The Audi A6 Avant E-Tron Concept provides a preview of a stylish, electric wagon that would join the previously teased liftback sedan. The brand plans to launch a production version of this long-roof model in 2024, according to Josef Schlossmacher, head of communications for product and technology. Audi says the vehicle going into showrooms looks a lot like what we are seeing here.
The A6 Avant E-Tron Concept is purely a look at what Audi is planning for the exterior of the new vehicle. This wagon doesn’t have an interior, and the brand isn’t providing any details about what the cabin looks like.
Audi A6 Avant E-Tron Specifications
The A6 Avant E-Tron Concept rides on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), which is also underneath the forthcoming Q6 E-Tron crossover. It has an electric motor turning each axle for a total output of 469 horsepower (350 kilowatts) and 590 pound-feet (800 Newton-meters) of torque.
Audi isn’t disclosing the exact battery capacity but indicates the figure is around 100 kilowatt-hours. The 800-volt, 270-kilowatt recharging capacity allows for getting 186 miles (300 kilometers) of WLTP range within as little as 10 minutes. Less than 25 minutes is necessary to take the pack from 5 to 80 percent.
Depending on the powertrain, the production A6 Avant E-Tron would be able to reach 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in less than seven seconds or as quick as “well under four seconds” for high-performance models, according to the company’s announcement. A rear-drive version of the electric A6 Avant would be capable of 435 miles (700 kilometers) on a charge.
Dimensions
The Audi A6 Avant e-tron measures 4.96 meters in length, 1.96 meters in width, and 1.44 meters in height. Its drag coefficient is just 0.02 units above that of the A6 Sportback e-tron (0.22 Cd) – 0.24 Cd. Despite the similar dimensions to the current A6 Avant, expect the space levels in the electric version to be from a segment above.
Underpinning the A6 Avant e-tron concept is the PPE platform co-developed with Porsche. The electric station wagon has a five-link axle modified for EVs in the front and a multi-link axle in the rear. It features an air suspension with adaptive dampers.
Acceleration
The A6 Avant e-tron concept sports two motors, one mounted to the front axle and one mounted to the rear axle, generating a combined power of 350 kW (469 hp) and a combined torque of 800 Nm (590 lb.-ft.). The A6 Sportback e-tron concept can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 7 seconds, and Audi says that the value of the Avant only deviates “slightly.”
Charging
The Audi A6 Avant e-tron boasts 800-volt charging technology. Its battery pack, which is a 100 kWh unit, can be charged with up to 270 kW. Just 10 minutes of DC fast-charging can deliver a range of more than 300 km (186 miles). DC fast-charging from 5 to 80% takes less than 25 minutes. Audi hasn’t disclosed the range achievable in the variant with a full charge yet. It has just said the A6 e-tron family models, depending on the selected drive system and power output, will have a range of up to 700 km (435 miles).
Audi A6 Avant E-Tron Concept
The A6 Avant E-Tron Concept rides on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), which is also underneath the forthcoming Q6 E-Tron crossover. It has an electric motor turning each axle for a total output of 469 horsepower (350 kilowatts) and 590 pound-feet (800 Newton-meters) of torque.
The A6 Avant E-Tron Concept is purely a look at what Audi is planning for the exterior of the new vehicle. This wagon doesn’t have an interior, and the brand isn’t providing any details about what the cabin looks like.
Audi A6 Avant E-Tron Design
Exterior of Audi A6 Avant E-Tron
The Audi A6 Avant e-tron gets the overall design of the sedan version, but with subtle changes to the lights, grille inserts, and bumpers. The highlight is the long roof, which makes it a more practical car.
At the Audi Annual Media Conference 2022 on March 17, 2022, Oliver Hoffmann said that the A6 Avant e-tron’s design is close to production. Hoffmann is a member of Audi’s Board of Management responsible for Technical Development. Citing Audi designer Wolf Seebers, CAR magazine reported in April 2022 that the production version will be around 90% similar.
Compared to the ICE A6 Avant on sale today, the A6 Avant e-tron concept is much longer and lower. The car’s dynamically sloping roofline, the positive length, width, and height differences, and what seems to be a shorter front overhang make it sportier and noticeably more dramatic. The two generously-sized outlets of the striking rear diffuser complement the electric station wagon’s powerful stance. Finished in ‘Neptune Valley’ paint, the longer rear quarter glass and wider D-pillar suggest there’s ample cargo space behind the rear seats (A6 Avant: 565 liters/20.0 cu ft).
Audi A6 Avant E-Tron Interior
In terms of interior design, the Audi A6 Avant e-tron will follow the A6 e-tron. Audi has given a fair idea of the latter’s interior with a sketch of its concept version. Accordingly, we expect the A6 Avant e-tron to have a sleeker and cleaner dashboard than the current A6 Avant.
Audi will apparently use a large free-standing infotainment display instead of a traditional dashboard-integrated compact display. We believe that the free-standing display will integrate climate control and convenience features. Like in the Q6 e-tron, it may come installed with the CARIAD-developed E³ 1.2 software platform, which will support over-the-air (OTA) software updates.
Complementing the large central display and running the same software would be a fully-digital instrument cluster. Expect the same new-generation steering wheel that Audi uses in the Q4 e-tron.
The A6 Avant e-tron could feature the next generation of Audi’s virtual mirrors. The two displays between the A-pillar and the front doors clearly indicate the usage of digital side mirrors in future Audi electric cars. Lastly, the company may extensively employ sustainable materials that are recycled, reusable, and cruelty-free across the cabin.
The Styling
The front of the Avant E-Tron is familiar for an Audi, yet different because of the electric powertrain. The brand’s Singleframe grille is now mostly closed, other than small L- and U-shaped inlets. Functional inlets in each corner create air curtains to improve the aerodynamics.
The ultra-slim headlights let owners configure their own daytime running light signature, and Audi suggests this is tech that’s coming to the production car. At least on the concept, drivers can pull up to a wall and use the headlights as a projector to play video games from the cockpit.
Looking at it from the side, the wagon has an aluminum piece running from the A-Pillar, the side of the roof, and the rear spoiler. This element adds something eye-catching to the vehicle’s profile.
At the back, the concept has a steeply angled hatchback. The full-width taillights have 3d elements inside of them. The lower portion has a prominent diffuser with oval-shaped vents below it.
Audi A6 Avant E-Tron Release Date
The Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept made its public debut at the 2022 eCarExpo in Solna (Stockholm), Sweden, held between April 29, 2022, to May 1, 2022. That’s a good choice, as the Swedes have a soft corner for station wagons and are quickly adopting electric vehicles. YouTuber Peter Esse has released a walkaround video of the A6 Avant e-tron concept.
Moreover, the Swedish Audi subsidiary confirmed the launch of the production A6 Avant e-tron in the announcement preceding the showcase. It noted that the series-produced car derived from the A6 Avant e-tron concept will arrive in 2024. Previously, the company said that it plans to launch the A6 e-tron sedan concept’s production version, in 2023.
On July 18, 2022, the A6 Avant e-tron made its Middle East debut at the Museum of the Future’s Tomorrow Today exhibition in Dubai, UAE. It will be on display at the torus-shaped building, which is the country’s latest timeless landmark, till August 11, 2022. Audi should continue to exhibit the concept car in various locations around
the globe to generate excitement for the production version it intends to release in 2024.
Now, will Audi introduce the electric station wagon in America? With the company already offering the A6 allroad quattro and
RS 6 Avant in the country, we don’t see a reason why they should not!
Audi A6 Avant E-Tron Price
The Audi hasn’t revealed much in terms of pricing, but you can probably expect a starting price somewhere
in the neighborhood of between $75,000 – $85,000.
Audi A6 Avant e-tron RS
It’s not hard to guess that a full-blown RS performance would be in the pipeline. Except that we’re not guessing. Hoffmann told Topgear on March 18, 2022, that when the brand presents the A6 e-tron,
Audis will “also include some performance versions of it.”
Audi says that the “strongest representatives of the (A6 e-tron) series” will be
“high-performance models” that take less than 4 seconds for a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint. Notice the plurality in the language here. It’s safe to assume that the company is talking about not one but
two Audi RS 6 e-tron models, a Sportback coupe and an Avant station wagon.
Audi A6 marketing boss Niko Martens has suggested that
the next-gen RS 6 may come in ICE and electric variants, with the latter possessing
“an even sportier possibility,” as per the April 2022 CAR magazine report. The British publication expects the electric RS6 to sport an 800+ hp dual-motor powertrain and arrive in 2025.
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