Audi A6 e-tron 2024: Prices, specs and release date

• Audi A6 e-tron is all-electric Sportback saloon and Avant estate
• BMW i5 rival has ultra-aero design and a high-tech interior
• Set to offer a long range of over 450 miles
• Sales begin in September with prices likely to start from around £65,000

The new Audi A6 e-tron is a new electric Sportback saloon and Avant estate with an ultra-aerodynamic design to give it an EV range of more than 450 miles.

This will help the new Audi A6 e-tron challenge its direct rival, the BMW i5 – and the competition gets underway very soon, with the new Audi A6 e-tron going on sale here in early September.

The new Audi A6 e-tron is the second model to be based on the all-new PPE platform, which has already debuted with the new Audi Q6 e-tron.

This has high-power 800V electrics for fast charging, plus an optimised layout that gives a flat floor inside.

The new Audi A6 e-tron will also be offered in performance Audi S6 e-tron guise, again in both Sportback and Avant form.

The new Audi A6 e-tron will also challenge the Mercedes-Benz EQE, another model only to be offered in pure electric guise. A more exotic alternative is the Porsche Taycan, while the new Polestar 4 will be a keen challenger too.

Executive electric cars such as the new Audi A6 e-tron are increasingly popular with company car drivers looking to save on tax, so Audi will be hoping for plenty of interest in the new model.

2024 Audi A6 e-tron prices and release date

The new Audi A6 e-tron officially goes on sale in the UK on 2 September. Audi says that’s when full pricing and specification of the new model range will be announced.

New Audi A6 e-tron prices are set to start from upwards of £65,000, closely matching its chief rival the BMW i5.

It is likely first deliveries will begin in late 2024 or early in 2025.

2024 Audi A6 e-tron styling, interior and technology

The design of the new Audi A6 e-tron is described as "powerful, sporty and perfectly proportioned". At the front, it has a large and modern take on the singleframe grille, while the ultra-slim daytime running lights give a sporty look. The new Audi A6 e-tron’s headlights, plus the air intakes and ADAS sensors, are all hidden in the black mask surrounding the grille.

The new Audi A6 e-tron has the quattro-style wheelarch blisters of other modern Audis, while the presence of the battery is highlighted by black sill trim.

At the rear, the new Audi A6 e-tron’s bold LED light bar adds a distinctive look and includes an illuminated Audi four rings logo.

The Audi A6 e-tron Sportback has a wind-cheating roofline, while the A6 e-tron Avant (pictured above) sports a more shooting brake-style look, complete with a steeply sloping rear-pillar.

Inside, the new Audi A6 e-tron has a very high-end cabin, with plenty of premium materials. It is said to have a 3D, high-contrast layout, with features deliberately placed either in the foreground or background for ease of use.

The heart of the new Audi A6 e-tron is its MMI panoramic display, with curved design and OLED technology. There’s an 11.9-inch Audi ‘virtual cockpit’ driver display, a 14.5-inch MMI touch display and a 10.9-inch front passenger display. Second-generation augmented reality head-up display is also available.

Alongside traditional door mirrors, the new Audi A6 e-tron is also available with rear-facing cameras. These help make it even slippery through the air. Audi says the second-generation tech is more intuitive to use than those that debuted on the original Audi e-tron.

The new Audi A6 e-tron is also available with a smart panoramic glass roof. This has so-called polymer-dispersed liquid crystal tech, meaning it can instantly transition from transparent to opaque. It’s similar to technology already seen in the new Renault Scenic E-Tech.

Full specifications, including the UK trim line-up, will be revealed in September.

2024 Audi A6 e-tron battery, performance and range

The new Audi A6 e-tron launches with a large 94.9kWh battery. This is expected to give a range of more than 450 miles in Sportback guise and 430 miles in the Audi A6 e-tron Avant.

It has a maximum DC charging capacity of 270kW, which means a hefty 192 miles of range can be added in as little as 10 minutes. Using a suitable high-power charger, it can go from 10% to 80% charge in just 21 minutes.

The new Audi A6 e-tron also has Tesla-style ‘Plug & Charge’ tech. This means drivers can simply connect the charging cable and the process is activated automatically – including payments.

Two versions of new Audi A6 e-tron will be available at launch. The new Audi A6 e-tron is rear-wheel drive and has 367PS. It has 0-62mh performance in 5.4 seconds.

The new Audi S6 e-tron has quattro all-wheel drive with a system output of 503PS – which rises to 550PS when launch control is engaged. This will give 0-62mph acceleration in 3.9 seconds.

More versions of the new Audi A6 e-tron will follow after launch.

The new Audi A6 e-tron has passive suspension as standard, with optional air suspension. Cleverly, this automatically lowers the body by 20mm at higher speeds, to boost aero efficiency and increase the range.