What's all this about?

It's another brand-new Audi, after a few years where this German marque didn't launch all that much in the way of fresh products. This time, it's the A6 e-tron and S6 e-tron range, which is a direct replacement for the ICE-powered A6 line, but the newcomer is also a neat counterpoint to the recently announced A5, which is the artist formerly known as the A4.

OK, so if I have followed this correctly, this new A6 is electric because it's even-numbered, yes?

Of course, although the 'e-tron' moniker is a bit of a giveaway. But yes, the second Audi model to sit on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) chassis, after the Q6 e-tron, the A6 e-tron shares similar tech to the Q6 e-tron. There's a 100kWh gross, 94.9kWh net battery that gives the A6 e-tron Sportback a range said to be in excess of 465 miles. An Avant version will also be available for fans of electric estates, which will be slightly less long-legged with a maximum range approaching 450 miles.

As standard, the dual-motor A6 e-tron has up to 367hp, which allows for a 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds, but those craving more power can opt for the S6 e-tron, again available as either a Sportback or an Avant. This has 503hp as standard but can raise that for brief periods to 551hp, allowing for a 3.9-second 0-62mph run. Obviously, you lose a bit of range for that speed, with the Avant managing around 397 miles and the Sportback 416, but they're still good figures.

For other aspects, the A6 e-tron has regenerative brakes that are so powerful they can recuperate up to 220kW of otherwise-lost kinetic energy, which in turn means Audi claims you won't even need to press the left-hand pedal in the car all that often, with up 95 per cent of everyday driving-routine deceleration phases handles purely by regenerative power. The German company also says that it has 'directly tuned' the front axle to make the A6 e-tron nice and agile to drive (handy, as it will be a heavy old thing), while suspension will be handled by adaptive dampers as standard and fully adaptive air suspension as an option.

And charging times are quick too, as the PPE is an 800-volt set-up so the A6/S6 e-trons can go from 10 to 80 per cent charge at its maximum 270kW DC rate in 21 minutes. The car can even 'split' its battery into two 400-volt banks at lower-output chargers, taking 135kW to each half. AC speeds kick off at 11kW, but Audi says a 22kW AC charging option will be forthcoming.

Sounds good. How about the looks?

Inspired by the 2021 concept model, the A6 e-tron has the split headlight units, with the daytime running lamps set high and then the main forward illumination finding itself 'hidden' beneath in the Audi's mask detailing. What you can see, although you could probably infer from the shape of the e-tron, is that it is hugely aerodynamic - to the point it is the slipperiest Audi yet put on sale, and also the most efficient product for cutting through the airflow in the entire present-day Volkswagen Group portfolio (at the time of writing). It rates at 0.21Cd as a Sportback and 0.24Cd as the Avant, with the former being the aero-champ.

S6 models obviously look a little more aggressive and hench, but all models run on aerodynamically optimised alloys ranging from 19 to 21 inches in diameter. And for those wanting something interesting about the Audi's bodywork that's not to do with the aero, then take a peek at the light signatures. Like the incoming A5 family, the A6 e-tron has eight different signatures for the front and rear LED and OLED (respectively) clusters to go through, with one of them featuring that distinctive 'shimmer' effect where the individual pixels pulse from bright orange to dark red, to make the lights look like they are glimmering.

Classy. And within?

The huge 'digital stage' is once again found, which you can see in the Q6 e-tron and the incoming A5, and after the A6 and S6 e-tron land with it, we'd guess some future Audi models in the pipeline will have the same set-up - such as the next-generation Q5 SUV. This is centred on the MMI Panoramic Display, situating a 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen alongside the 11.9-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster. Taking inspiration from a few recent Porsche models, there's also the option of a 10.9-inch Front Passenger Display to take the Audi's screen count to three if you want it. There's also an augmented-reality head-up display for the driver.

Having been to see the A6 e-tron up close and in person, we can say that the interior quality is very high, while space onboard is decent too. And a top-notch audio set-up will, of course, be provided, as an 830-watt, 20-speaker Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System will be an option for the range.

Gernot Döllner, chairman of the board of management of Audi AG, said: "The A6 e-tron is the first purely electric Audi model available as a Sportback and Avant. Its striking design enables the best aerodynamics in the portfolio and therefore greater efficiency. It will inspire enthusiasm for e-mobility with its long range of well over 435 miles and outstanding driving dynamics."

Matt Robinson - 31 Jul 2024