Audi has unveiled a concept version of the all-electric A6 e-tron sedan based on the next generation PPE (Premium Platform Electric) platform, which the company is developing in cooperation with Porsche.

The A6 e-tron will be one of the first electric vehicles based on the PPE platform, alongside an electric version of the Porsche Macan crossover and the new Audi Q6 crossover.

The PPE architecture is designed for use in single-engine (rear-wheel drive) powertrains, as well as in twin-engine (all-wheel drive) configurations. The A6 e-tron concept uses a twin-engine version with a total output of 350 kW (469 hp) and a maximum torque of 800 Nm.

The production version of the A6 e-tron will not appear until the second half of 2022, but the German automaker has already determined that the range of the new product will be about 700 km according to the WLTP driving cycle, thanks to a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 100 kWh. Audi told Ars that the battery pack will be more compact. And that will allow it to be used in a sedan-like body like the A6 e-tron concept, without compromising on interior space.

Similar to the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT (both based on the J1 platform), the A6 e-tron uses an 800-volt electrical architecture that allows it to be quickly charged with direct current at up to 270 kW. It is also reported that the A6 e-tron will be equipped with matrix headlights with Digital Matrix LED technology.

In the current Audi lineup, the A6 is a regular sedan, while the A7 is a fastback derivative. The Audi 6 e-tron is clearly a fastback, which makes sense as the sloping roofline and shortened rear end allows the drag coefficient (Cd) to be reduced, in this case to 0,22. So why did Audi name the new concept A6 e-tron and not the A7 Sportback e-tron?

“The A6 lineup has a heritage dating back to the Audi 100 and the A7 is a derivative of it,” – explained the representative of Audi. Therefore, the name A6 was chosen in order to establish a more direct connection with the Audi 100, which helped the company to achieve success.

The production version of the A6 e-tron will be presented at the end of 2022, and its deliveries will start at the beginning of 2023.