Audi expands its electric range with the A6 e-tron

Again Audi has chosen the Canary Islands and, again, the south of the island of Tenerife, as a launching pad for one of its new cars. And what car: the A6 e-trona premium ‘classic’ sedan, electric of course, and with technology that, depending on the body, battery and engine versions, allows it to ‘chop’ the 700 km of autonomy. In addition, you can always boast of being the first e-tron to double its offer in Sportback and Avant silhouette and to mark the farewell of a model as emblematic as the A6 of thermal engines.

Theirs is a very rich range of versions. On the one hand, Audi always offers in both bodies the Access A6 e-tron with 326 HP of power and battery of 83 kWh gross (75.8 net) and with rear propulsion. From the next step, the A6 e-tron Performance with 381 HPthe 100 kWh gross battery (94.9 net) is now used, which is repeated in the most performance models: the A6 quattro with all-wheel drive and 462 HP and the S6 e-tron with 551 hp.

We tested the e-tron Performance and S6 e-tron versions and it is obvious that if what you want is to discharge adrenaline in stages, you have to dig deep into your pocket a little longer and aim for the sportiest. There are 551 HP using launch control and acceleration 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. This version, in either body, has a torque distribution that gives greater responsibility to the rear axle so that the sensations are even better. However, one of the components that Audi points out as key to making this ‘feel’ outstanding is the tuning of the front axle.

The entire range has the characteristic that the rear tires are wider to result in greater stability. Optional, however, is the optional adaptive pneumatic suspension with electronic control and which regulates the height of the body in four levels depending on the type of road.

Indeed, the address is precise like a scalpel and the nobility of the reactions of the S6 e-trontotal. Driving a saloon – or getting out of an SUV from time to time – is like reconnecting with the road and in this version you receive a lot of information at the wheel and the cornering behavior is worthy (and even superior) to the legacy left by the thermal A6. All this accompanied, if the Sport modeby a noise that surrounds the driver through the speakers integrated into the seats and that imitates that of a thermal engine. Regarding other electrics, it seemed more natural to us and, above all, that it faithfully accompanies the pressure on the accelerator.

What makes it very interesting A6 e-tron Performance –the other version we opted for– is that it is the one that makes the most of the battery in terms of autonomy. With a average consumption of 14 kWh/100 km can reach a radius of 753 kilometersa greater distance than the base model (which uses the ‘small’ battery and reaches up to 597 km in the Sportback body) also offering that power of 367 hp Which, believe us, is great for this car.

It is difficult to write a contact with a new electric car with so many versions without running the risk of turning the text into a data salad. Here are more references to batteries. His 800 volt technology opens the doors to very high direct current charging powers (up to 270 kW); This is how the A6 e-tron Performance can recover an autonomy of up to 310 km in ten minutes. That’s the other big advantage of this version. To have more references, Audi announces that for the access versions with the lower capacity battery, up to 260 km can be recovered in that time.

The regenerative braking of this vehicle allows recover up to 220 kW and, according to the manufacturer’s data, they are responsible for 95% of the braking processes. It is the rear axle that is responsible for the lower intensity and during the longest journey that took us from Audi’s temporary base in Costa Adeje to the foothills of Teide it allowed us to go and return while still conserving around 60% of the capacity. of the battery. Of course, always playing with the recovery levels in two stages using the steering wheel paddles and, when the opportunity arose, with the gear selector in position B.

He inside It’s delicious. Heir to the coordinates of style, technology and ergonomics that the Q6 e-tron established, everything seems more immersive. Beyond the tandem of screens that form the 12-inch wrap-around virtual instrument cluster and that of 27.7 cm infotainment systemthe most striking thing is that the co-pilot also has his own screenfor example, to help with navigation or, if you prefer, watch streaming movies or series by activating privacy mode.

The stratification of the dashboard elements, the intelligent contrast of finishes, the combination of materials and the modern air that is breathed in all versions is in line with the brand’s entire electrical range. The S6 Avant unit equipped the second generation virtual exterior mirrors which, once again, leave us cold. There are no screens that provide as much information as a glance at an ‘analogue’ mirror when instinctively looking for angles outside the range of the camera. It is a certainty that is repeated over and over again every time we drive a unit with this technological equipment. There is a maxim when testing a car according to which it costs nothing to get used to good things; In this sense, later getting into the A6 e-tron Performance with conventional mirrors was even more revealing because when maneuvering, in merging and so on, it gives you extra confidence and, most importantly, security.

He Head-Up display with second generation augmented reality whose graphics are increasingly clearer, broader and more useful. It is also amazing solar roof with smart glass which turns opaque sequentially (four presets) by pressing a button. Being an electric car with a wheelbase of almost three meters, comfort and interior space is at an unattainable level for a thermal A6. He trunkfor its part, has 502 liters capacity in both versions.

One of the elements that most and best defines the A6 e-tron is its lighting technology. Audi has made this component one of its signs of identity as a manufacturer and, to continue marking distances, it usually takes advantage of its big launches. The A6 e-tron debuts a new evolution of Matrix LED headlights (standard from the S line finish) which, in addition to providing extraordinary visibility in all types of conditions and roads, allows the owner customize the light signature.

That signature is generated by twelve adjustable segments. This adaptability reaches even greater levels in the rear lights with digital OLED technology whose ten panels with 450 segments are capable of generating a new image several times per second. Thanks to this functionality You can choose different lighting signatures and, most importantly, increase road safety through car-to-car communication. The pilots, through a series of light patterns, can alert other road users of accidents and breakdowns or, through proximity detection, of a risk of a rear-end accident. Also very characteristic of this luxury sedan is the illumination of the four rings at the rear which are standard for all equipment lines.

Audi has been good at polishing the aerodynamics of its sedans for some time. Vehicles like the 100 boasted a Cx of 0.30 in the early eighties; The A6 e-tron adapts to the flow of the wind to lower that coefficient to the 0.21 in its Sportback version and 0.24 for the Avant. During the presentation, the brand’s team placed special emphasis on the underbody, on some wheel trims and 3D deflectors optimized for both body types and on the lower fairing that covers the battery, rear axle and thresholds. The rear diffuser is real and fulfills its function, but seeking a compromise between generating charge and achieving a good coefficient. The rear of both versions are highly refined, although to improve air flow, the Avant has an extra spoiler in the diffuser, side deflectors and a spoiler on the lower edge of the roof. The air curtains on the front, the active air intakes, the design of the wheels and the aforementioned virtual mirrors complete what makes the A6 e-tron the most ‘aerofriendly’ Audi of the entire range.