Audi has given us the first proper details of its incoming plug-in hybrid A6 saloon.
367hp total hybrid power
The Audi A6 55 TFSI e quattro uses both a a 252hp 2.0-litre TFSI turbo petrol engine, and a 105kW electric motor, to deliver a system total of 367hp, with 500Nm of torque. That's good enough to make this saintly plug-in a bit of a performance weapon - 0-100km/h is done with in just 5.6 seconds, and it has a top speed of 250km/h. It can hit 135km/h in electric-only mode.
47g/km of CO2
Charge up the 14.1kWh battery pack to its full capacity and Audi reckons that you can go for 53km on just electric power, without troubling the petrol engine at all. That means that the A6 scores a PHEV grant-friendly 47g/km CO2 rating to go with its battery-only range. Claimed fuel economy of 2.1 litres per 100km (134mpg) is likely pretty fictional, but keep it charged up regularly and it should prove pretty frugal in real-world conditions.
Battery charges up in just over two hours
Audi claims, not surprisingly, that the idea is for A6 TFSI e buyers to do most of their day-to-day mileage on electric power alone, and only really use the petrol engine for longer weekend runs. The system has the usual EV, Hybrid, and Hold modes so that the driver can choose what way they want their power delivered.
Put a destination into the sat-nav, and the A6's computers will work out what is the best way to juggle the petrol and battery power sources, so as to both maximise economy and arrive at any urban destination with enough juice left for zero-emissions running around town.
Hook it up to a 7.4kW charger, and the A6's battery will be fully charged in around two-and-a-half hours. While on the road, the Audi e-tron Charging Service offers access to more than 110,000 charging points in Europe. The myAudi app is equipped with a route planner that shows where the terminals are. Customers can use the app to manage charging and pre-entry climate control even before they set off. The air conditioning system operates together with a highly efficient heat pump that uses the waste heat from the electrical drive components.
The S line exterior package, the black styling package, black exterior mirror housings and privacy glazing enhance the exterior. Matrix LED headlights, sport seats, four-zone automatic air conditioning, the Audi virtual cockpit, sport suspension, 19-inch wheels and red brake calipers add further accents.
Pricing for the plug-in A6 TFSI e in Ireland is still to be confirmed. With the Q5 plug-in set to cost €57,500 after grants, we expect the A6 TFSI e to cost between €55,000 and €60,000 after grants.