One year after the Sportback body, Audi is unveiling a 100% electric Avant version of its future A6 e-tron. This concept car, which foreshadows 95% of the production model, occasionally adopts a very aggressive style. The break should arrive in concessions in the summer of 2024, a few months after the sedan.
New platform, sleek design, autonomy announced at 700 kilometers : Audi does not do things by halves to renew its premium sedan. Although the A6 will still retain thermal engines until 2030, the e-tron model is at the heart of the manufacturer’s future strategy. It will be available in Sportback (sedan) and Avant (break) versions, the inevitable trademark of the Ingolstadt firm.
Even more aggressive than the sedan!
Presented at the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2021, the Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept has the same dimensions as the sedan. With its 4.96 m long and 1.44 m high, it is positioned between the current A6 and the A7 Sportback coupé. Its disproportionate width (1.96 m) could be slightly reduced during the transition to production, especially since real mirrors will add a few more centimeters to the beast.
On the design side, the A6 Avant e-tron takes up the face of the sedan. The closed Singleframe grille confirms its belonging to the electric range. The matrix headlights, still just as thin, give it a sharp look. Audi also communicates on a light signature configurable by the owner when opening and closing the vehicle. Only the air intakes on each side of the shield are modified compared to the sedan. These include an aluminum trim, a material also used on the upper window frames up to the new roof spoiler.
The rear part is new since the fall of the roof line is less pronounced than on a Sportback version. The rear window, despite everything very inclined, is overhung by an imposing new spoiler which lets some of the air flow over the rest of the stern. However, another detail is obvious: the presence of a prominent rear diffuser, close to what could be found on an RS model. The latter channels the air passing under the vehicle so as to reduce turbulence and improve downforce, and therefore road holding. All of these elements allow the station wagon to come as close as possible to the aerodynamics of the Sportback and to achieve an almost similar Cd of 0.24.
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Nearly 700 km of autonomy
” With the Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept, we are offering a fully tangible preview of future production models on our new PPE technology platform.”, says Oliver Hoffmann, Audi board member for technical development. The A6 e-tron will be the 2and model launched by the brand on this famous PPE platform, just after the Q6 e-tron at the end of 2023.
These new undersides obviously hide a significant improvement in performance. Audi communicates on a “powerful 800 volt technology (as on theAudi e-tron GT), a charging capacity of 270 kW and a WLTP range of up to 700 kilometers.” In other words, the A6 e-tron would be able to recharge its battery from 5 to 80% in less than 25 min, or the recovery of around 300 km in just 10 min. For now, only a battery with a capacity of 100 kWh has been officially announced, but Chinese specifications have leaked with another 83 kWh model.
Finally, there are still some gray areas on the future electric model. Audi announces the arrival of the Sportback version around 2024 and a few months later of this Avant version, still the same year. The manufacturer has also implied the possible arrival of an RS6 e-tron or an Allroad model but nothing has been confirmed. Note that the presence of new generation solid batteries will not be possible on this PPE platform.
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