Can the Audi A6 e-tron scare off the Tesla Model S?

Audi's next EV could come in the form of an electric A6

With the way things are going, electric vehicles (EVs) are shaping up to be the future of mobility as more automakers invest in electric power. Audi is one of those leading the charge, and they just revealed a new concept that could be heading into production soon. This time around, it is not an electric crossover. Instead, their upcoming EV sits a little lower to the ground.

It's called the Audi A6 e-Tron, and it's not your typical four-door. Borrowing inspiration from the A7, this electrified A6 takes on the form of a Sportback. With its sleek silhouette, large battery pack, and powerful electric motors, it has the makings of a fast, efficient, and sophisticated EV.

Audi says that the A6 e-Tron is no mere redesign of an already existing nameplate. Instead, the company describes the concept as an “e-volution” towards electric mobility. Its swooping lines, muscular arches, flat LED matrix headlights, and sloping roofline have resulted in a low drag coefficient of just 0.22 cD.

Combined with a 100 kWh battery pack placed between the front and rear axles, and it translates to a generous cruising range of 700 km on a single charge. Should the EV need a quick recharge, it supports fast-charging up to 270 kW – allowing the A6 e-Tron to have more than 300 km of range in just 10 minutes.

Propelling the A6 e-Tron are two electric motors placed on each axle. It has a combined system output of 470 PS and a whopping 800 Nm of torque. It allows the all-wheel-drive Sportback to go from 0 – 100 km/h in less than four seconds. The A6 e-Tron concept has air ride suspension, as well as adaptive dampers.

The A6 e-Tron sits on the Premium Platform Electric developed by Audi and Porsche. With it, both the A6 e-Tron (production version) and the Porsche Macan Electric will be the first models underpinned by the PPE.

It seems that the A6 e-Tron concept will pave the way for more sleek electric sedans and Sportbacks from Audi. We could expect subcompact and full-sized EVs from the brand down the line as well.