Many car manufacturers currently see themselves in a dilemma. Although they are launching new electric cars, they continue to mainly sell combustion models – and that’s how they make the money.
That’s why many, such as the three German premium manufacturers Daimler, BMW and Audi, stick to the rule: do one thing, but don’t neglect the other. So send Mercedes will launch its electric EQE later this year into the race and will follow up with the combustion engine versions of the E-Class next year. BMW is relaunching the 5 Series in 2023 – classic with combustion engines, but also purely electric as the i5. And now Audi is showing a purely electric study A6 Avant E-Tron Concept for 2024, but will also be offering the new A6 generation with petrol and diesel.
Loadmaster in both senses of the word
“With this concept, we are giving a very concrete outlook on future production models of our new PPE technology platform,” says Audi Board Member for Development Oliver Hoffmann. “These include powerful 800-volt technology, fast 270 kW charging power and a WLTP range of up to 700 kilometers.” After Audi had already granted a view of a coupe sedan last year, one now shows a 4.96 meter long electric station wagon. And since, like the current Audi top model E-Tron GT, it “fills up” with electricity in just ten minutes for a range of 300 kilometers, the spacious station wagon is a load master in both senses of the word.
Apart from the rear-wheel drive, which is available for the first time, there are no particular surprises when it comes to the drive – an adapted five-link suspension at the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear with adjustable air suspension. However, the new rear-wheel drive for Audi is unlikely to play a major role in the all-wheel-drive country of Switzerland; especially since most engine variants are offered with 4×4 anyway.
Weakly motorized basic versions are now a thing of the past in this league. And the 476 hp (350 kW) and 800 Nm torque of the A6 study are unlikely to mean the end of the performance spiral in view of the ever-stronger competition. While the basic variants take around seven seconds from 0 to 100 km/h, the sharper RS versions of the A6 as a Sportback and as a station wagon Avant storm to 100 km/h in less than four seconds. Of course, Audi also hopes to hit the Swiss market with the to stir up the coming A6 so quickly.