The loading master - Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept!

Significant elements such as the closed Singleframe and the continuous strip of lights at the rear emphasize the relationship to the other electrically powered Audis e-tron Fleet. The Audi A2022 Avant exterior model debuting in March 6 e-tron The concept, like the Sportback, is not just an exercise on the part of the designers: the lines and elegant proportions rather point to future production models from Audi and give clear indications of how dynamic and elegant the electrically powered luxury class of the brand with the four rings will look at the same time.

“With the Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept, we are giving a very concrete outlook on future production models of our new PPE technology platform,” says Oliver Hoffmann, Audi Board Member for Technical Development. “We are not only electrifying the 45-year success story of the Avant, but above all we want to make a statement with technology. These include powerful 800-volt technology, 270 kW charging capacity and a WLTP range of up to 700 kilometers.” With the A6 signet, the concept car underscores its affiliation with the brand’s business class. Since 1968 – initially known as the Audi 1994 until 100 – the family has represented the brand in one of the world's highest-volume segments. The Avant models have been part of the series since 1977 – a revolutionary, highly emotionally designed reinterpretation of the station wagon type.

With the Avant, whose dynamic lines combined with a high degree of variability, the brand literally created a new type of automobile that was often copied by the competition. Avant – this term is derived from avant-garde, and an Audi advertising slogan from 1995 became a dictum: beautiful station wagons are called Avant. The PPE technology, in turn, will ensure that the promise of the lines is translated into dynamics befitting its status and everyday compatibility suitable for long journeys. That means: Depending on the drive and model variant, an Audi A6 e-tron shine in the future with a range of up to 700 kilometers (according to the WLTP standard). And the most powerful representatives of the series will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than four seconds. The values ​​of the Sportback and Avant differ only marginally from each other. The Audi A6 Avant is by no means the only thing that qualifies the Audi A800 Avant as a loading master in two senses because of its beautiful and spacious rear compartment. It is also the drive and battery technology that justifies this title. Thanks to the 270-volt system and a charging capacity of up to 300 kW, energy can be taken on board for a distance of around XNUMX kilometers in just ten minutes at a fast charging station.

Unmistakable e-tron - the design

Its dimensions classify the Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept clearly as a representative of the upper segment - 4,96 meters long, 1,96 meters wide and 1,44 meters high correspond to the current representatives of the Audi A6/A7 series. And even the first glance reveals: Sporty proportions and elegant lines with the brand-typical Avant rear indicate the creation in the wind tunnel. Aerodynamics is a key building block in Audi's long history of success in the luxury class. The cd value of the Audi 100/C3 is legendary – at the time the aerodynamics world champion in all classes: with cd = 0,30, Audi already outclassed its competitors in 1982 – and this for many years to come. Now writes the electrically powered family Audi A6 e-tron concept opens a new chapter in this success story and proves once again that the brand's form and function are always perfectly synthesized. A drag coefficient of just 0,22 for the Sportback is exemplary in the electrically powered C segment. In the Avant with a wide roof line, the drag coefficient is only 0,02 units higher. Low air resistance initially means lower energy consumption and thus an improvement in range.

At the same time, fine-tuning in the wind tunnel again results in an organic design with a maximum of elegance and harmony in the details. Large 22-inch wheels and short overhangs, the flat cabin and the dynamic roof arch of the Avant determine the significantly sporty proportions. The absence of hard edges ensures smooth transitions between convex and concave surfaces in the body, and soft shadow gradients. The Audi A6 is particularly effective when viewed from the side e-tron concept monolithic, as if cast from one piece. A typical Audi Avant feature is the gently sloping roof arch with a sloping D-pillar, which grows deliberately slender from the stable base of the rear of the vehicle. The striking quattro wheel arches effectively emphasize the width of the body and are also organically integrated into the side surfaces.

The wheel arches are connected by the specially modeled battery area above the side skirts, which is accentuated with a black insert – a design element that is now typical of the Audi brand in the fleet of electric vehicles. Also typically Audi e-tron: the delicate camera-based virtual exterior mirrors at the root of the A-pillar. Looking at the front, the Audi A6 shows itself e-tron concept immediately as an electrically powered representative of the brand with the four rings. Typical of this is the large, closed Singleframe, which is flanked in the lower area by low-lying air inlets for cooling the drive, battery and brakes. The flat headlight bands extend far into the lateral sweep of the front end and underscore the horizontal architecture of the vehicle body.

The influence of the wind tunnel on the rear end is obvious. The upper end is shaped as an aerodynamically functional and all-round tear-off edge. The rear spoiler in a contrasting color visually emphasizes the stretched, horizontally oriented silhouette of the A6 Avant e-tron concept. And does important work in favor of aerodynamics by means of flow. The two large air outlets of the rear diffuser are integrated into the bumper area in the lower area. With these components, which are also in a different colour, the air flowing under the vehicle is channeled in favor of a turbulence-free outflow - a perfect combination of reduced air resistance and minimized lift. The sporty silhouette of the show car is underlined by the warm shade of gray with the name "Neptune Valley". While the paint appears modern understatement in the shade, it unfolds its full effect in the sun and envelops the show car in nuances of gently shimmering gold thanks to the effect pigments it contains.

Enlightening from every perspective – the lighting technology

Slim and flush integrated into the overall composition of the lines, the flat headlights and rear lights are left out. Digital matrix LED and digital OLED technology make it possible to achieve maximum brightness and functional diversity even with a minimal area - and at the same time to offer personalizable light signatures. The team of Audi lighting designers and developers has once again done a great job – because the concept car bundles a large number of new functions and customization options in its lighting units. Three small, high-resolution LED projectors are integrated on each side of the body, which turn the floor underneath into a stage when the doors are opened: small, extended, dynamic light displays greet the occupants with characters in their respective language.

The combination of safety functions and aesthetic design is particularly important for Audi. That's why the small, high-resolution projectors also generate warning symbols on the ground - for example to warn a cyclist that the vehicle door is about to open. Another four high-resolution LED projectors – integrated unobtrusively in the corners of the vehicle – generate indicator projections. The design of these projections can be changed in order to be able to respond to the different markets and approval areas if required. The digital matrix LED headlights in the front develop almost cinema quality. For example, the Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept in front of a wall during the loading break, drivers and passengers can while away the time with a video game projected onto it. Instead of on a small screen in the cockpit, they see the virtual landscapes of their respective game projected onto the wall in large format - and all this with the digital matrix LED spotlight.

A new generation of digital OLED elements works in the rear area of ​​the concept car, which acts like a display in the continuous strip of lights. They can also be used to create almost unlimited, customizable variations of digital light signatures and dynamic lighting scenarios that can be adapted to the personal taste of the customer. What is new in the rear lights is the three-dimensional architecture of the digital OLED elements, which – adapted to the shape of the body – can be used to complete the integration of the night design into the overall appearance. This makes it possible to experience the dynamic lighting not only in a two-dimensional manner – as before – but also with an impressive spatial effect.

And, of course, the rear lights – like the headlights – meet the requirements of their developers for the classic functions of vehicle lighting – to see and be seen: clear and bright illumination of the road ahead with intelligent adaptation to the traffic situation, weather and surroundings, as well as communication with others road users. Bright, homogeneous and high-contrast, the digital OLED rear lights in particular can once again significantly increase the level of safety for future traffic. In addition, the projections around the vehicle make it possible for the first time to extend the communication area beyond the vehicle. With the help of intelligent networking in the vehicle, the A6 e-tron concept information with optical signals to other road users.

PPE – raised floor and flat floor

The PPE is designed exclusively for battery-electric drive and can therefore fully exploit all the advantages of this technology. The central element of the future PPE fleet is a battery module between the axles, which is also used in the Avant version of the A6 e-tron concept provides around 100 kWh of energy. Using the entire base of the vehicle makes a relatively flat layout possible for the battery. Not only high-floor automobiles can be built on it, but also vehicles with a decidedly dynamic, flat architecture - such as the Audi A6 Avant - without interfering with the basic architecture.

The size of the battery and the wheelbase of PPE vehicles are scalable, making it possible to use them in different market segments. In any case, what connects them all is the relationship between the fairly long wheelbase and very short overhangs, and together with the large wheels, a basic proportion that is not only perfect for the shape. Because the vehicle occupants of the future PPE models will also benefit from the long wheelbase in particular - a high degree of interior length and thus legroom in both rows of seats is one of the key advantages across all segments. The principle-related omission of a cardan tunnel also increases the room comfort in e-cars.

But even without a cardan tunnel, Audi customers will not have to do without the quattro drive that belongs to the brand. The future range of PPE models includes versions with one electric motor each on the front and rear axles, which use electronic coordination to implement the all-wheel drive as required and in a perfect balance of driving dynamics and economy. In addition, there will also be basic variants in the program that are optimized for minimum consumption and maximum range - here an electric motor on the rear axle provides propulsion. The two electric motors of the Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept mobilize a total output of 350 kW and a torque of 800 Newton meters. The front wheels of the Audi A6 e-tron concept are connected via a 5-link axle specially optimized for e-vehicles. At the rear there is a multi-link axle. The Audi air suspension, an air suspension system with adaptive dampers, is used in the concept vehicle.

Before A6 e-tron – the loadmaster

The heart of the drive technology of the Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept and all future PPE models will be the 800-volt charging technology. As with the Audi e-tron GT quattro¹, this ensures that the battery can be charged within a very short time with an output of up to 270 kW at fast charging stations. With the PPE, this revolutionary technology will be making its way into the middle and upper volume segments for the first time. This is how the A6 Avant e-tron concept is a load master not only because of its spacious rear compartment – ​​in two senses of the word. Because the PPE technology allows charging times that approximate those of a classic refueling stop in combustion-powered automobiles. Just ten minutes are enough to take enough drive energy on board for a distance of more than 300 kilometers. And in less than 25 minutes, the charge level of the 100 kWh battery of the Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept from five to 80 percent.

Together with a range of - depending on the drive variant and power - up to 700 kilometers, the models of the Audi A6 show themselves e-tron Family uncompromisingly suitable for long journeys. And when it comes to range and charging speed, they keep pace with combustion engines, making them the perfect all-rounders for everyday driving, for short-distance use as well as for travel. When it comes to dynamic qualities, the Audi A6 shows e-tron concept of the combustion engine competition E-car-typical even the rear lights. Thanks to the high torque available from the first revolution, even economically designed entry-level variants will accelerate to 100 km/h in less than seven seconds. With sporty top models, this sprint can even be reduced to well under four seconds.

PPE - versatile, variable, electric

In 2018, the first production Audi with an electric drive made its debut – the Audi e-tron. Since then, the brand has consistently and rapidly promoted the widespread introduction of e-mobility across the entire product portfolio. After the SUVs Audi e-tron and e-tron Sportback rolled out the highly dynamic in February 2021 e-tron GT quattro¹ at the start, based on a new technology platform developed jointly with Porsche AG. And just two months later, Audi Q4 debuted e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron – Two extremely independent SUVs in the compact segment with a common technical basis: the so-called MEB from the Volkswagen Group.

The Audi A6 concept vehicles e-tron The Sportback and Avant are now the first representatives of a vehicle family - initially in the C and later also in the B and D segments - which is based on another innovative technology platform: the so-called Premium Platform Electric - in short: PPE. This modular system is being developed jointly with Porsche AG under the aegis of Audi. The first Audi production vehicles based on PPE will be presented successively from 2023. The PPE is designed for the first time to enable an unprecedented range of high-volume automobiles: The range includes SUVs and CUVs with raised floors as well as flat-bottomed automobiles, which are part of the core segment of the Audi range - such as the Audi A6 series.

But there are also plans to expand the PPE range in the B segment, which has been the highest-volume market area for Audi for decades. And even for the automotive upper house D segment, the PPE offers excellent technical prerequisites. With the PPE, e-mobility is now also becoming attractive for customers who prefer automotive concepts beyond the SUV sector - such as a brand-typical Avant. This allows the range of e-cars in the brand portfolio to be expanded particularly effectively - via the high-volume B and C segments. With scaling effects, upper-class technology and a wide range of model variants can also be incorporated into a wide-ranging model range that is unparalleled in the premium competition.