concept model
Audi presents the A6 concept as the first electric station wagon – with an extremely fast charging function
The Audi A6 Avant e-tron is the first all-electric station wagon from the Ingolstadt company
© AUDI AG
The first electric station wagon A6 is to herald the new electric car models from Audi. The Ingolstadt-based company presented a concept vehicle with new drive and battery technology, an extremely fast charging function and a long range.
Audi’s 2022 annual press conference on Thursday also focused on future electric car models. Finally, the German carmaker presented the first all-electric Audi station wagon, the A6 Avant e-tron, as a concept vehicle.
It has two electric motors with a power of about 476 hp, appears with “sporty proportions and elegant lines” and large 22-inch wheels. The acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h should take around four seconds for the most powerful representatives, and less than seven seconds for the cheaper entry-level versions. With a length of almost five meters and a width of almost two meters, the A6 Avant e-tron belongs to the luxury class.
Modern technology is also used in the new model. It has an 800 volt system and a 100 kWh battery with a specified charging capacity of up to 270 kW. This should allow the Avant e-tron to charge for around 300 kilometers in ten minutes at a fast charging station. The battery should charge from 5 to 80 percent in less than 25 minutes – with a maximum range of up to 700 kilometers according to WLTP. With a cd value of 0.24, the adapted aerodynamics should enable lower energy consumption and thus an improvement in the range.
Audi A6 Avant e-tron: light show and warning signals
Although it is only a concept, Oliver Hoffmann, Chief Development Officer, says: “With the Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept, we are giving a very concrete outlook on future production models of our new PPE technology platform.” According to this, all future Audi A6 e-tron models should have the same drive and battery technology, especially with regard to range. Above all, Audi wants to set an exclamation mark with technology.
The Ingolstadt-based company therefore relies on digital matrix LED and digital OLED technology. Three small LED projectors are integrated on each side of the body, which illuminate the ground when the doors are opened and also project warning symbols. In this way, cyclists, for example, are to be warned when the vehicle door is about to open.
In addition, occupants are greeted with illuminated characters in their respective language when boarding. Digital matrix LED headlights in the front are said to project a video game onto a wall “virtually” in cinema quality, for example, while the driver loads the car. Typical of the e-tron models, the A6 Avant e-tron also has virtual exterior mirrors with built-in cameras.
The rear lighting made of OLED elements creates a continuous strip of lights that is intended to act like a display. Here, too, various customizable variations of digital light signatures and dynamic light productions should be possible. In addition, they should increase the level of security in the future.
New platform for electric cars
In 2018, the e-tron was the first all-electric production vehicle from Audi, which, like other e-tron models, is based on a technology platform developed jointly with Porsche. In April 2021, Audi had already presented the Audi A6 Sportback with electric drive at the Shanghai Auto Show. Like the A6 Avant e-tron, this is based on the future PPE platform. The central element is a battery module between the vehicle axles with around 100 kWh of energy.
The two Audi vehicle models are thus leading to a new level of electromobility. The first Audi series vehicle based on this is to be presented from 2023.
Mercedes, Tesla, BMW – the direct competition
Direct competitors are the Mercedes EQE, the Tesla Model S or the BMW i5. The Mercedes EQE has an engine output of up to 292 hp and, according to WLTP, a range of up to 654 kilometers. With a charging capacity of up to 170 kW, it should be able to charge the fast charger in 15 minutes for up to a further 250 kilometers. The battery should go from 10 percent to 80 percent charge in just over 30 minutes. The electric sedan is scheduled to roll out to customers this summer.
The Tesla Model S has 670 hp and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds. The estimated range is up to 652 kilometers. According to the manufacturer, the sedan has a maximum charging capacity of up to 250 kW and a drag coefficient of 0.208. In the sporty Plaid version, it has three engines, 1020 hp and a top speed of 322 km/h. At 637 kilometers, its estimated range is slightly lower than that of the other Model S version.
With the i5, there should also be a competing model at BMW in the future. In its more powerful version, the i5 M, the electric sedan is said to have over 700 hp and a battery with around 100 kWh. There is no exact information about the range yet. However, the new BMW i7, which is the next higher model at BMW, is said to have a range of around 600 kilometers according to WLTP. The market launch of the i5 is planned for 2023.
Swell:Audi, FocusMercedes-Benz, Tesla