Currently reading: Radical electric Audi A6 brings 463-mile range for £69,900

Striking estate and saloon get Q6 e-tron tech, 800V architecture and 543bhp range-topper

Order books for the new Audi A6 have opened, with the executive car priced from £69,900 in saloon form and £71,700 as an estate.

Unlike its primary rivals, which run adjacent to the combustion-engined E-Class and 5 Series, Audi has opted to transition one of its most important models to solely electric power. In turn, the outgoing petrol and diesel A6 will adopt the A7 moniker – previously reserved for Audi’s luxurious four-door coupé – for a new generation that will arrive next year.

Visually, the new A6 E-tron remains faithful to the concept of the same name that was shown three years ago. The addition of equipment required for production – larger air intakes, full-size headlights and ADAS sensors – has made for a lightly restyled front end, but the sleek, muscular proportions remain intact.

The saloon follows its high-riding stablemate, the Q6 E-tron, onto the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, offering 800V electrics as well as a broad range of battery packs and powertrains.

The headline performance statistic is the range-topping Sportback’s ability to cover more than 463 miles between charges, eclipsing the official figures for the equivalent i5 (356 miles) and EQE (429 miles). The estate-bodied A6 E-tron Avant concedes 26 miles of range, owing to its less aerodynamic shape, pegging it at a claimed 437 miles.

A key component in achieving those figures is a new and more efficient 94.9kWh (usable capacity) battery, which has been designed specifically for the PPE platform and comprises 12 modules and 180 cells. Audi has also confirmed that a 10-module 79kWh unit will become available shortly after the new A6’s launch.

Both batteries use a new lithium ion nickel-manganese-cobalt make-up that is said to enable a 30% improvement in cell density over with the packs in the Q8 E-tron and E-tron GT.

The A6 can be recharged at 11kW on a domestic AC supply through either of its charging ports – mounted on each of the car’s rear haunches – but the driver’s side port can also take DC at rates of up to 270kW. An upgrade to 22kW AC charging is planned for later in the car’s life cycle.

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Two powertrains will be offered. Entry-level cars will be badged Performance and get a rear-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor that puts out 362bhp for a 0-62mph time of 5.4sec.

The S6, priced from £97,500, will add an asynchronous motor on the front axle, giving it four-wheel drive and a combined output of 496bhp in normal operation. Using the launch control function temporarily boosts it to 543bhp, cutting its 0-62mph time to 3.9sec.

Top speed is 130mph in the Performance model and 149mph in the S6. Range is rated at 406 miles in saloon form, or 388 miles for the estate.

The RS6 will also be reborn as a pure EV, offering stronger performance than the existing 621bhp V8 model.

Dynamically, the new A6 is said to have been set up for “first-class” comfort, with the Performance model riding on traditional steel springs and the S6 getting adaptive air suspension.

Top-spec models actively adjust their ride height on the move to aid aerodynamic performance and range. They also lift when parked and unlocked to enable easier entry. Inside, the A6 mirrors the layout of the new A5 and the Q6, with a large OLED screen taking centre stage.

This is divided into an 11.9in instrument panel and a 14.5in infotainment touchscreen. A 10.9in passenger display is offered as an option. In cars equipped with the optional camera side ‘mirrors’, a pair of small displays bookends the dashboard.

UK deliveries of the A6 E-tron will begin next February.

Charlie Martin

Charlie Martin Autocar
Title: Editorial assistant, Autocar

As part of Autocar’s news desk, Charlie plays a key role in the title’s coverage of new car launches and industry events. He’s also a regular contributor to its social media channels, providing videos for Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Twitter.

Charlie joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication What Car?, during which he acquired his gold-standard NCTJ diploma with the Press Association.

Charlie is the proud owner of a Fiat Panda 100HP, which he swears to be the best car in the world. Until it breaks.

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Tom Chet 10 September 2024

How is this radical?

It's another premium electric car in two body styles.  Nothing about it's engineering or styling is new or radical  High price, big range from a huge battery: where is the innovation?  

Like many others, I'm looking forward to EVs that weigh less and move the efficiency game on.  Tesla remain at the head of the pack, or close to it.  The Audi of the '80s and '90s would be challenging them.  So much for 'Vorsprung...'.

Cobnapint 9 September 2024
What's the craze with calling the lower performance models in the range the 'Performance'..?
manicm 9 September 2024

You say coupe models are dead, but there never was an A6 Coupe! Please exercise some editing.