The Audi A6 range has always been a strong seller for the brand, and it’s a favourite among many enthusiasts and business people looking for a luxurious rocket ship to ferry them from one lunch meeting to the next.
Then, pair that with Audi’s competent EV powertrains and battery tech, and it sounds like they’re onto a winner. However, with a price tag far north of £60,000 or upwards of £80,000 or higher with the A6 that I have here, with the ‘e-tron performance’ powertrain and the highly exclusive Launch Edition trim, is it really worth it? Well, let’s find out and see if the new A6 e-tron is worth its weight in salt, or if you’re better off elsewhere.
What Is the Audi A6 e-tron performance Launch Edition About?
Compared to the regular Audi A6 e-tron trim levels, this fancy Launch Edition package comes with quite a few cosmetic changes, just to help set it apart. This would net you goodies such as the sportier S-Line front and rear bumpers, a massive set of 21-inch black metallic Audi Sport alloy wheels, some red brake callipers, and distinct matrix LED lighting all-around, like the lit-up rear Audi badge, as well as Audi’s cool Black Styling Package.
The latter of which adds a plethora of blacked-out trim, and even the Audi badge up front is now greyed out for extra stealthiness. Plus, this package gains you a panoramic glass roof too, and as we’ll look at later once I step inside, it does add a lot more airiness to the cabin. Nonetheless, looking past all these different cosmetic parts, the general styling of the brand-new Audi A6 e-tron appears rather handsome and good-looking.
As you can see, I have here the Avant estate version, though if you’d prefer, you could also get the Sportback 5-door saloon, too! From most angles, it still remains true to Audi’s design language and the A6’s traditional boxy style, though modernised. This gorgeous Malpelo Blue metallic paintwork definitely brings out a lot more of the A6 e-tron’s sharp angles and curves, particularly those slim headlights and the eye-catching rear lightbar.
How Does It Drive?
The all-new Audi A6 e-tron actually comes with 3 different electrified powertrain options: the e-tron, the e-tron performance, and the e-tron quattro, in order of speed, zest, and of course, price. Just for comparison, the base-tier, entry-level e-tron model puts out a fairly generous 285 PS (or 326 PS with launch control) of power and 435 Nm of torque, and it’ll go from 0 to 62 mph in a relaxed 7.0 seconds (or 6.0 seconds with launch control).
Meanwhile, the top-of-the-line e-tron quattro puts out a mighty 428 PS (or 462 PS with launch control), and it’ll sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.7 seconds (or 4.5 seconds with launch control), before topping out at 130 mph. On the other hand, the middle-of-the-road e-tron performance, like the one that I have here, is good for around 367 PS (or 380 PS with launch control), and it’ll easily hop from 0 to 62 mph in a still-pretty-fast 5.4 seconds.
Another massive difference there (and even more besides, but more on that later) is the fact that the e-tron and e-tron performance are both rear-wheel drive. Yet, the e-tron quattro features Audi’s famous Quattro all-wheel-drive system. In practice, despite the A6 e-tron, especially this Avant wagon, being quite a large car, it feels very light and nimble to drive, helped no doubt by the super-quick steering rack and rather sprightly tuning.
While I would think that only Audi’s hot S and RS models could truly liven up once you open the tap, on some of the more technical roads that I sampled the new A6 e-tron on, I’ve found this otherwise normal A-spec car to be quite fun to drive! In tight bends, the new A6 e-tron performance Launch Edition hugs the road and sticks to the asphalt exceptionally well, and not once did this humongous wagon ever feel heavy or even cumbersome.
Plus, with ample power under your right foot, it had more than enough of that go-fast spirit to punt you out of corners at speed. It’s definitely an enjoyable machine to drive, in any condition, though that’s not to say that it was made for the track. Being an Audi A-spec model instead of an S or RS, this A6 e-tron retains a comfortable ride quality and handling that best matches its premium feel, with a greater emphasis on keeping you relaxed.
On that note, the interior is whisper quiet, with minimal road noise and vibration interrupting the magic carpet ride. Between the chassis, suspension, and everything else in between, I’d easily say that the new A6 e-tron has represented a new high among the many electric luxury cars that I’ve driven. Additionally, as you might expect, the new Audi A6 e-tron comes bundled with an abundance of safety systems and driver aids to help you.
Probably my favourite is the 360-degree surround-view camera, which helps quite a lot when you are trying to manoeuvre around tight parking spaces, or if you’re driving down narrow streets. Aside from that, at least with this Launch Edition trim, it has adaptive cruise control, a parking assist feature, automated emergency braking, cross-traffic assist, traffic sign recognition, lane-departure warning, lane-change assist, and lots more.
As you might’ve noticed in some of these close-up shots, my particular car here also comes with wing mirror cameras. Now, it does take a bit of getting used to, and I typically make the mistake of looking further to the top, where a physical side mirror ought to be, rather than slightly lower down where the actual screen is. Thankfully, after just 20 to 30 or so minutes, you will get used to these, and in some scenarios, these wing mirror cameras work quite well.
What Is It Like Inside?
As with the exterior, this Launch Edition package brings with it a ton of neat upgrades over a regular Audi A6 e-tron. Just to name some of them, you now get sports seats, a flat top and bottom steering wheel, and a vast sea of black leather and upholstery, as well as gloss black and bits of aluminium trim. It’s definitely a rather familiar cabin if you’ve spent a lot of time around Audis, and it feels especially sumptuous to spend lots of time in.
Besides all this posh luxury, Audi interiors have traditionally been all about technology, too. In the middle, there’s a huge 14.5-inch infotainment display with Audi’s superb MMI system, which is undoubtedly among the best in the business. And, it’s then flanked by two other screens, including that equally awesome 11.9-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster, and a third, pretty sizeable display on the dash for your front passengers.
Elsewhere in the cabin, between the fantastic Bang & Olufsen sound system and all the ambient lighting, you’d then get a really neat augmented-reality heads-up display. As well-put-together as the new A6 e-tron might be, and it certainly feels like a proper luxury car, it’s uber-practical. With the front seats moved far back to fit my driving position, the rear seats of the A6 e-tron Avant offer more than ample space for rear passengers.
To add to that, further in the back, thanks to this being the Avant wagon, you get to enjoy that truly cavernous boot, with more than adequate space for a whole week’s worth of groceries for the entire family! Alternatively, should this somehow not be enough, then worry not, as the A6 e-tron features a frunk at the front, though it is quite tiny by comparison, and it’s really only large enough for maybe chucking away the charging cables.
The Experience
Now, circling back to those different powertrains for a quick second, as you also get different battery sizes with each one, too. The e-tron model comes with an 83 kWh battery pack, and it’ll manage an impressive range that lies somewhere between 325 to 363 miles (WLTP Combined), depending on the specific trim levels and optional extras. On the other hand, the e-tron performance and e-tron quattro both come with 100 kWh batteries.
The e-tron performance, like the car that I have here, should net you a range of around 392 to 438 miles (WLTP Combined), while the e-tron quattro gets you a slightly lower range of 378 to 417 miles. The lower range on the range-topping model makes sense, as the e-tron quattro has an additional electric motor at the front to power, given that it’s all-wheel drive, heavier, and the increased power output can’t be easy on the battery, either.
On the bright side, regardless of which powertrain and battery pairing you choose from, all Audi A6 e-tron cars come with DC fast-charging, peaking at 270 kW. This means that you can top up its battery from 10% to 80% in only around 20 or so minutes. Or, if you don’t have much time to spare at the charger, a quick 10 or so minutes should be enough to add around 180 miles of extra electric range, when you max out the fast-charging.
This new Audi A6 e-tron maxes out at 11 kW for its onboard AC charger, which will be fine for home use. This car comes with a heat pump, so that ought to help maximise your range a far bit, which is a nice boon for those of us that live in chillier climates, such as the UK, or if you’re dreading driving in the winter.
Audi A6 e-tron performance Launch Edition Cost
As you may expect for a brand-new all-electric Audi, the A6 e-tron doesn’t come cheap, with a starting price of £65,115 for the entire line-up. It’ll go even higher once you consider getting the speedier powertrains or even a bigger battery capacity, and the abundance of optional extras that you could tack on, as well. Our car here, for instance, the Audi A6 e-tron performance Launch Edition, with some options, comes in at a dizzying £87,360.
Verdict
I don’t know many people would spend that much money on an electric luxury car, given that you can get plenty of other options for cheaper, which probably do 90% of the things that the new Audi A6 e-tron could, anyway. I do think, however, that if you’re after the last 10%, then few cars could really match the A6 e-tron’s luxury and refinement, with generous performance, style, tech, and practicality, with a very cool aesthetic to match!
Specification
Audi A6 e-tron performance Launch Edition Specs
- Price: £87,360
- Engine: Single-motor EV, 100 kWh battery
- Power: 270 kW (280 kW in launch control)
- Torque: 565 Nm
- 0-62mph: 5.4 seconds
- Top speed: 130 mph
- Weight: 2,185 kg
- Economy combined: 402 miles (WLTP Combined)
- CO2: 0 g/km