Audi summoned the gods of design and brought forth the future of the wagon in the form of an A6 Avant e-tron concept!
If there’s a class of cars quite popular amongst Europeans, there’s no looking beyond the average estate wagon. The wagon still offers more agile handling — crucial in the narrow European streets, while also being more practical. Hence, it’s no surprise that an example like the RS6 Avant is super popular among purists. Keeping this in mind, Audi’s designers came up with a concept that carried the ethos of these old-timers into the futuristic all-electric universe.
The prototype in question is based on is a fully electric version of the wagon, called the A6 Avant e-tron, and oh boy, is it striking from all angles! Starting from the front fascia, it looks classy with Audi’s single-frame grille with no vents (it’s electric) plus the illuminated four-ring logo in the center. Large air curtains complement it with inverted L-shaped white inserts that further accentuate its sporty stance. Being an electric concept, the automaker also included the e-tron lettering on the splitter and the all-encompassing set of Matrix-LED headlamps and projector units.
Over to its sides, the A6 Avant e-tron’s sleek and progressive silhouette comes into play, measuring a whopping 16.3 feet in length, 6.4 feet wide, and 4.7 feet high. While these dimensions are nearly indicative of a full-size SUV, the designers kept things sporty and striking. For instance, the hood gently slopes upwards into the A-pillar area, which features an aluminum rail that follows downward into a neatly integrated roof spoiler. Meanwhile, the mirrors are replaced with slim rearward-facing cameras, juxtaposing against muscular elements on the doors and side skirts.
The rear-end of the A6 Avant e-tron is equally fascinating, displaying a full-width taillamp with individual OLED elements that is more than capable of a miniature light show. The girth of the estate is accentuated even further with a pair of diffusers. More than the design itself, the highlights of the estate wagon lie in the underpinnings. Described as the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), the platform comprises a simple, scalable architecture, housing electric motors on each axle and offering the best performance and traction. It gets better, though; the PPE will be used for upcoming vehicles such as the Porsche Macan EV and Q6 e-tron crossover in the days to come.
Audi hasn’t disclosed any details on the interior yet, although the powertrain specs seem quite impressive! Namely, the A6 Avant e-tron packs dual electric motors that churn out a compelling 470 hp and 590 ft-lb of torque. It draws its power from a 100-kWh battery pack, providing enough juice to travel 435 miles on a single charge. Moreover, like its Porsche siblings, the wagon also features an 800V system, allowing for 270-kW charging in supported stations. This translates to a range addition of 186 miles in 10 minutes or a 5-80% SoC in just 25 minutes!
Launched alongside the e-tron Sportback variant, the A6 Avant holds its own as a ‘to-be’ RS6 for now, although only time will tell us when a racier car comes into play.
More to come!
Gallery: Audi A6 Avant e-tron
