AUDI has debuted what’s going to possible be the subsequent chapter in its E-Tron story, this week revealing the A6 E-Tron idea on the Shanghai motor present.
Using on all-new ‘Premium Platform Electrical’ (PPE) underpinnings, the production-spec A6 E-Tron would be the first mannequin of a brand new electrical portfolio comprising the C, B and D segments to emerge in addition to SUVs.
With manufacturing of the brand new PPE autos on account of begin within the second half of subsequent yr, designers say the A6 E-Tron idea’s styling is especially shut (95 per cent) to that of the manufacturing model with solely small particulars to be modified to go well with and adjust to the assorted road-worthy laws and necessities.
Described by Audi executives as being a fully-fledged member of the A6 household, the E-Tron idea measures 4.96 metres lengthy, 1.96m broad, and 1.44m tall with its dimensions and door depend being the one concrete similarities with the remainder of the vary.
Whereas the conventional A6 is a bona fide sedan, the E-Tron model has been designed from the bottom up as a sportback and incorporates a drag coefficient of simply 0.22Cd.
The most important indication of the A6 E-Tron idea’s electrical nature is the gaping however enclosed Singleframe grille which is supplemented by three absolutely functioning air vents on both aspect and beneath, stated for use to assist cool the drivetrain, battery and brakes.
With a excessive belt line, pumped up rear haunches and frowning, squinty lighting signatures, the A6 E-Tron comfortably builds on the present Audi design philosophy of giving its vehicles “muscle groups” and its claimed energy outputs will definitely assist its chunk match its bark.
Powered by a 100kWh lithium-ion battery, the A6 E-Tron idea develops 350kW of energy and 800Nm of torque courtesy of its twin-motor set-up – one on every axle – and may journey “greater than” 700km on a single cost.
Much less potent range-minded variations may also emerge at some stage sporting only a single electrical motor on the rear axle whereas an RS6 E-Tron can be “very possible” to materialise based on Audi executives.
With the battery capable of be charged at as much as 270kW, 300km of vary might be added in simply 10 minutes when hooked as much as a DC quick charger.
25 minutes of charging in the meantime will take the battery from 5 per cent to 80 per cent.
By way of efficiency, Audi says “even entry-level fashions designed for effectivity will speed up to 100km/h in lower than seven seconds”, whereas the devoted efficiency variations will cease the clock in “properly underneath 4 seconds”.
By way of expertise and commonplace tools highlights, the A6 E-Tron idea is adorned with configurable LED daytime operating lights, LED projector indicators, Matrix LED headlights and an OLED tail-light signature.
The entire package deal rolls on 22-inch alloy wheels whereas the paint has been specifically developed to “mirror a big proportion of the thermal radiation in daylight, thus decreasing the quantity of power that enters the automotive’s physique”.
To assist kill time whereas the battery fees, a collection of inbuilt projectors – additionally used for numerous warning indications for each the motive force and different street customers – can show a console-style recreation for occupants to play offered there’s a wall or another appropriate floor to mission onto.
“A very new expertise structure, the ‘Premium Platform Electrical,’ or PPE for brief, will function the expertise platform for these autos sooner or later,” Audi stated in an announcement.
“Sporting the Audi A6 emblem, the idea automotive underscores its place within the model’s luxury-class mannequin collection.”
In Australia, Audi has sols 69 A6s to date this yr ending March, accounting for 8.4 per cent of the $70,000-plus massive automotive phase.
