- New Audi A6 e-tron launched in full
- Sportback hatchback and Avant estate models available
- Entry-level models come with power of 380 PS
- Sportback priced from £69,900
Order books have opened for the fully-electric A6 e-tron - the most aerodynamic series production Audi ever created.
The A6 e-tron ushers-in a brand new era for Audi.
The long-running, traditionally-fuelled Audi A6 and S6 will eventually ‘make way’ for these battery-powered e-tron siblings (though you can still lease the petrol and diesel A6 as it stands).
The e-tron models are available as either A6 Sportback e-tron hatchbacks or A6 Avant e-tron estates - each coming with the same sized 502-litre boot.
And because Audi has treated the A6 e-tron to ‘exhaustive streamlining work’, a low drag coefficient of 0.21 (for the Sportback, it’s 0.24 for the Avant estate) gives it a class-leading range between charges.
The Sportback can travel for up to 463 miles before you need to plug it in while the Avant lags behind ever so slightly at 437 miles, thanks to its chunkier rear end. They’re both impressive figures, with rivals like the BMW i5 Saloon getting a max EV range of 357 miles and even the Mercedes-Benz EQE Saloon falling short at 429 miles.
The power available with the A6 e-tron is equally eye-catching.
Even entry-level, rear-wheel drive models get 380 PS, 580 Nm of torque and can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 5.4 seconds, while the 550 PS S6 e-tron variants can glide to 62 mph from a standstill in just 3.9 seconds. That’s almost supercar quick.
The A6 e-tron’s large 100 kWh battery supports rapid 270 kW charging, which can take the energy from 10-80% in just 21 minutes. A heat pump also comes as standard with every model, which lets you get the most amount of range possible whatever the weather.
When it comes to how the A6 Sportback e-tron and the A6 Avant e-tron look, Audi says the design is ‘dynamic, futuristic’, with a low, arcing roofline, slim headlights, and a 3D light strip at the rear.
There are four trims up for grabs at launch - Sport, S-Line, Edition 1, and the S6.
The entry-level Sport grade gives 20-inch alloys, heated front seats, three-zone air con, a 14.5-inch curved screen with a 11.9-inch driver display, front and rear parking sensors, a top view camera and leather seats. You also get safety tech like adaptive cruise control, swerve assist and Audi’s self-parking system.
The S-Line trim boosts the offering with sportier exterior styling, unique alloys, rear privacy glass, sport seats and an uprated steering wheel.
The Edition 1 models stand out from the pack with 21-inch rims, Matrix LED lights, a black exterior style pack, uprated ‘Super Sport’ seats with heating, ventilation and pre-conditioning, and Audi’s ‘adaptive cruise assist plus’ system.
Meanwhile, performance S6 models get an extra motor on the front axle and all-wheel drive, as well as adaptive air suspension, a Nappa leather interior, augmented reality head up display, massage seats, a panoramic glass roof, and a premium B&O sound system.
With a starting price of £69,900 for the Sportback and £71,700 for the Avant, the closest rival to the Audi A6 e-tron is the BMW i5 - which is also available as a Saloon or Touring estate.
Besides that, the Porsche Taycan will also rival A6 e-tron models higher up the range.
An Audi spokesperson tells us: “One of the mainstay models in the Audi UK range is today embracing full electrification for the first time, as the familiar upper mid-size A6 and S6 make way for the all-new A6 e-tron and S6 e-tron in line with the brand’s ambitious e-mobility strategy.”
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