Through the years, the main focus of automotive information retailers has shifted from discussing “Tesla killers” to “Tesla fighters,” indicating the progress made by German automakers within the electrical car realm.
The Ingolstadt carmaker just isn’t stopping there, although, planning to unveil at the very least ten new electrical fashions within the subsequent few years.
I’ve already talked about the upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron electrical SUV, a technical twin of the belated Porsche Macan EV. Now it is time to take a look at the 2025 A6 e-tron, Audi’s first-ever electrical sedan.
Set to be unveiled both on the finish of 2023 or early 2024, the Audi A6 e-tron will share its underpinnings with the 2 SUVs talked about above and a bunch of different bigger electrical Audis at present within the pipeline.
To assist this electrical onslaught, Audi is creating its personal modular EV platform in collaboration with Porsche, known as PPE (Premium Platform Electrical).
Previewed technically and stylistically by the Audi A6 e-tron Sportback idea from 2021, the all-electric sedan shall be a part of an unlimited EV household that ought to finally change the whole ICE-powered vary.
Premium Platform Electrical in a Nutshell
PPE is a extremely versatile 800-volt EV structure that can underpin varied Audi and Porsche fashions, however it would even be utilized by Bentley and presumably even Lamborghini by 2030.
Initially, Audi fashions based mostly on the PPE structure shall be a part of the compact phase and can later develop to the massive and full-size segments. The manufacturing fashions are set to be unveiled successively beginning on the finish of 2023, with gross sales commencing in 2024.
The PPE structure will accommodate many automobiles, together with SUVs, CUVs, and automobiles with totally different journey heights or wheelbases.
Meaning the platform will cater to Audi’s core product vary, such because the Audi A6 sequence, and permit growth into the high-volume compact and luxurious segments.
This versatile unfold will even profit from economies of scale, enabling Audi to incorporate luxurious options on lesser fashions with out breaking the financial institution.
The modularity of its skateboard construction permits a observe width that may differ between 64.6 and 67.4 in (1641 – 1714 mm), a wheelbase that may vary from 113.8 to 121.2 in (2890 – 3080 mm), and even a floor clearance that may lengthen from 5.9 to eight.5 in (152 – 217 mm).
Polished Design Language
Picture: Audi
The manufacturing model of the A6 e-tron, following its conceptual debut in 2021, is anticipated to be unveiled in late 2023 or early 2024. The mannequin will characteristic a considerably redesigned exterior, departing from the normal A6 design language. In reality, from some views, it would look extra like the electrical model of an A7 due to the liftback design on the rear.
The one conventional Audi design characteristic would be the enlarged Singleframe grille, which shall be closed off for each automotive constructed on the PPE structure. The enclosed grille can be one of many causes behind the mannequin’s low drag coefficient, which was solely 0.22 on the idea automotive.
The A6 e-tron idea showcased on the 2021 Auto Shanghai motor present supplied a glimpse of Audi’s upcoming EV sedan but additionally the carmaker’s future design language.
Leaping on the identical bandwagon as BMW, Audi is anticipated to maintain a model of the dual-headlight entrance finish on the manufacturing model whereas the rear finish could have an analogous single taillight design because the idea.
That stated, the idea automotive’s smooth proportions and low-slung roofline needs to be much less evident on subsequent 12 months’s mannequin, primarily as a result of it wants to supply enough inside house for passengers and baggage.
Talking of baggage, the 2025 Audi A6 e-tron is anticipated to have a fairly sized frunk as properly, not like its two direct rivals, the BMW i5, and Mercedes-Benz EQE.
Sometimes, an unlimited sea of high-definition touchscreens comprise many of the inside of a contemporary German automotive, however the A6 e-tron idea automotive featured a extra minimalistic method, which ought to trickle into the manufacturing model as properly.
Progress By way of Know-how
Picture: Audi
Like Volkswagen’s MEB platform, used for cheaper fashions, Audi’s PPE structure could have single-motor, RWD, and dual-motor AWD variations. Relying on the chosen drive system and mannequin variant, the A6 e-tron ought to obtain a spread of over 435 miles (700 kilometers) based mostly on the WLTP commonplace).
These figures are doubtless solely doable on the mannequin’s single-motor, rear-wheel-drive model, alongside the most important battery obtainable, which gives round 100 kWh of usable power.
The lithium-ion battery options an 800-volt electrical structure, permitting ultra-fast DC charging as much as 270kW.
In response to Audi, utilizing the quickest DC speedy charger obtainable, the A6 e-tron Idea’s battery pack can cost from 5 to 80 p.c capability in roughly 25 minutes. A ten-minute cost on the identical charger can add 186 miles (300 km) of vary so you’ll be able to anticipate related numbers from the manufacturing model.
Moreover, the extra highly effective variations of the A6 e-tron household will speed up from 0 to 62 mph (100 kph) in lower than 4 seconds. Tentatively named S6 and RS6 e-tron variations are additionally within the works, with at the very least one anticipated to characteristic the identical powertrain because the dual-motor RS e-tron GT, which delivers a minimum of 636 HP (646 PS).
Audi is being tight-lipped about this, however the RS model of the liftback sedan (and the Avant) would possibly even characteristic a tri-motor setup for higher torque vectoring traits, to not point out over 800 horsepower.
Quo Vadis, Inside Combustion Engines?
Picture: Audi
Audi’s technique for the upcoming decade is to unveil an electrical counterpart to each ICE-powered mannequin within the present lineup. The top sport is to switch the whole ICE lineup with BEVs, however this can’t be doable in such a brief timeframe, which is why each the A6 and the A6 e-tron will co-exist for some time.
The carmaker will title all its upcoming electrical SUVs with the letter Q, adopted by a fair quantity and the recognizable ‘e-tron’ particle. On the similar time, sedans and station wagons will get the letter A, S, or RS in entrance of a equally even quantity.
That’s the reason the e-tron SUV was renamed the Q8 e-tron beginning in 2023, whereas the coupe-SUV model is now known as the Q8 Sportback e-tron.
As per this naming conference, the 2025 Audi A6 e-tron serves because the all-electric counterpart to the ICE-powered A6, and it is going to be accompanied by an A4 e-tron and an A8 e-tron within the subsequent couple of years. Will they be sufficient to dethrone Tesla concerning gross sales?
