► Audi’s A6 e-Tron concept► Now with Avant variant► Production versions coming from 2023 onwards
Audi’s pulled the covers off the new A6 Avant e-Tron concept. The estate-shaped concept car pairs rather nicely with the Sportback variant it’s already revealed, with the production version slated to arrive in 2024.
It’s interesting that Audi’s pushing forward with estate cars, given hints from Mercedes that ‘wagons’ don’t have much life left in them due to dwindling demand. ‘We want to continue the Avant tradition,’ says Audi designer, Wolf Seebers, pointing out that the concept you see here is ‘around 90 percent’ of what the finished product will look like. ‘But tradition is not enough,’ adds A6 marketing boss Niko Martens, suggesting there’s still plenty of demand for an estate-shaped car from Ingolstadt, ‘and this is not replacing the [combustion engine] A6, but rounding out the range.’
Like the Sportback we’ve already seen, the A6 Avant e-Tron concept runs on the upcoming 800-volt PPE platform, with Audi targeting a range of 435 miles under WLTP testing conditions with around a 100kWh battery back between each axle. Audi says it’s also aiming for a 0-62mph sprint in ‘less than four seconds.’
This new A6 Avant e-Tron concept paves the way for a new design language at Audi, with some details being promised when it comes to production. The headlights you see on the concept car ‘will be the slimmest lights we will bring into production,’ according to exterior design chief, Philipp Romers.
While Audi hasn’t pointed to any serious interior dimensions yet, the use of the PPE platform almost guarantees that space inside will be increased over the more conventional A6 and A7 range, which could mean a larger load area than the current A6 Avant. The platform’s performance capabilities are being explored, too, with Martens suggesting an all-electric future RS6 Avant could be on the cards; ‘the platform gives us plenty of performance to realise an RS6, so why not?’
The A6 Avant e-Tron production car will launch towards the end of 2024 – a year after the Sportback version is due to go on sale. Keep reading for more on that sleek alternative concept car below.
Audi A6 Sportback e-Tron concept: the debrief
All of it is very Audi, and mostly light-based. The sleek design, complete with blanked out ‘singleframe’ grille, allows for a super-low drag co-efficient of 0.22cD, and a single rear light bar filled with OLED elements brings a 3D effect.
Digital Matrix LEDs feature – a neat bit of tech that made its debut on the e-Tron Sportback, but here you’ll be able to project a video game onto a wall while you’re charging, and play it with your phone.
There are few details on the interior beyond some sketches, but Audi says that due to the PPE platform’s skateboard design, there won’t be a transmission tunnel in all-wheel-drive versions and the cockpit’s space will be bigger than a conventional A6.
Any powertrain details?
It’s more a set of promises and goals than reality for now, as Audi gets to grips with putting the PPE platform underneath into production. The brand says that this concept has quattro all-wheel drive via a motor on each axle, 469bhp and 590lb ft, and an 800-volt charging architecture.
Audi also promises around 435 miles on a single charge here, and says it’ll have the capability to go from 5% to 80% battery charge in 25 minutes on the fastest chargers available.
Keyword: Audi’s A6 Avant e-Tron concept proves there’s life in the estate yet