Audi is going all-in on electric vehicles and the latest concept car, the Audi A6 E-Tron concept, showcases much of what we can expect from the forthcoming electric Audi car lineup.
That all starts with the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), the architecture that the future vehicles will ride on. The battery size and wheelbase of PPE vehicles are scalable. B- and C-segment SUVs that are underpinned by the components will begin arriving in late 2022. These first vehicles will be re-launches of the original E-Tron lineup models. Smaller subcompact SUVs will come later.
According to the automaker, the only thing that the Audi A6 E-Tron has in common with the current gasoline version of the model (and its many variants) is its dimensions. Designated a Sportback, the hatchback version of the A6 is a combination of looks between the Audi A6 and A7, with a fresh grille design.
Audi has confirmed that future models will deliver dynamic driving performance that is suitable for daily use. This means that a variety of drive systems will be available. The automaker says that the A6 E-Tron is expected to have a range of more than 700 kilometers (434 miles) using WLTP standards when it debuts. Audi brags that the most powerful members o the A6 E-Tron family will go from zero to 62 mph in under four seconds.
The A6 E-Tron concept rides on 22-inch wheels, has short overhands and a flat cabin, and a ride coupe-like roof arch that play together to give the car a sporty appearance. Side mirrors on the concept are replaced by cameras, a tech that U.S. regulators have yet to embrace.
There is a battery area above the rocker panel that is accepted with a black inlay, a feature that is common in E-Tron models. There’s a fresh Singleframe grille with deep air intakes below that cool the drivetrain, battery, and brakes. Headlight bezels, surrounding the slim Digital Matrix LED and digital OLED lights, are design to wrap around the car and underscore the shape of the car’s body.
At the rear of the car, the influence of Audi’s aero tunnel is evident with a diffuser making a strong statement.
Audi’s design team has given the car a Heliosilver paint job that is designed to show off the shapes of the vehicles with three-dimensional depth.
Safety warnings can be displayed on the ground via high-resolution projectors. These new safety features can do things like warn a cyclist that a car door is about to open.
A battery module between the axles of the car holds around 100 kilowatt-hours of energy. Tesla and Chinese carmaker Niro already offer vehicles with that size battery pack. The Audi A6 e-tron concept’s two electric motors are capable of delivering a total output of 350 kW (469 horsepower) and a torque of 800 Newton meter (590 pound-feet). All-wheel drive is avialable on demand.
The Audi A6 e-tron concept’s battery can be charged with up to 270 kW in a very short time at fast-charging stations. At these stations, just 10 minutes of charge time is enough to charge the battery to a level that will power the car for 300 kilometers (186 miles). In less than 25 minutes, Audi says that the car can charge from five to 80 percent.
