Audi NZ confirms A6 e-tron Avant and Sportback arrival

Audi New Zealand has confirmed that the all-new A6 e-tron will be available as an Avant or a Sportback, with the local launch planned for mid-2025.   

According to the distributor, the final model line-up, pricing, and specifications for New Zealand will be released closer to the local launch.

Audi debuted the A6 e-tron concept at the 2021 Auto Shanghai trade fair, and it was the forerunner of an innovative family of all-electric volume models. 

As the second model on the PPE platform, Audi says the A6 e-tron picks up on the product strengths of performance, range, efficiency, and charging. It is also the platform’s first model with a flat floor. 

Depending on the equipment level, it says the A6 e-tron offers many innovative features, such as second-generation virtual exterior mirrors, a panoramic glass roof that becomes opaque at the touch of a button and illuminated rings at the rear.

“The A6 e-tron is the first purely electric Audi available as an Avant, which is the shape of some of our most iconic vehicles,” says Greg Leet, Audi New Zealand General Manager. 

“A striking design enables the best aerodynamics in the portfolio and, therefore, greater efficiency. This means we can now offer our current Avant customers an electrified offering without compromising the design, performance and flexibility they truly value, especially with its long range of well over 700 km*.”

Aerodynamics

According to Audi, its long history of aerodynamics is a core component of its success. Aerodynamic heroes of the past, include the mid-size Audi 100 (C3) and the Audi 80 (B3). 

The new Audi A6 e-tron’s sporty design and set-up contribute to its excellent aerodynamics and ensure an exceptionally low coefficient of drag value of 0.21 for the Sportback, making it the best Audi of all time in terms of aerodynamics and the most aerodynamic vehicle in the entire VW Group. 

The Avant also achieves a coefficient of drag value of 0.24, making it one of the best in its segment.

The front is aerodynamically optimised and has air curtains that positively influence the flow around the front and the wheels. The greenhouse is extremely slim, and the roofline slopes towards the rear. Moreover, a controllable cool-air intake under the single of the Audi A6 e-tron ensures the airstream can flow around this zone with minimal losses. 

Audi has further optimised this system with additional components. These include specially adapted wheel trims and 3D bumps ahead of the front wheels, individually optimised for the Sportback and Avant, as well as the undertray, battery, rear axle, and sill panels. 

A comprehensive and aerodynamically optimised diffuser achieves the optimum balance between lift at the rear axle and cw value. The Avant is also equipped with an additional spoiler on the diffuser. 

Aero elements in the form of side spoilers at the rear of the A6 Avant e-tron enable a controlled stall. The low roof edge spoiler contributes to a small “still water area” behind the vehicle, improving the aerodynamics. 

Range and charging performance

Powerful, compact, and highly efficient electric motors and a lithium-ion battery newly developed for the PPE consisting of twelve modules and 180 prismatic cells with a total gross capacity of 100 kWh ensure a range of over 750 km (A6 Sportback e-tron) and over 720 km (A6 Avant e-tron). 

With a system output of up to 270 kW in the A6 Sportback/Avant e-tron performance, the new Audi A6 e-tron provides the sporty driving experience Audi is known for.

The Audi A6 e-tron performance accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and has a top speed of 210 km/h. The S6 e-tron* provides a system output of 370 kW.

The S6 Sportback e-tron and the S6 Avant e-tron accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. Their top speed is 240 km/h. Their range is over 670 km (S6 Sportback e-tron*) and over 640 km (S6 Avant e-tron*).

Thanks to 800-volt technology and a maximum DC charging capacity of 270 kW as standard, the A6 Sportback e-tron performance can be recharged at an appropriate charging station (High Power Charging, HPC) for up to 310 km in just ten minutes. 

The State of Charge (SoC) increases by 10 to 80% in 21 minutes. Intelligent high-performance and predictive thermal management are critical components of this impressive charging performance.

The advanced recovery (regenerative braking) system is an essential component in increasing the efficiency and range of the Audi A6 e-tron. This system can handle around 95 per cent of everyday braking processes. The Audi A6 e-tron recuperates up to 220 kW. The temperature and the battery’s state of charge play a key role here.

The integrated brake system (iBS) familiar to previous e-tron models has been enhanced significantly as part of the Premium Platform Electric. For the first time, the described axle-specific brake blending between the mechanical friction brake and regenerative braking via the electric motors is possible.