After a hefty wait, the Audi A6 E-tron is lastly right here. Coming to the U.S. in slinky Sportback guise as each an A6 and a sizzling S6, is it going to be the considering individual’s Mannequin S? Audi in all probability hopes so.
The second Audi, after the Q6 E-Tron, primarily based on the brand new Premium Platform Electrical (PPE) the electrical A6 isn’t following the SUV pattern. As a substitute it’s extra of what you’ll be used to from Audi’s ‘A’ vehicles. 4 doorways, a sedan (err, “Sportback” in Audi parlance) physique, and a lowish stance, it’s the primary time Audi’s thrown electrical energy at a standard automotive. Outdoors of the U.S. an “Avant” wagon bodystyle is obtainable, too, for households searching for a longroof. You might argue the E-Tron GT was already a ‘typical’ Audi EV, however the costly Taycan-based flagship isn’t one thing you’re more likely to see within the suburbs. You need to, nonetheless, see some A6s within the ‘burbs. There received’t be a gas-powered variant—from right here on out the even numbers in Audi’s line up are for electrical vehicles, whereas the odd numbers have gasoline, diesel or hybrid powertrains underneath the hood.
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Beneath the ground is a 100-kWh battery (internet 94.9kWh) packing some fairly hefty recharge punch. Discover a charger that may hit its 270-kW peak charge and it’ll fill itself from 10-80% in simply 21 minutes. Audi additionally says it’ll take sufficient vitality on board to internet you 193 miles in simply ten minutes, barely sufficient time to seize a espresso and a sandwich. This could quell a number of of the ‘charging takes too lengthy’ voices. It makes use of the identical sensible 800-volt-class structure because the Q6 E-Tron, which means you want an 800-volt charger to get the perfect expertise. But when your chosen charger makes use of 400-volt tech, the battery will cut up itself into two banks and cost every at speeds as much as 135kW. Beneath braking you may handle as much as 220 kW of regen to maintain the battery topped up on the fly.
That battery feeds quite a lot of powertrains. The A6 Sportback E-Tron efficiency comes with rear-wheel drive and 362 horsepower, firing it from 0-60 in 5.2 seconds and as much as 130 mph. The S6 Sportback E-Tron will get all-wheel drive and rolls with 496 hp more often than not. With launch management activated there’s 543 hp to play with and a claimed 0-60 time of three.7 seconds to try to match. It’ll prime out at 149mph, too. To bridge the hole between the entry degree and the prime quality, there’ll be an A6 Quattro all-wheel-drive mannequin, which kicks out 422 hp, clocks 60mph from relaxation in 4.3 seconds and can prime out at 130mph. The varied setups will doubtlessly do between 3.8 and 4.4 miles per kWh. For those who drive conservatively.
On the vary entrance Audi’s promising fairly big numbers. Audi says the bottom automotive will allegedly handle 466 miles on a cost, whereas the S6 can obtain 416 and the later A6 quattro sits neatly within the center with 435 miles. These are European-market figures, although, which are usually much more optimistic than U.S. EPA figures. Audi additionally says these figures are with EU-market wheels and tires, plus the trick digital camera mirrors. Anticipate EPA figures to be considerably decrease, however nonetheless lots spectacular. Over 350 miles appears utterly inside attain.
How’s Audi managed it then? Intelligent internals because of PPE and a large battery are one factor, however aerodynamics is one other. With the proper spec, the A6 E-Tron Sportback has a drag coefficient of simply 0.21. The fitting spec bit is, sadly, an enormous caveat right here. That drag quantity comes with Audi’s camera-on-sticks digital wing mirrors, which aren’t coming to the U.S.. Nevertheless, at a preview of the automotive in Munich an Audi rep instructed old skool glass slabs wouldn’t add a lot to the quantity.
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These digital camera mirrors will not be out there within the U.S.
To maintain issues on the straight and slim if you’re on the street, there are two suspension set ups. A standard set of springs tuned, says Audi, for agility, and optionally available (on A6, normal on S6) air suspension for every nook. Audi says it gives a broad unfold between consolation and sport, and can adapt to street situations. It’ll additionally let the automotive sit at 4 completely different journey heights relying on what you need to do. In ‘effectivity mode’ it’ll decrease the physique by 0.8 inches relying in your pace to assist aero and preserve vitality consumption as minimal as potential. The S6’s all-wheel-drive setup, by the way, is rear biased ought to the need for hooliganism take you. Each the A and S6 include differently-sized entrance and rear tires to assist stability.
In the case of the A6’s new form… it’s a looker. It’s fairly massive, as you’d anticipate for a automotive with a whacking nice battery between its wheels, however not an excessive amount of larger than the present inside combustion A6. It measures up at 194 inches lengthy, 75.7 inches large and 58.7 inches excessive. Importantly, it doesn’t seem like a half used bar of cleaning soap as might be the best way with EV sedans.
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Audi’s throwing some sensible styling cues at its EVs to assist them stand out within the crowd. The grille is available in an ‘inverted’ hue, differing it from the remainder of the automotive—a white automotive can have a darkish nostril, a darkish automotive will get a vibrant snout. There’s additionally a black insert within the automotive’s sill. It’s partly there to suggest there’s a battery lurking beneath, however it additionally goes a great way to cover some visible weight. There’s a variety of metallic down the aspect of the A6, so breaking it up is a brilliant thought. At every nook are pretty chunky quattro-style arches, which is a neat flourish, whereas its nostril is pleasingly dramatic and hides sensible aero touches to maintain that each one essential drag determine low.
With its newest era of vehicles Audi’s doing cool issues with lights. Very similar to the not too long ago revealed A5, you may select your individual journey with mild patterns entrance and rear. In different bits of the world you may chop and alter them on the transfer, and even use the tail lamps as a solution to talk with vehicles behind, however within the U.S. you may’t actually do a lot. You may swap up your patterns, however you’ll have to be stationary to choose your favourite, and your decisions will take impact the following time you flip the automotive on. Not less than they’re LED up entrance and OLED on the rear. Talking of the rear, the sunshine bar stretches throughout the width of the automotive, which not solely seems to be rad, however emphasizes its girth. One neat trick the U.S. can have is an illuminated set of Audi rings entrance and rear, so folks can see what you’re driving even within the depths of night time.
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Inside, the A6 E-Tron is an excellent return to type for Audi. It seems to be and feels as if it’ll final by means of the yr 3000. There’s a neat wraparound design, and it feels spacious however with a touch of coziness. The star of the present is the MMI panoramic show, a part of one thing Audi calls the Digital Stage. It’s a curved OLED display that wraps itself across the inside of the automotive made up of an 11.9-inch digital cockpit and a 14.5-inch central MMI show. In case your passenger tires of your glowing dialog, they’ll benefit from the 10.9-inch MMI show only for them. They’ll watch films, stream Tik Tok and do many different issues. Due to a particular coating on their display, the driving force can’t watch together with them whereas they’re on the transfer. The driving force may not thoughts an excessive amount of, as they’ll have an augmented actuality HUD to play with. It’ll present nav data, pace and different such helpful issues. The Digital Stage comes with extra tips—there’s a ‘dynamic interplay mild’ that stretches throughout the cabin to point out you numerous issues like state of cost, and extra in addition to.
On prime of all of that, the A6 comes with loads of toys. U.S. vehicles will get an electrochromic panoramic roof as normal, which is a neat contact. Additionally, you are able to do the ‘wave your foot to open the trunk’ trick right here, however the automotive will shine a light-weight on the bottom to point out you WHERE that you must waggle your limbs. Useful stuff. And, after all, Bang and Olufsen sound is obtainable do you have to want (you in all probability do).
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All of the screens you would ever need.
Full U.S. pricing continues to be TBA, however in Europe costs kick off at €77,250 ($83,549 at present change charges) for the bottom A6 Sportback E-Tron efficiency, and rise to €99,500 ($107,614) for the S6 Sportback E-Tron. That’s roughly in step with BMW’s i5 vary, with which the A6 E-Tron will probably be in direct competitors. Observe that the BMW is cheaper within the U.S.—beginning round $67,100—and the A6 could also be too. U.S.-market pricing is rarely so simple as working the EU value by means of a forex converter.
Closing specs, EPA figures and extra will make themselves identified quickly, however for those who’re tremendous eager on some A6 E-Tron motion, you may get an order in from September 2024, and the automotive will launch in spring or summer season of 2025.
