Audi launches new A6 and S6 E-tron Sportback EVs

Audi’s got some new E-tron EV models, and this time around, they aren’t SUVs. Instead, we’re getting electric versions of the A6, the automaker’s popular midsize sedan, and it’s coming in both a Sportback and an Avant station wagon style, along with performance S6 variants.

Audi first revealed the A6 E-tron as a concept at Auto Shanghai in 2021, and the production version is looking very close to the source material. The front still has slim headlights with adaptive matrix LEDs (only available outside the US due to regulations) and a front grille with a fish scale-like texture surrounded by a dark mask. On the back, the car has digital OLED panels for its rear lights that can be used as a safety communications display.

The US is currently set to get just three versions of the new vehicle: the A6 RWD Sportback; A6 AWD (Quattro) Sportback; and the S6 Sportback. They also won’t get the slim virtual side view mirrors that help the car get a low drag coefficient of 0.21 since US regulations require actual mirrors. Audi claims the range of the vehicle on a single charge is over 700 kilometers (about 435 miles), although the US EPA estimation is likely to be much less.

The fastest version, the S6 E-tron, can accelerate from zero to 60mph in just 3.7 seconds when using launch control, which is not too far off from Tesla’s latest Model 3 Performance with a zero to 60mph time of just 2.9 seconds. The S6 peaks at 543 horsepower and has a top speed of 149mph.

The vehicle's interior is very similar to the new Q6 E-tron, which has three displays that create a “digital stage,” including a 10.9-inch front passenger display with a privacy screen. If that’s not enough to look at, Audi also offers a heads-up display for the driver.

The Audi A6 E-tron is built on Volkswagen’s newer 800-volt Premium Platform Electric (PPE) platform, which is also shared with the Audi Q6 E-tron and Porsche Macan EV. All versions of the A6 E-tron come with 100kWh battery packs (94.4 usable) and can DC fast charge at 270kW, good for a 10–80 percent charge in 21 minutes, according to Audi.

The A6 E-tron is launching in Europe in September, with a final US date to follow.