Audi A6 Electric expected to reach global dealers later in 2024

Update: ‘Performance’ and ‘Charging & range’ sub-sections of ‘Audi A6 Electric specifications’ updated. The entire story has been revised to bring it up to date.

Audi’s next wave of EVs will include an Audi A6 Electric, a model that poses a serious threat to the Tesla Model S. This car will be the production version of the Audi A6 e-tron concept from Auto Shanghai 2021 and will compete with the Lucid Air, Mercedes EQE, Nio ET7, and BMW i5. Here’s everything we know about it so far:

Branding

Audi has changed its nomenclature to give EVs a clear distinction from combustion models. The company uses even numbers for pure-electric models, and odd numbers for ICE versions.

We are currently restructuring our naming conventions. So, even numbers represent a BEV, uneven numbers represent an internal combustion engine or a PHEV. The start of the renaming has already kicked off. We changed the name of the e-tron to the Q8 e-tron.

Markus Duesmann, former CEO of Audi (2023 Audi Annual Media Conference on March 16, 2023)

Design

Sascha Heyde, the Team Manager – Exterior Design, Audi AG, stated that approximately 95% of the concept’s design elements would make it to the production model, according to an Autocar report dated July 2021. The designer referred to the Audi A6 Electric as the “next evolutionary step” in Audi’s design journey. Heyde and his team prioritized the electric sedan’s width and length over its height. The approach allowed Audi designers to open up ample space for the battery pack between the axles, thanks to an elongated wheelbase.

Audi will likely offer Matrix LED technology for the headlights and second-gen OLED technology for the rear lights, both as options. The optional headlights may include next-gen daytime running lights, in which the front section features a precise prismatic structure and a metalized 3D trim surrounds them. The OLED rear lights are highly efficient, eliminating the need for additional reflectors, light guides, or optics. They feature car-to-X communication, meaning they can communicate with the immediate environment.

At first glance, the proportions of the Audi A6 e-tron are reminiscent of the Audi A6 and A7 range. However, the electric Audi appears far more aerodynamic compared to its gas-powered siblings—it has a drag coefficient of 0.22, competing with the likes of the Mercedes EQE (0.22 Cd) and the Lucid Air (0.20 Cd). The slippery surfaces on the sedan will minimize drag and improve range. Audi says its fine-tuning in the wind tunnel has helped it maintain an organic shape that’s also functional and elegant.

Changes from the concept

Spy pictures of Audi A6 Electric prototypes suggest that it may feature changes at the front like modified headlights, larger lower air intake, and new side air inlets. The SUV-style split headlights look more practical in the final version, consisting of a wider lower section, which houses the high beam and low beam lights. The DRL itself looks new, too, being more of a light band than a cluster of jewel-like lights divided into three rows like in the concept.

We doubt the production car has the concept’s high-resolution LED projectors to project visual greetings or warnings on the ground. Another change on the sides is the usage of traditional glass-based mirrors instead of camera-based virtual mirrors. For the production car, Audi appears to have opted for fixed flush door handles with a concealed electronic release button.

At the rear, the Audi A6 Electric’s tail lights are a little less flashy. They look slightly smaller in width, not extending out as much as those of the concept.

Audi A6 Electric’s Technical Project Manager Johannes Arneth stated that the brand “really wanted to stress” EV’s coherence to the A6 family. He added that the A7 was “independent enough for its own name,” as per the Autocar magazine report. Moreover, Audi has said that the vehicle would have a high ground clearance and low ride height, a characteristic of the PPE. However, the most exciting aspect of the EV is its lighting. It’s a festival of lights on wheels.

Interior

The interior of the Audi A6 Electric will be cleaner and more spacious than the gasoline-driven A6. Its dashboard should feature a minimalist design, integrate low-lying and slim horizontal air vents, and form an edgy curve with the door panels. A ‘Softwrap’ covers the surfaces of various elements, including the entire cockpit, the center console, and the doors, giving occupants a sense of spaciousness and rich style.

Expect a digital stage on top, formed by an 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit, a 14.5-inch MMI touch display, a 10.9-inch MMI passenger display, and an augmented reality head-up display. The driver cockpit displays are OLED units positioned together to form one seamless panel, possibly called ‘Audi MMI panoramic display.’

An interaction light LED light strip with a brightness of up to 1,200 candelas (cd) may perform a welcome function, display the lock status of the vehicle, and visualize the dynamic turn signals, complementing the turn signals displayed in the Audi virtual cockpit. When inactive, it may merge into the contour light and appear in the same color. An 830-watt, 22-speaker, Bang & Olufsen sound system is also expected to be among the tech highlights on the inside.

The steering wheel could be the same new-generation unit found in the Q4 e-tron, available in two versions, one completely round and one with a flattened top and bottom. As there will be no transmission tunnel, Audi will be able to install a deep and spacious storage compartment. We expect a flat floor as well, which would offer customers more space and comfort.

Volkswagen Group has confirmed an Android Automotive Operating System-based infotainment for the Audi Q6 e-tron, and it should use the same system in the Audi A6 Electric. The Group’s software division, CARIAD, is developing a new premium software platform 1.2 (E³ 1.2) for upcoming Audi and Porsche models. The company plans to use the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) version of the Android Automotive OS, which does not include Google Services as standard. It may feature a third-party app store, co-developed by CARIAD and Harman Ignite, as an alternative to the familiar Google Play Store.

It (E³ 1.2) will bring a completely new experience to Audi and Porsche vehicles. This platform will feature a new unified infotainment platform based on Android Automotive.

Dirk Hilgenberg, former CEO, CARIAD (Volkswagen Group New Auto)

Audi A6 Electric specifications

Based on the PPE platform

The Audi A6 Electric will be based on the rear-biased Premium Platform Electric (PPE) jointly developed with Porsche. The PPE is highly scalable, making it suitable for different vehicle segments. Despite being shorter than the MLB platform, its design with short overhangs and an elongated wheelbase will allow for improved interior space. Expect the Audi A6 Electric wheelbase to be longer than the A6L’s 119-inch distance between the axles. Moreover, with no transmission tunnel, legroom would be superior.

The production A6 e-tron’s dimensions shouldn’t be far from the concept. The Audi A6 e-tron concept measures 195.2 inches long, 77.1 inches wide, and 56.7 inches tall, which is in the same ballpark as the A6/A7. The wheelbase could be between 117-121 inches.

Adaptive air suspension

The Audi A6 Electric may come with adaptive air suspension, all-wheel steering, and torque vectoring. All three of these chassis systems could be standard in the higher-end configurations of the car.

The adaptive air suspension is designed to smooth out road imperfections, ensuring superior ride comfort, while giving the driver the flexibility of firming up the ride when they feel up for a spirited drive on the well-built twisty roads.

All-wheel steering

All-wheel steering involves the rear wheels in the steering process as well. At low speeds, the rear wheels would turn in the opposite direction as the front wheels, reducing the turning circle, something customers would truly appreciate on narrow urban roads and in tight parking spots. At high speeds, the rear wheels would turn in the same direction, making turns smoother and increasing stability in swerving situations.

Torque vectoring

As for torque vectoring, an electronically controlled differential lock on the rear axle would vary the torque sent to each rear wheel as needed. For example, when making a particularly speedy turn into a curve, the outer wheel would get extra torque, while the inner wheel would be braked, thus improving the agility of the vehicle’s steering response and increasing driving stability.

TopElectricSUV accessed a publicly issued Chinese government document that suggests the A6 Electric’s drag coefficient is 0.318 C_d, which seems unusually high. Audi has released a figure of 0.22 for the concept, and we expect the production model to be nearly as aerodynamic. Additionally, the boot space of the electric Audi was rated at 550 liters as per the Chinese data.

Performance

Audi should offer the A6 e-tron in RWD and AWD variants. Both variants would have a permanent magnet synchronous motor in the rear, but the latter would use an additional, asynchronous motor in the front. The twin-motor powertrain will likely produce 422 hp (456 hp with Launch Control) in the A6 e-tron quattro and 483 hp (510 hp temporarily with Launch Control) in an S6 e-tron quattro. A 0-60 mph sprint should take less than 5 seconds in the former and 4 seconds in the latter.

Also see: 600-hp Audi RS 6 e-tron (Electric) to pursue a distinctive design: Report

Charging & range

The U.S. may only get the configurations with the 100 kWh battery pack, which we expect to have a net storage capacity of 94.9 kWh. Comprising 12 modules built of 15 prismatic cells each, totaling to 180 prismatic cells, this battery pack should have an operating voltage of around 800 volts and support charging at up to 270 kW. A 10-80% charging session at an ultra-fast charger will likely be a matter of just 21 minutes.

The U.S.-spec A6 e-tron will come with an NACS charging port, so customers will be able to conveniently charge it at Tesla Superchargers. Tesla has more than 15,000 Supercharging stalls across North America. Plug & Charge should be enabled in the car right from launch. On a full charge, the Tesla Model S rival should deliver an EPA-estimated range of over 310 miles.

Production

Ingolstadt, followed by Neckarsulm

Citing an Audi spokeswoman, Der Spiegel reported in December 2021 that Audi’s Ingolstadt factory would begin manufacturing the Audi Q6 e-tron from 2023, and the A6 Electric will join later. On November 18, 2023, Handelsblatt claimed in a report (via Electrive) that Audi has postponed the world premiere (covered in the next section) and the start of production of the A6 e-tron. The company now plans to start rolling out its Tesla Model S rival in Week 45 (November 4-10, 2024), as per the report.

Previously, the Volkswagen Group had confirmed that its plant in Neckarsulm, Germany, would be the production site for the second-gen Audi A6 Electric, initially referred to as the ‘Audi E6.’

Neckarsulm (plant) would be electrified, we are preparing the Audi vehicle family E6 and the successor generation.

Dr. Herbert Diess, former CEO, Volkswagen Group (Planning Round 70 announcement on 10 December 2021)

Chinese model will be made locally

FAW, Volkswagen Group’s local partner in China, has established a new entity called Audi FAW New Energy Company for manufacturing EVs in the country. The joint venture is presently constructing a new factory with over 150,000 units of annual manufacturing capacity in Changchun, the capital of Jilin province. This new factory will manufacture the PPE-based Audi EVs.

Audi has allocated three PPE-based EV models for production at the Changchun factory, including versions of the Q6 e-tron and A6 e-tron, with production commencing in late 2024.

Release Date

According to the aforementioned Handelsblatt report, the Audi A6 Electric world premiere was previously scheduled for early 2024 but now it won’t take place until May 2024.

As of now, there are no credible reports or official confirmation about the A6 Electric’s arrival in North America. Given the dwindling sales of its gas version (A6) in the U.S., Audi may think the A6 Electric is the solution to regain strength in the segment, but given the delays as reported by the German media, the U.S. division may not receive the car until 2025. We expect the base price to fall in the USD 65,000-70,000 range when it eventually arrives stateside.

Sales in the U.S.

The gas-powered Audi A6 isn’t very popular in its segment in the U.S. In 2023, while BMW sold 22,401 units of the 5 Series (incl. i5), Audi only delivered 8,319 units of the A6. However, Audi saw a 39% increase in A6 deliveries in 2023 compared to 2022, where it shipped 6,003 cars. Audi will have to create a compelling package for the A6 Electric to succeed in the U.S.

‘Engined’ Audi A6 to continue for another generation

Despite the sales slump for Audi A6 in the U.S., Audi will introduce another generation of the A6 owing to the slow pace of electrification in key markets such as the USA, Europe, and China. Markets like Russia and the Middle East also show great potential for ICE models. auto motor und sport’s report dated March 23, 2022, states that Audi might extend the gas-powered A6’s production until 2032. The report adds that launching the all-electric A6 with PHEV and MHEV variants is a viable solution.

TopElectricSUV says

Volkswagen Group aims to sell 7 million PPE-based EVs by the end of the decade. A sizable portion of those sales will come from high-volume cars like the Audi A6 Electric, Audi Q6 e-tron, Audi A4 electric, and the Audi compact EV.

The Audi A6 Electric will be one of the brand’s most significant launches since the e-tron SUV in 2018. The new four-door electric car will be Ingolstadt’s long-awaited Tesla Model S rival. Additionally, it will serve as the base for Audi’s next major performance model, an electric counterpart to the RS 7/RS 6 Avant. It isn’t going to be easy for Audi since its German competitors look strong and will raise the benchmarks further by the time the A6 Electric comes out.

Also Read: Audi A6 Avant e-tron: Everything we know

Audi A6 Electric FAQs

Featured Image: TopElectricSUV’s rendering of the Audi A6 Electric.