Audi, having just introduced the new electric A6 e-tron in saloon and Avant estate forms, Audi is now announcing for Ireland more affordable versions with both two-motor quattro four-wheel drive, and single-motor rear-wheel drive.
How much cheaper?
Quite a bit, actually. The new A6 Sportback e-tron with a single electric motor, rear-wheel drive (making it the first-ever rear-drive Audi saloon) and 210kW of power (that’s 286hp) costs from €74,500, which is a full €10,000 less than the most affordable version announced thus far.
It’s also a significant €8,000 less than the most affordable BMW i5, and €5,000 less than the basic Mercedes-Benz EQE saloon.
What kind of range does this new basic A6 have?
This model of the A6 gets a smaller battery, with 75.8kWh net capacity, giving it a range of up to 622km for the fastback saloon model, and up to 592km for the Avant estate version. Even with just the one electric motor, this version of the A6 e-tron can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.0 seconds, and it’s fast to charge too - 800-volt charging means that it can accept up to 225kW of power from a suitable DC charging station, which means you can add as much as 260km of extra range in ten minutes of charging. A 10-80 per cent charge takes just 21 minutes.
What about the other new version?
That’ll be the A6 e-tron quattro, again in Sportback fastback saloon or Avant estate forms. This one get four-wheel drive (natch, it’s a quattro after all…) from two electric motors, with a maximum power output of 340kW (462hp) if you select the Launch Control option for maximum acceleration. Speaking of, this one can hit 100km/h from rest in just 4.5 seconds.
The A6 avant quattro comes with the same 94.9kWh net battery capacity as we’ve seen in the other models so far, and that gives it a maximum range of up to 711km for the Sportback, and 697km for the Avant estate.
This version has rapid charging speeds of up to 270kW, allowing you to add as much as 290km in ten minutes, assuming you can find a charger powerful enough to do the job. This A6 e-tron quattro starts at €90,370 for the Sportback and €92,195 for the Avant estate, placing it just below the high-performance S6 versions in the line-up.
Anything else?
Commenting on the new Audi A6 e-tron model range, Audi Ireland Brand Director Damien O’Sullivan said: “We look forward to the arrival of the highly anticipated Audi A6 e-tron due on Irish roads early next year. The Audi A6 e-tron family is the second built on the Premium Platform Electric, with over 700 kms of range and outstanding charging times the Sportback offering up to 260 kms in just ten minutes. The Audi A6 e-tron is another option for Irish consumers wanting to switch to electric driving or upgrading as they continue their electric driving experience.”