the speed and individual preferences, it adapts to specific road conditions and regulates the body’s ride height at four different levels.
The Audi A6 e-tron and S6 e-tron will be available for order in Europe starting in September 2024, at a yet unreleased pricing. Launch dates for Singapore will be updated once we get more details, so stay tuned to this space!
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