Farewell to Gas: Meet the 2025 Audi A6 E-Tron Sportback

The gasoline-driven Audi A6 has disappeared. In its place stands an attractive electric vehicle, serving as the German manufacturer's midsize automobile.

Times are changing at Audi and the swift development of its product range has already begun. As Audi transitions its gasoline-powered models to an odd-numbered labeling system and assigns even numbers to all-electric vehicles, several of the company's most famous model names are undergoing fresh designs.

The A6 has long been available as a midsize luxury sedan equipped with either gas or diesel engines, yet it is now an electric vehicle featuring a sleek fastback design. It boasts a drag coefficient of only 0.21, making the 202 A6 Sportback E-Tron the most aerodynamic model ever created by Audi. While Audi's range of powertrains for its midsize vehicles has changed significantly, its commitment to combining innovation, comfort, and speed remains unchanged.

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Sharing Audi's High-End Platform Electric (PPE) structure with the Q6 E-Tron SUV The A6 E-Tron features a extended wheelbase combined with compact rear and front sections. Unlike gasoline-powered versions, the vehicle’s exterior color grille indicates that the A6 runs on batteries and electric power units. Prioritizing airflow efficiency, the A6 E-Tron includes operational air deflectors on both sides of the front bumper and a dynamic cooling inlet located under the grille.

In line with other latest Audi styles like the new A5 The A6 E-Tron features sleek daytime running lights paired with a dark panel that conceals the main headlights, including the high and low beam functions. To enhance external customization, Audi offers eight distinct front and rear light signatures that can be adjusted through the entertainment system. This marks the first time in Audi's history that the A6 E-Tron can come with an illuminated four-ring emblem at both the front and back.

Along the sides, the A6 E-Tron features "Quattro muscles" that have been smoothed out, indicating that the bulging areas above the wheel wells are less pronounced than those found on the more compact A5. Door handles are integrated seamlessly into the doors, highlighting the A6's streamlined shape. Audi emphasizes the A6 E-Tron's focus on batteries through a curved black trim element, which gives the midsize vehicle a lower and longer appearance. Wheel sizes ranging from 19 to 21 inches are offered, along with a total of nine different styles.

A stylish yet practical diffuser enhances the back end of the A6 E-Tron. The Sportback version, featuring a compact trunk lid, will be the sole option offered in the United States. This variant isn't nearly as impressive as the beautiful A6 Avant E-Tron, which won't be arriving here; it has an extended roof that smoothly curves towards the rear and includes a roof spoiler. No matter the body type, all models in the A6 E-Tron lineup have distinctive taillights that extend outward from the chassis, linked together by one continuous light bar.

Around the world, the Audi A6 E-Tron features tail lights composed of 450 OLED elements, enabling customizable light patterns and displaying alerts to nearby drivers using information from the road. However, this feature will not be available in the United States because of rules related to external vehicle illumination.

Individuals looking for a more dynamic look have the choice of the S Line exterior package or the higher-performance S6 Sportback E-Tron model, which features special color options and Audi's renowned Alu-Optic details. We're sorry that the faster S6 Avant E-Tron isn't available in the U.S., but we remain hopeful that the manufacturer might bring back an RS6 version at some point in the future.

Audi A6 E-Tron: Power, Distance, and Battery Recharging

Enthusiasts of the Audi brand might be taken aback to learn that the carmaker, previously recognized for providing front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles, now presents the latest A6 Sportback E-Tron featuring a standard rear-wheel drive setup. This single-motor version delivers 362 horsepower and has a top speed of 130 mph. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in only 5.2 seconds. Although official EPA numbers have not been released yet, Audi states that it achieves a driving range of 466 miles according to the European WLTP efficiency test cycle. This number is expected to lie between 350 and 400 miles once the A6's range is measured using our nation's testing standards.

The long-range luxury sedan features a 100-kWh battery pack, offering 94.4 kWh of available energy across all A6 and S6 E-Tron models. This battery supports Level 2 AC charging at 9.6 kW as well as fast DC charging up to 270 kW, made possible through the A6 E-Tron's 800-volt system. According to Audi, it takes just 21 minutes to recharge from 10% to 80%.

Individuals looking for all-wheel drive performance have the option of purchasing the A6 Sportback E-Tron Quattro, which includes an additional motor, resulting in a combined output of 422 horsepower. This model achieves a 0-to-60 mph acceleration time of just 4.3 seconds, though its top speed stays consistent. These twin-motor variants of the mid-size Audi may experience a minor reduction in range, estimated to fall slightly beneath 350 miles. The dynamic S6 Sportback E-Tron delivers 496 horsepower during regular driving due to a stronger dual-motor system. With launch control engaged, the S6 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.7 seconds as reported by Audi. Additionally, this more agile Sportback has a greater top speed, reaching up to 149 mph. For those who enjoy driving, the S6 E-Tron features a rear-focused powertrain that allows the rear wheel motor to take precedence even when fully accelerating.

We anticipate strong handling performance across every variant of the A6 E-Tron. A lowered stance, front and rear wheels with different sizes, and an optional adaptive air suspension form the foundation for this mid-size electric vehicle's sporty character. The energy recovery system has the capacity to reclaim up to 220 kW, featuring two levels of regeneration. Driving modes such as coasting and regen are managed through paddle shifters on the steering wheel, whereas switching to "B" mode provides a single-pedal driving experience; however, Audi does not permit full stopping using only its regenerative technology.

A Luxurious, Tech-Forward Interior

As you become comfortable within the A6 E-Tron's cabin, your initial observation will be the sleek curve of digital screens forming the core of the interior space. All variants of the sedan come equipped with a baseline 11.9-inch Virtual Cockpit instrumentation system from Audi along with a 14.5-inch central touchscreen. To the right-hand side, there is also a 10.9-inch interactive display offering almost identical capabilities to the primary entertainment interface, enabling passengers to manage audio content and enter fresh directions for the car's navigational systems. To ensure the driver remains attentive to driving conditions, the passenger screen includes an Active Privacy Mode feature. When activated, this function directs illumination exclusively towards the occupant seated beside the driver, making sure the information shown isn’t visible to them. Sound quality is provided through a premium setup featuring twenty speakers supplied by Bang & Olufsen.

Rather than glancing at the passenger's screen, the A6 E-Tron's driver maintains focus using an heads-up display that uses augmented reality technology. This mirrored image displays essential details like speed, road signs, driver aid features, and route guidance. Audi also includes enhanced direction visuals where the images appear seamlessly blended with the actual environment. Although digital mirrors will be available in different regions, they have not been approved for use on U.S. roads yet.

The A6 E-Tron features infotainment systems powered by the Android Automotive OS, allowing for wireless upgrades and access to the Audi App Store. Users can install applications like YouTube or other external programs across various categories including music, movie streaming, games, maps, parking and charging functions, work-related tools, weather forecasts, and news sources. Standard voice control is available, further improved through integration with the ChatGPT AI language model via Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service. Audi's system aims to deliver strong command recognition capabilities and will also potentially suggest destinations, modify climate settings, or provide weather information proactively.

Above, an electronically shaded glass roof can be set to opaque, clear, or various other designs. Essentially a digital shade, the level of clarity can be adjusted through nine sections similar to a conventional sunroof, or you may choose a stripe design where certain panels become opaque to spread light more uniformly inside the vehicle. Soft-close doors and a projection indicating where to position your foot for the automatic opening of the trunk enhance the everyday usability of the A6. Very few automakers offer a keyless or smartphone-free method for accessing an electric vehicle's front compartment, yet the A6 E-Tron features a front storage space that can be accessed by simply swiping your hand above the front four-ring emblem. The A6 E-Tron also makes a sensible choice for carrying items; its trunk offers 26 cubic feet of capacity. Folding down the back seats provides a combined total of 40 cubic feet of space.

The A6 E-Tron from Audi comes equipped with an extensive range of advanced safety technologies. One such system is the Adaptive Driving Assistant Plus, which offers subtle support during acceleration, braking, speed maintenance, or adjusting following distances, along with assistance in staying within lanes. By utilizing crowd-sourced data and real-time traffic updates, the A6 E-Tron enhances these automated responses based on changing road situations. Additional included technology consists of Park Assist Plus, a rearview camera, a speed limitation aid that identifies traffic signs, detection of traffic signals, adaptive cruise control, and alerts for driver distraction and fatigue.

What Is the Price of an Audi A6 E-Tron and When Will It Be Available?

The 2025 Audi A6 Sportback E-Tron is expected to cost more than $80,000 upon its arrival in the U.S. Moving to the S6 Sportback E-Tron increases the price slightly below $110,000 because of enhanced performance features. Pre-orders will begin this fall in 2024. The A6 and S6 E-Tron versions will reach dealers during the spring or summer of 2025. While we'll regret losing the current model's luxurious powertrain choices, these electric vehicles should still meet our needs for both comfort and acceleration.