Auto Shanghai 2021: Audi A6 e-tron concept revealed on future EV platform

Simran Rastogi Published: April 19, 2021, 12:12 PM IST

Look no further than the Audi A6 e-tron concept revealed at the Auto Shanghai 2021 motor show for proof of concept of 'regular' Audi electric sedans, e-tron GT aside. Dimensionally similar to the A6/A7 sedans, the A6 e-tron electric concept changes tack a little with a Sportback design. And, it rides on a new 800-volt electric architecture developed by Audi and Porsche, the PPE (Premium Platform Electric), which will likely debut in production form on the Q6 e-tron by late 2022, and A6 e-tron by 2023. Expect specifications close to the concept's numbers - around 100kWh of battery capacity, dual electric motors, power figures at 476PS/800Nm, 0-100kmph performance between 4-7s, over 700km of driving range, and a 300km range refill in 10 minutes.

As evidenced by the performance figures, we expect an RS version of the all-electric A6 sedan to join the lineup after it hits production in 2023. We even expect some of the innovations on the concept car to make it into production, like the LED projectors on the sides that can project customised messages, or warning signs, on the ground when the doors are opened, or even the digital matrix LED headlights that double up as entertainment when parked facing a wall. To help pass time when the car's being recharged, passengers can fire up an Audi-designed game on their smartphone, with the display projected ahead of them via the headlights!

Dimensionally, the Audi A6 e-tron concept (4.96m long, 1.96m wide, 1.44m high) is similar to the A6/A7 sedans but its design in the wind-tunnel help it to a 0.22 drag co-efficient, a little more aerodynamically efficient than the 0.23Cd of the Tesla Model 3, for example. Other breakthroughs towards extending range come in the unlikeliest of places - the 'Heliosilver' paint. Apart from adding to the three-dimensional depth of the body work, Audi claim it also reflects a 'significant' portion of thermal radiation, lowering in-cabin temperatures, and allowing occupants to travel in comfort without the air-conditioning. Importantly, the new PPE architecture allows for a completely flat floor, a major differentiator versus the current electric models based on existing platforms.