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Audi A6 e-tron Concept Is a Sign of Things to Come

The long-awaited Auto Shanghai 2021 show brought a huge surprise from the German Ingolstadt manufacturer Audi - the launch of the A6 e-tron concept. They also showcased their newest all-electric architecture named "Premium Platform Electric" (PPE), representing the foreground for models to come.
Audi A6 e-tron Concept 11 photos
Photo: Audi AG
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The A6 model has a special place in Audi's heritage, being introduced in 1968. Initially called Audi 100, it represented the brand offer for the 4-door premium market and was one of the most popular vehicles in its segment. Furthermore, the first hybrid A6 was released back in 2011, and the current line includes the plug-in TFSI e. Of course, the next natural step is the all-electric version of the A6, which this e-tron concept exhibits. In other words, the pinnacle of an electrified 4-door luxury family sedan in Audi's vision.

Dimension-wise, the e-tron concept shares the same footprint as the current A6 and A7 models, measuring 4.96 meters in length, 1.96 meters in width, and 1.44 meters in height. With a "fastback" design and exquisite lines, this vehicle is truly a work of beauty. The PPE platform ensures the complete merging of design and engineering, being that every line the car has translates into functionality and high efficiency. Therefore, airflow drag minimizes, and power consumption is even more efficient, translating into more than 700 km (435 miles) of driving range.

The vehicle has the proportions of a sports car, the practicality of a family sedan, and the exterior lines of an exotic machine. All this is completed by the large 22-inch wheels, short overhangs, and the low and wide roofline. The now-famous "Sportback" window design with the D-pillars rising from the base in the typical 4-door coupe fashion, the masterly sculpted wheel arches united by the black inlay representing the battery area, now specific to Audi electric vehicles, the sleek camera-based exterior mirrors, and the sizeable Singleframe grille, are all hallmarks of the new A6 e-tron concept.

Audi A6 e\-tron concept
Photo: Audi AG
Furthermore, the futuristic engineering landscape is dominated by the Heliosilver paint job and the flat headlight bezels extending deep into the sides together with the aerodynamically functional rear end spoiler and diffuser.

Besides its visual aspect, the Heliosilver paint has the added benefit of significantly increasing vehicle energy efficiency. Because of its ability to reflect a large part of the thermal radiation during sunlight exposure, it substantially reduces the amount of energy that enters the car's interior, therefore lowering the need for air conditioning.

The A6 e-tron concept lighting system makes excellent use of Digital Matrix LED and OLED technology, offering maximum brightness and customizable surface areas and light signatures. LED projectors are integrated into the sides and corners of the vehicle, presenting warning signs, project turn signals, and even greetings on the ground for the car occupants with messages in their languages.

The Digital Matrix LED headlights are very high definition, almost cinematic in quality. The most surprising is the ability to play Audi's own video game on a wall projection intended for use during charging. That's right, a video game projected by the car's own headlights and controlled by the occupants' smartphones!

The most exciting feature of the new PPE platform is the 800-volt fast-charging technology, meaning that the A6 e-tron concept can be charged with up to 270 kW in a short time. Just 10 minutes of fast charging can give enough range to power the vehicle for 300 km (186 miles). With more than 700 km (435 miles) maximum travel capacity, it can definitely take place on your driveway as the primary vehicle and, together with the reduced charging times, it can most certainly keep up with any conventional combustion engine driven car when it comes to long journeys or extended vacations.

Audi A6 e\-tron concept
Photo: Audi AG
Acceleration times are amazing as well. The entry-level models can reach 100 kph (62 mph) in less than 7 seconds, while the high-performance variants reduce the interval to well under 4 seconds.

The Premium Platform Electric (PPE) has been developed together by Audi and Porsche. It comes after the previous use of Volkswagen Group's own MEB on which the Q4 e-tron, the Q4 Sportback e-tron and the Chinese-only Q2 L e-tron models are based.

PPE is specifically designed to be used globally, on a wide range of vehicle types, from SUVs and CUVs with high ground clearance to vehicles with much lower stances such as this A6 e-tron. Furthermore, the PPE platform is specifically suited to be adapted by any segment from the smaller-class B segment to the more luxurious D segment. As a result of all of this, the Audi brand can fully expand its model range in the following years from high-volume models to the most luxurious and exclusive ones taking advantage of the economy of scale that such kind of platform permits.

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About the author: Dan Marinescu
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Since his early childhood, Dan developed an avid passion for cars and, now he sees himself as a genuine petrolhead. His enthusiasm comes from his father, an automotive engineer. They love to reminisce about the days when his dad showed him the inner workings of an engine and why everything does what it does.
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