Audi’s new electric A6 e-tron is charged with joy, says RAY MASSEY

It is probably the most aerodynamic Audi ever, claims the producer. Which makes the sporty five-door Audi A6 e-tron a pointy buyer – dashing alongside effortlessly like a scorching knife via butter.

And after clocking up tons of of miles within the new mannequin, I ought to know.

The all-electric A6 e-tron has been launched in two variations: a coupe-like Sportback and the Avant property, carrying a £1,800 premium.

I have been piloting the property for per week, forward of the petrol and diesel alternate options to be launched at first of March.

Absolutely charged, my automotive’s on-screen system predicted a variety of 280 miles – sufficient to get from London to Durham – however lower than the formally claimed 402 miles which might get me onwards to Edinburgh.

The A6 e-tron will not be low-cost. There are 4 efficiency ranges, e-tron, efficiency, quattro and S6 e-tron, and three trim grades, Sport, S-line and the top-spec Version 1.

The least costly mannequin to purchase, from £62,500, is the entry-level A6 e-tron Sportback Sport, which has the smaller 83kWh battery and a variety of 383 miles, accelerating from 0 to 62mph in 6 seconds. 

Costs then rise all the best way as much as the range-topping S6 e-tron, which is all-wheel drive, packs 551hp and does 0 to 62mph in a super-car chasing 3.9 seconds. It prices from £75,500.

In the event you’re feeling actually flush, the most costly fully-specced S6 Avant property in Version 1 trim begins from £99,300.

Glossy: The all-electric A6 e-tron has been launched in two variations

Plush: The inside of the Audi A6 e-tron 

Vary: Costs rise all the best way as much as the range-topping S6 e-tron

Efficiency: Ray Massey discovered the A6 e-tron a formidable and complicated automotive to drive

My automotive was the A6 e-tron efficiency with high Version 1 spec, plus extras, which took the ultimate worth, as pushed, as much as £87,350.

These included an unlimited panoramic glass roof, massive 21in Audi Sport wheels, digital rear-view cameras in lieu of mirrors, an awesome augmented actuality sat-nav and head-up show, and an excellent Bang & Olufsen stereo teamed with headrest audio system.

My good-looking Audi exhibited darkish and brooding appears – like a twenty first century automotive Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. There are 4 drive modes – balanced, dynamic, consolation and environment friendly – and comfy sports activities seats within the spacious and effectively thought out cabin.

I discovered ‘balanced’ a well-tuned and fascinating mode, and caught with it principally. It is nice for cruising via the countryside and mile-munching on motorways.

However on twisting lanes, the ‘dynamic’ choice tightened the sinews and supplied a extra aggressive mode.

Over a couple of hundred miles of journey, I discovered the A6 e-tron a formidable and complicated automotive to drive.

All that with loads of room for passengers within the again and a 502-litre boot.

Probably the most ‘Marmite’ choice added was the digital facet mirrors which use rear-facing cameras rather than reflective glass and projecting the picture into the armpit space of the automotive’s inside between the door and the dashboard. I discovered it superb although there may be restricted scope to regulate the view.

However by far my favorite further was an augmented-reality head-up show system which made sat-nav steering a delight to make use of by projecting giant blue directional arrows onto the windscreen to information my subsequent transfer. 

Add to that the astonishingly high-res aerial view of the route and the encircling panorama exhibiting on the central dashboard. I might even clearly see my home and backyard.

Different add-ons included a matt brushed aluminium inlay and trim, enhanced inside lighting, rear USB charging, and an upgraded Bang&Olufsen premium sound system with headrest audio system that proved so good I sat within the driveway listening to it. This was all on high of an already pretty in depth listing of goodies.

Together with the Q6 e-tron SUV, the brand new A6 e-tron is the primary Audi constructed on a brand new premium 800v electrical automotive platform (PPE) developed collectively with Porsche.

Moreover, says Audi of the Sportback: ‘It’s the most aerodynamic in Audi historical past with a drag coefficient of 0.21.’

My Avant is probably the most aerodynamic property at 0.24.

For its longest vary model Audi claims an official ‘headline’ vary of as much as 463 miles – sufficient to get you from London to the bonny banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland – although once more anticipate real-world driving to knock a good few miles off that ambition.

Petrol and diesel

If electrical continues to be not for you, 2.0 litre petrol and diesel variations of the brand new A6 are to be launched at first of March forward of first deliveries in Summer time.

Curiously, these automobiles – constructed on a unique platform – had been initially going to be named ‘A7’, beneath an Audi system to provide ‘even numbers’ to electrical automobiles and ‘odd numbers’ to these with petrol or diesel engines.

However it threatened to create a lot confusion amongst prospects that Audi bosses sensibly determined to drop the concept.

Rivals in the identical worth bracket embody the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport saloon and Mercedes-Benz’s EQE 350+ AMG Line Version saloon.

The brand new Audi A6 arrives as Audi is endeavor what it hails its ‘greatest product offensive ever’ to completely renew its portfolio with greater than 20 fashions to be launched by the tip of 2025 – of which 10 can be totally electrical.

Audi says that by 2027 it plans to have a fully-electric automobile in each core section of its portfolio.

Regardless of its premium standing, Audi was the third best-selling model within the UK in 2024, outselling many mainstream car-makers with extra mass-market attraction.

Amazingly, the UK is Audi’s greatest market in Europe for electrical automobiles – forward even of its home-market Germany – with 1 in 5 of the 122,431 automobiles it bought in Britain final 12 months being EVs.

When hybrids are added to the combo, 1 in 3 Audis bought in Britain had a plug.

As Audi additionally strikes into the excessive Octane F1 racing area, it’s subsequent 12 months opening a brand new UK Technical Centre.

Citroen campervan to be unveiled 

Citroen’s Holidays campervan, can be unveiled on the Caravan, Tenting and Motorhome Present (ccmshow.co.uk) subsequent week.

Sleeping as much as 4 and with a kitchen, pop-up, retractable roof, and swivelling entrance seats, the brand new Holidays relies on Citroen’s up to date SpaceTourer.

Fashionable: The brand new Holidays relies on Citroen’s up to date SpaceTourer

Supreme: Citroen’s Holidays campervan sleeps as much as 4 and has a kitchen

The kitchen has two gasoline burners, sink, and 16-litre fridge. There’s additionally the choice of a rear-mounted bathe with a 25-litre tank and detachable bathroom.

The diesel Citroen Holidays on-the-road worth is £55,285.

The present can be held at Birmingham’s Nationwide Exhibition Centre from February 18 to 23 and can be unfold over 5 halls.

CARS & MOTORING: ON TEST

Is that this Porsche’s final household sportscar? Macan GTS examined Final petrol Jag: F-Sort evaluate forward of Jaguar’s massive electrical transfer Hyundai Inster evaluate: Is it the reasonably priced EV we have been ready for? Probably the most controversial new automotive of 2024: We drive the Ford Capri EV Has Vauxhall’s grand plans for its new Grandland SUV paid dividends? Aston Martin Vanquish: Britain’s new brute of a sports activities automotive examined Renault 5 EV: Can it recreate the character and attraction of the unique? Polestar 4 EV: The primary automotive bought in Britain WITHOUT a rear window We take to the wheel of Ferrari’s beautiful new £336k 12Cilindri GT automotive China’s new sub-£16k EV: Leapmotor T03 arrives in UK with low worth Peugeot E-5008: Is the £49k SUV the selection for eco-conscious households? Ducati’s new £30,000 Panigale V4 S prices the identical as a small Mercedes Is the brand new £22k MG ZS hybrid family-friendly SUV a real discount? This £100k Volvo has pushed me to distraction: EX90 SUV pushed VW Touareg is a luxurious SUV for a cheaper price – why is it so unpopular? We take a look at the brand new MG HS – Britain’s favorite budget-friendly household SUV We take a look at drive the £15,000 Dacia Spring – the UK’s CHEAPEST new EV Appropriate for UK climates: You may get pleasure from Mercedes CLE Cabrio 12 months spherical Kia’s reasonably priced Picanto presents a enjoyable and nippy drive within the massive metropolis MG Cyberster evaluate – convertible EV prices £60k and is enjoyable to drive ‘Euros’ successful Renault Scenic E-Tech will get Ray Massey’s vote Ford Explorer: Is the £40k electrical SUV purchase for UK drivers? Polestar 3: Does the Tesla Mannequin Y now have an actual struggle on its arms? Lotus Eletre is an EV Lamborghini Urus rival: The hyper-SUV examined Dacia’s new Duster is right here – has it misplaced its value-for-money attraction? Alfa Romeo Tonale evaluate: Can this SUV deliver some sporting thrill? In a world of SUVs, can the VW Passat re-energise the property market? Ineos Quartermaster evaluate: The brand new premium pick-up truck on the town Peugeot e-3008 is engaging, sprightly and has a 326-mile vary New £165k Aston Martin Vantage examined – is it higher than a Ferrari? Can BMW harness the magic of the unique Mini in an EV made in China? Is that this the last word open-top tremendous tourer? Aston Martin DB12 Volante New Fiat 600e EV household automotive is right here, however ought to look forward to the hybrid? VW Tiguan evaluate: Model’s best-selling SUV is again – however is it higher? Do you have to contemplate the Mini Countryman EV as a substitute of the petrol? One other BMW goes electrical – we take a look at the brand new iX2 vs its petrol X2 rival The 2024 Vary Rover Evoque plug-in hybrid is a home-grown winner Britain’s favorite automotive DRIVEN – we evaluate the best-selling Ford Puma BMW’s i5 EV presents supercar efficiency in an exec saloon bundle We drive the £76,000 Kia EV9 – Korea’s all-electric Vary Rover rival Has the BMW M3 Touring been well worth the three-decade wait? Our evaluate Has Britain’s hottest small automotive simply received significantly better? New Corsa Volvo EX30 evaluate: Sweden’s new ‘inexperienced’ pocket rocket SUV rival Tesla Is Renault’s new Austral E-Tech SUV the whole bundle? We drive it The Audi Q8 is annoyingly good for a ‘sporty’ coupe-style SUV Ferrari Roma Spider prices £210k – this is what you get to your cash China’s all-electric BYD Dolphin lands ashore – we take a look at it on UK roads Our epic highway take a look at via Demark and Sweden within the new Polestar 2 New Abarth 500e convertible is a uncommon deal with – it is electrical and sporty Honda’s new CR-V is greater than its predecessor – however is it higher? We beat the brand new Bond to check his new automotive: Aston Martin DB12 evaluate Behind the wheel of Rolls-Royce’s Spectre: We take a look at the brand new EV Curler Skoda’s crowning glory: Excellent L&Ok 4×4 Property with extras pushed Maserati Grecale take a look at – the SUV with 50% of gross sales projected for girls Dacia’s finances household automotive with seven seats! The £18,000 Jogger examined This Q8 is simply nice: We take Audi’s new Sportback e-tron for a spin Enter the Dragon! BYD Atto EV is the Chinese language firm’s first UK mannequin Ferrari’s first four-door household automotive: New £313,000 Purosangue pushed Thrills with out frills: £31,000 MG5 is among the most cost-effective household EVs Renault’s Arkana ticks all of the packing containers for what car-buying Britons need Can Peugeot’s stylish 408 hybrid crossover be a success within the UK? We take a look at it We drive the Civic Sort R – the rebellious unhealthy boy in Honda’s line-up Rolls Royce Spectre: What’s it lke to drive the primary ELECTRIC Curler? Ineos Grenadier pushed: Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £69,000 Defender Can you actually stay with a tiny Citroen Ami? Seven duties in seven days Do not supersize me! Is the ‘smaller’ Volvo XC60 all of the SUV you want? We pamper some passengers within the new £211k Bentley Bentayga New form of Buzz! VW’s electrical MPV nonetheless seems like a hippy campervan