From long-wheelbase limos in China to niche A6 Allroad wagons in Europe, the Audi A6 is one of the most popular luxury vehicles in the world. And it’s about to be transformed into a rival for the most popular luxury vehicle of them all, a Tesla. That’s right, we’re talking about the 2024 Audi A6 e-tron, the all-electric model.
Yesterday, Audi unveiled the RS6 Performance, and although the V8 lives on, we know all the major German automakers are looking to go electric. In this segment, Mercedes has the EQE, while BMW’s i5 should debut in the next couple of years.
The normal A6 will live on for one more generation, likely featuring downsized engines and hybrid technology. However, in 2023, the A6 e-tron will also be introduced as both a wagon and this fastback-shaped sedan.
Recently, this version was spied undergoing testing, which has allowed Kolesa to whip up the usual pair of rendered images depicting the A6 e-tron. Needless to say, it looks nothing like A6 models of old, but we know the rendering is accurate because Audi has already shown a preview concept.
Brother to a Porsche
Unlike the Q4 e-tron, the A6 EV is based on the Group’s PPE platform, which is short for Premium Platform Electric. This very simple name hides a variety of new systems which will also debut on a Porsche model, the Macan EV.
Chief among the changes is an increase in battery capacity to 100 kWh, compared to 82 kWh for the Q4 and other VW products based on the MQB. Our sources suggest Audi will claim to have a range of up to 400 miles for the most efficient modes, a sizable increase over the e-tron GT sports sedan.
Audi isn’t taking any risks here. Even though it’s a fresh model, they’re using an existing nameplate, one which dates back to 1994. The e-tron family will also include S6 and RS6 versions, the latter packing around 600 horsepower. Product planners have also approved a wagon version, although the Allroad off-roader will be dropped.
The previously released A6 e-tron concept featured a dual-motor configuration with an output of 470 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque (800 Nm). That sounds pretty close to the current S6 TFSI, although with the added weight of batteries, Audi might need to up the output if it wants to match its performance.
The 800-volt architecture will supposedly allow fast charging at up to 270 kW. Given the production model looks so similar to the concept, we expect it to match these dimensions: 4.96m long, 1.96m wide, and 1.44m tall.
In terms of design, the A6 e-tron looks quite different to the traditional sedan shape we’ve come to expect. Its greenhouse is short, like a four-door coupe, exacerbated by the long roof. The car will have some of the narrowest headlights of any production car and will continue the trend of oversized wheels we’ve seen with other EVs. Although there’s no need for an air intake, the car will displace a blocked-off version of the famous Singleframe grille design which Audi is famous for.
