The long-standing competition between Audi, BMW and Mercedes for the supremacy of the ultimate saloon will continue for many years to come. This summer will see the unveiling of the new Audi A6 electric e-tron, and our exclusive photo shows how it will rival the BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE.
An estate car version called the Audi A6 Avant e-tron will follow shortly after to take on the BMW i5 Touring. The A6 e-tron uses the all-new PPE platform that will also underpin the upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron SUV, and sits below the recently launched all-electric Porsche Macan.
We expect the A6 e-tron to feature the same powertrain options as the Q6 e-tron, which includes two motors for all wheels and a 100kWh battery for big range figures. The latter should be in an area of 400 km from one charge.
What will the Audi A6 e-tron look like?
Audi unveiled the A6 e-tron concept version at the 2021 Shanghai Motor Show and the production version will retain many of its styling cues, but will also mimic the design of Audi’s internal combustion saloons.
Our exclusive image combines details from the 2021 concept with what we can find in spy shots we’ve received of the A6’s electric prototypes.
The front end will feature a split headlight design, like the Q6 e-tron, and a blanketless grille panel in Audi’s trademark trapezoidal shape. On concept it allowed an impressively low drag coefficient of just 0.22Cd and we’d expect something similarly slippery from a production car.
Compared to the BMW i5’s classic saloon shape, the A6 e-tron takes on a coupe-inspired Sportback form with a sloping roofline and a fast rear hatch. There’s also a crease down the side of the A6 e-tron – a prominent design feature carried over from the concept.
At the back, the A6 e-tron is sure to have a full-width light bar, while the models we’ve seen also have a large diffuser, similar to the concept’s shape, although it looks less aggressive.
What range and performance should the A6 e-tron offer?
Audi said the A6 e-tron concept had a range of “more than 700km” – or more than 434 miles. It’s possible that the production car will achieve the same feat, but a range of more than 400 miles is not out of the question.
As we mentioned, the Q6 e-tron SUV which uses the same platform as the A6 e-tron uses a 100kWh battery to provide an estimated range of around 370 miles. We predict the same battery fitted to the lower e-tron, and the smoother A6 could return more miles 400 from a single charge.
Audi previously said that “the most powerful member of the (A6 e-tron) family will sprint from 0-62mph in less than four seconds,” while the instant torque of the electric motor means that “even the entry-level models designed effectively. it will accelerate to 62mph in less than seven seconds”.
The entry-level rear-drive A6 e-tron will sit below the quattro all-wheel drive models. We’ve already spotted a hot e-tron version of the Audi S6 being tested, too, which should compete with the 593bhp BMW i5 M60, but a faster e-tron version of the RS 6 could be found further down the line.
What else do we know about the PPE platform?
The PPE platform was developed in collaboration with Porsche and can be used in a wide range of vehicles, from saloons and estate cars to high-end SUVs. Clever architectural packaging allows for a flat floor, which means a lower roofline is possible without compromising space inside, and the A6 e-tron is a good example of this concept, according to Audi.
The PPE system also allows the wheels to be pushed to the maximum level of the car’s bodywork to increase packaging, meaning the A6 e-tron should be more spacious and practical than any previous A6. Meanwhile, a specially optimized five-link platform front setup and a multi-link axle at the rear are both controlled by dynamic air suspension.
The PPE platform is designed with an 800-volt electrical architecture, which enables the Q6 e-tron’s 270kW high charging speed. At that rate, a 10-to-80 percent charge of even the e-tron’s larger Q6 battery takes less than 30 minutes.
What will happen to the current Audi A6 then?
The current Audi A6 is getting long in the tooth, but the replacement for the aging saloon and Avant estate should arrive in 2025. However, it won’t be called the Audi A6. Instead, the new model will use the Audi A7 moniker, because Audi model names will be numbered even if the car is electric, or an odd number if there is a combustion engine under the bonnet.
Now find out more about long-range electric vehicles…