Audi A6 e-tron 2022: EV concept packs 700km of range, in-built projectors

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Audi has debuted its latest fully electric car boasting some impressive figures and features, however, the 2022 A6 e-tron sedan we see here remains a concept for now. 

But this imposing sedan is no gutless concept and in fact debuts the brand’s new all-electric Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture that will underpin Audi’s small and medium-sized cars and SUVs starting in 2022.

The production version of the A6 e-tron may differ but for now Audi claims the concept is capable of 700km of range according to WLTP testing, thanks largely to a huge 100 kWh battery.

That range figure is only bested by very few EV such as the Mercedes-Benz EQS and Tesla Model S Plaid+ large sedans, but the Audi has a faster maximum charging speed of 270kW that can add 300km of range to the A6 e-tron in just 10 minutes.

Audi says the PPE platform and the battery size are scalable depending on what model they need to build meaning these outputs could change. 

The A6 e-tron concept has two motors, with one mounted on the front and rear axle, that develop a combined 350kW of power and 800Nm of torque.

While numbers have not been quoted for the concept, Audi says cars on the PPE platform are capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in less than four seconds and even the cheapest variants will hit the mark in less than seven.

The PPE platform will be offer cars with both rear and all-wheel-drive, with the former designed to maximise range while the latter will balance the two motors to offer both dynamics and energy efficiency when each is required.

Audi has fitted a five-link front and multi-link rear suspension system that has been optimised for the packaging of an electric vehicle, with the A6 e-tron concept fitted with adaptive air suspension for additional ride comfort.

But the real highlight of the A6 e-tron concept is its design, with a drag coefficient of just 0.22 the sedan is even sleeker than the e-tron GT sports sedan at 0.24. 

Audi has fitted the blanked-out front grille design seen in the e-tron large SUV, with black inserts around the lower air intake complemented by additional black lines that run down the side of the doors and dissolve into the rear bumper.

The headlights themselves have been given extensive attention, using Digital Matrix LED and digital OLED technology to be both bright and accurate.

Stepping things up further is the inclusion of three high-resolution LED projectors hidden on each side of the front bumper that can project indicator lights onto the ground and even warn oncoming cyclists that the driver or passenger is about to exit the car.

Taking a leaf out of Tesla’s book and going further, Audi has even given buyers the ability to use the projectors to play video games while they are charging, simply by parking up next to a wall. 

The projectors will naturally create a much larger visible area than most infotainment screens and allow people to look up instead of down.

It remains to be seen how much of this technology will make it into the production version of the A6 e-tron but with the electric car market becoming increasingly crowded, carmakers will be forced to put their best foot forwards to catch the eye of the next generation of buyers.