The Audi A6 e-tron concept: electrifying Audi’s saloon heart

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The Audi A6 e-tron concept’s long wheelbase offers a head-turning profile and more space

Harsh edges are replaced by smooth transitions into bold quattro wheel arches

“The Audi A6 e-tron concept appears monolithic, as if from a single mould”

At the front is an aero-friendly e-tron evolution of Audi’s large iconic Singleframe grille

The Audi A6 e-tron concept’s 100kWh battery is predicted to deliver 435 miles of range

The Audi A6 Concept’s Digital Matrix LED headlights are Audi’s slimmest to date…

… they’re also Audi’s most entertaining, projecting a smartphone video game onto walls

The ultra-bright rear OLED lights use 3D architecture to display dynamic light signatures

“With just one look, you can see the Audi A6 e-tron concept was conceived in a wind tunnel”

Close Promoted by Autocar 6 mins read 7 July 2021 Follow @@autocar Share

Revolution rarely happens overnight. Every radical transformation can be traced back to a series of steps that sowed the seeds of change: from spark to ignition to dramatic illumination. The Audi A6 e-tron concept – the latest statement of Audi’s bold electric intent – is rooted in such a journey. But there’s a twist to the tale.

In 2018, the Audi e-tron SUV introduced Audi’s forward-thinking philosophy for electrification to the world. In March this year, the Audi e-tron GT turned heads. Its sleek sportscar form was underpinned by stunning quattro performance and continent-crossing gran tourer-like all-electric long-distance range.

Even more recently, the Audi Q4 e-tron brought electrification and advanced driving tech to the mainstream – in a package that blended astonishing space and comfort, while belying the Q4 e-tron’s compact city-friendly exterior dimensions.

The unveil of the Audi A6 e-tron concept at the Shanghai Motor Show revealed the next phase of the story: how Audi’s e-tron philosophy will transform the saloon form that, for many, is most synonymous with Audi as the heartland of its range.

But, there’s something different about the Audi A6 e-tron concept that makes it more revolutionary than just the next evolutionary step in Audi’s all-electric plan. As a result, the Audi A6 e-tron concept might present the most dramatic – and perhaps the most intriguing – shift in electric e-tron design for hardened long-time Audi fans.

Find out more at audi.co.uk/e-tron

From 100 to e-tron in 53 years

Audi has a rich heritage in the mid-size saloon sector. It started with the introduction of the Audi 100 in 1968, with the iconic executive saloon setting the trend for style, performance and luxury comfort over four generations and 26 years.

In 1994, the Audi 100 was renamed the Audi A6 to fit a streamlined alphanumeric nomenclature, but the A6 has continued to evolve and set the pace as the beating core of Audi’s saloon range to this day.

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The Audi A6 e-tron concept gives us the first glimpse of how this iconic Audi body style will evolve for the new electric age. It’s based on Audi’s advanced and highly versatile PPE platform – which will form the basis for a wide range of new all-electric models – from low-slung saloons to high-riding SUVs and crossovers.

True Audi quattro all-wheel-drive – with an electric motor on each wheel – ensures that the impressive performance you expect from an Audi saloon remains highly charged, with 470PS and a stunning 800Nm of instantly available all-electric torque delivering 0-62mph in under four seconds on high-performance models.

The Audi A6 e-tron concept’s large-capacity 100kWh battery is predicted to deliver up to 435 miles of range, while 800V technology means 270kW recharging – getting you from 0% to 80% in as little as 25 minutes, or adding 186 miles of charge in as little as 10 minutes. Perfect for the epic journeys Audi saloons have always done.

Where the Audi A6 e-tron really changes the game, though, is in the sleek silhouette form that encases Audi’s now well-developed electric underpinnings.

Re-imagining the iconic saloon form

“On electric cars, it’s important for us to retain classic proportions,” says Audi’s Senior Exterior Designer, Sascha Heyde. “We want to build highly emotional and highly efficient automobiles with beautiful lines that don’t necessarily look different.”