| Audi A6 e-tron | |
| Manufacturer: | Audi |
| Production: | 2024 (to commence) |
| Assembly: | Germany: Neckarsulm |
| Designer: | Sascha Heyde[1] |
| Class: | Executive car (E) |
| Platform: | Premium Platform Electric (PPE)[2] |
| Transmission: | Single-speed gear reduction |
| Sp: | uk |
The Audi A6 etron is an battery electric executive car made by German company Audi and was launched on 31 July 2024.[3]
It is available in liftback and station wagon body styles and is built on the PPE platform.[4]
The Audi A6 etron Concept was unveiled at the 2021 Auto Shanghai,[5] followed by the 2021 Milan Design Week.[6] Featuring a Sportback body, it included 22-inch wheels, LED projectors built in into each side of the body, and a 100 kWh battery.[7]
In March 2022, an Avant version of the concept was unveiled. It has a drag coefficient of 0.24, helped by larger diffuser tunnels.[8] [9]
On 31 July 2024 the production versions of the A6 etron line were revealed along with preliminary details, with preorders opening in September that year, and deliveries expected to begin in February 2025.
It launched with both the standard A6 and high performance S6 versions in both liftback and wagon body styles, branded as Sportback and Avant respectively.[10]
The A6 etron is considered to be the 'low floor' counterpart to the Q6 etron as the vehicles share a platform and are closely related to each other.
The front of the A6 consists of a body colour grille motif surrounded by a 'black mask', which helps conceal the ADAS sensors and low mounted headlights, which are split from the daytime running lights that sit above. The rear is characterized by a light bar consisting of 450 pixels that are used to display user selectable animations or display vehicle-to-X signals.
The Sportback model has a drag coefficient of 0.21 which is best in class at time of launch, and the Avant has a drag coefficient of 0.24. This is achieved in part due to 'air curtain' vents in the front bumper, active grille flaps, smooth and flat underfloor, aerodynamically optimized wheel choices, and optional virtual side mirrors.
The dashboard features a 11.9-inch OLED screen that serves as the digital gauge cluster mounted alongside a 14.5-inch OLED touchscreen infotainment system with integrated ChatGPT assisted voice command system, flanked by an optional 10.9-inch passenger entertainment screen with a togglable privacy filter. An optional augmented reality head-up display that can display navigation information and road signs is also offered. A touch capacitive control panel on the driver's side door contains controls such as headlight settings, door locking and mirror adjustments.
The interior is fully leather-free and is made from some recycled materials. Surfaces such as the dashboard and door panels are upholstered in fabric with contrast stitching. An optional panoramic roof is available with a digital liquid crystal sunshade that can be closed to either front or rear is offered. A 20-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system with two speakers integrated into each front headrest is available. Also optional is a four-zone climate control system.
The A6 comes standard with steel springs with an optional air suspension system; the S6 comes standard with adaptive air suspension. It is also equipped with a 27L frunk which can be opened by placing the key fob over the front of the hood, and the rear power hatch is foot activated with a light indicating the location of the sensor. There are two charging ports, with both capable of AC charging while the driver's side is also able to DC fast charge.
The A6 and S6 are capable of towing 750kg (1,650lb) unbraked trailers, or 2100kg (4,600lb) at a 12% slope, and can carry up to 100kg (200lb) on the roof.
The A6 will be available with both rear-wheel drive and quattro all-wheel drive powertrains in the U.S., while only the latter will be offered in Canada. The Avant wagon body style is not offered on either the A6 or S6. Features such as camera powered virtual side mirrors and complex turn signal animations are not available due to differing regulations, and are replaced with conventional mirrors and less complex turn signals. Adaptive matrix LED headlights and illuminated Audi logo in the grille are available in Canada but are not offered in the U.S.
The A6 is initially exclusively available with the rear-wheel drive powertrain and 100kWh battery, with the S6 being the only way to access all-wheel drive.
There are three available powertrains. The standard 'performance' rear-wheel drive model has a single permanent magnet synchronous motor outputting 270kW and 565Nm of torque, and can be temporarily increased to 280kW in launch control mode. The North American market exclusive 'quattro' model has makes a combined 315kW in a slightly rear-biased all-wheel drive configuration.
The S6 etron outputs 370kW from an asynchronous induction motor on the front axle and a permanent magnet synchronous motor on the rear axle. Power can be temporarily boosted to 405kW in launch control mode. The S6 also has a higher top speed of 149abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit compared to the A6's 130abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit.[11]
The 100kWh gross capacity (94.4kWh usable capacity) lithium-ion battery consists of twelve modules of 15 prismatic cells connected in series, for a total of 180 cells. It is designed with a 800-volt electrical architecture, which allows for up to 270kW peak DC fast charging rates, leading to a claimed 10-80% charge time of 21 minutes. When using 400-volt DC charging, the battery will be charged as two different banks at up to 135kW. The onboard Level 2 AC charger is rated for up to 11kW in Europe or 9.6kW in the US, with a 22kW option available in the future. A smaller 83kWh gross capacity battery with 10 modules is planned to be offered later.
The motors use 'bar wound' hairpin windings, and the pulse inverter uses silicon carbide semiconductors. The single-speed gear reduction gearbox uses a dry sump system with an electric oil pump. The regenerative braking system can recuperate at up to 220kW, and has user selectable modes to enable regen-free coasting or near one-pedal driving.[12]