The Audi A6 e tron concept previews the Ingolstadt brand’s new electric luxury sedan that’s due for production as early as 2023, just two years from now. As the name suggests, the production version will be part of the A6 family of executive luxury sedans and will rival the likes of the upcoming Mercedes EQE and the Tesla Model S.
- Built on new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture
- Dual motors produce 476hp (350kW) and 800Nm of torque
- 100kWh battery allows for a range of 700km on a single charge
Audi A6 e tron: range and battery
The Audi A6 e tron will get a 100kW battery pack with a range of up to 700km in a single charge, on the WLTP cycle. It will use an 800V electric architecture that allows for 270kW fast charging, which means it can recover about 300km of driving range in just 10 minutes. Additionally, Audi claims the battery can be charged from 5 percent to 80 percent in just 25 minutes.
Audi A6 e tron: motors and performance
The A6 e tron concept is powered by two electric motors, one at each axle, which together produce 350kW (476hp) and 800Nm. There will likely be a high-performance RS version with even more power and performance on offer, claimed to do the 0-100kph sprint in “well under’ 4sec. The dual-motor setup means the A6 e tron is a ‘Quattro’ all-wheel-drive vehicle, but lesser versions will be available with just a single motor on the rear axle, and even these are claimed to do 0-100kph in less than 7sec.
Audi A6 e tron: new PPE platform
The A6 e tron sedan will be built on the VW Group’s new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) EV architecture, which is being co-developed by Audi and Porsche. The platform is expected to make its production debut with the all-electric next-gen Porsche Macan in 2022, and will also spawn a Q6 e tron – a crossover sister car to the A6 e tron.
Interestingly, this is the fifth platform Audi will use for its EVs, as the e tron SUV is based on a modified Q5 platform, the flagship e tron GT sports sedan is based on the Porsche Taycan’s J1 platform, the China-only Q2 L e tron is based on the MQB platform, and the recently unveiled Q4 e tron is based on VW Group’s MEB electric platform.
Because the PPE platform allows the batteries to sit low and flat between the axles, Audi can, for the first time, use a common platform for low-slung vehicles and SUVs. It can also be scaled up and down to cater to higher and lower segments. The A6 e tron uses multi-link suspension at the front and rear, along with air springs, which Audi says lets it have ‘high ground clearance and low ride height’.
Audi A6 e tron: positioning and rivals
The A6 e tron is scheduled to go into production in 2023, and if the e tron GT’s transition from concept to production is anything to go by, there will be few visual changes from this concept. Its dimensions aren’t too far off from the current Audi A7, and even its wheel size of 22 inches is likely to remain for top-spec models. It will be positioned above the current Audi A6 and A7 when it goes on sale, and its design is likely to have a strong influence on the next-gen versions of those cars, which will follow later.
As the A6 rivals the Mercedes E Class, the A6 e tron will likely go toe-to-toe with the Stuttgart brand’s upcoming EQE electric luxury sedan, which will sit below the flagship Mercedes EQS. It will also serve as a rival to lower and mid-range variants of the Tesla Model S.
Audi A6 e tron: India launch
Audi India will launch the e tron and e tron Sportback SUVs soon, with the e tron GT expected to follow not long after, and you can read more about the brand’s India line-up on its website. It’s safe to say the brand is bullish on EVs for India, and with Audi installing fast chargers at its dealerships for customers, the infrastructure is being put in place too. So yes, it’s likely that the production version of the Audi A6 e tron concept will come to India eventually too.
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