In August 2017, the folks at Audi rolled out a rather weird naming convention. Instead of exterior badges with the engine's capacity in liters, the Volkswagen Group-owned brand switched to numeral combinations ranging between 30 and 70.
30 stands for outputs ranging from 81 to 96 kW, whereas 70 means over 400 kW (536 horsepower). As if that wasn't needlessly confusing, Audi won't be stopping here. Beginning with the Q4 e-tron and Q8 e-tron, the German automaker designates electric vehicles with even numbers and combustion-engined vehicles with odd numbers. That's why the current-generation A6 will become A7 in 2025 for model year 2026, with Audi relegating the A6 nameplate to an electric vehicle.
To be unveiled later this year as a 2025 model, the A6 e-tron competes against the Mercedes-Benz EQE and BMW i5. A wagon-bodied version dubbed A6 Avant e-tron is on the menu as well. Regarding the Premium Platform Electric developed by Audi and Porsche, this architecture supports 800-volt fast charging at 270 kW. The A6 e-tron concept packs a 100-kWh battery and two drive units that deliver 350 kW (470 horsepower).
Of course, this platform is capable of way more, as exemplified by Porsche's all-new Macan EV. The pokiest version available offers 603 horsepower and 737 pound-feet (1,000 Nm) of near-instant torque, and at a steady 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour), its 100-kWh battery delivers a little over 300 miles (483 kilometers) of range.
Audi hasn't forgotten about those who aren't prepared to make the switch to electric just yet. Spied testing in Scandinavia, the A6 Avant-replacing A7 Avant shows two exhaust pipes on the driver's side of the rear bumper. The roomier sibling of the upcoming A5 Avant is expected with a selection of four- and six-cylinder turbo engines.
Photo: Baldauf
It's not clear whether the RS 7 will return to the lineup after this generation, and chances are it won't due to the upcoming RS 6 e-tron. However, I would like to be proven wrong because I'm a sucker for V8s. The seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission and eight-speed tiptronic torque-converter automatic will undoubtedly carry over.
Similar to the C8-generation A6, the C9-generation A7 is underpinned by the Volkswagen Group's MLB platform. The MLB Evo is used for pretty much everything from the A4 upward, be it front- or quattro all-wheel drive. Other Volkswagen Group production models that use said platform include the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne, and the Volkswagen Touareg.
Although heavily camouflaged, this prototype shows a pair of sharp headlamps, flush door handles for better aero, a full-width light bar out back, and taillamps with downward extensions. Audi further worked its magic on the single-frame grille, which is wider and flatter than that of the C8-gen A6.
Gifted with a relatively flat roofline, the A7 Avant is likely going to disappoint in terms of sales. The sedan isn't a hot seller either, with Audi clocking 8,319 deliveries in the US last year. By comparison, the E-Class moved 17,075 units in this part of the world. As for the 5 Series, that'd be 22,401 units.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News