Audi’s new electric sedan shares a lineage with the e-tron GT, but with a much lower price tag.
While some automakers are pulling back or delaying their rollout plans for new electric models, Audi is going ahead with the new A6 and S6 e-tron Sportback. The concepts initially debuted three years ago at Auto Shanghai, but now we’re getting a proper look (at least of the European variants) into the details for the production-intent cars.
At first glance, the 2025 Audi A6 e-tron sports your classic Audi design, apart from the faux grille. You get thin Matrix LED headlights and a new genertion of digital OLED taillights, for a start. The prominent grille surround is still front and center, as are large intakes and standard 19-inch “five-arm” wheels. The S line and S6 e-tron get 20s as standard, though you can side up to 21-inch wheels as an option). Styling is always subjective, naturally, but Audi’s hit on an elegant and sweeping design, pretty much across its entire four-door range, so you’re essentially getting more of it here, if the brand’s look tickles your fancy.
Unfortunately, there is some bad news for buyers here in the States. While the rest of the world will get the Avant wagon, we’re only slated to get the Sportback at the moment, it seems. There’s no word on whether an “Allroad” version of the electric wagon will make its way onto the scene at the moment, either.
Powertrains, range and charging capability
Although the 2025 Audi A6 e-tron Sportback lineup may look pretty similar to the e-tron GT, it rides on the Volkswagen Group’s “Premium Platform Electric (PPE)” platform, rather than the J1 platform the e-tron GT shares with the Porsche Taycan and a mix of gas-powered cars. So, the A6 has a slightly larger battery pack, at 100 kWh (gross, or 94.4 kWh net capacity). Audi says that sort of energy is good for up to 470 miles (756 kilometers) with the less powerful A6 e-tron, though that is using the European WLTP standard. Official EPA figures aren’t available yet, but those figures will be a fair bit lower, once they’re actually available.
The A6 e-tron single-motor model manages 362 horsepower and a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 5.4 seconds. A dual-motor version will be available depending on the market, and that will cut the 0-62 time by about a second, if not a little more. Finally, the S6 e-tron gets the dual-motor, Quattro all-wheel drive configuration by default, and puts out 496 horsepower. With the extra grunt, the S6 cuts its 0-62 mph acceleration time to 3.9 seconds (0.1-0.2 seconds off that figure for a 0-60 estimate).
Since the A6 e-tron and S6 e-tron use the same 800-volt electrical architecture as the Q6 and other Audi EVs, a maximum DC fast-charging speed of 270 kW comes as standard fare. That means owners should be able to charge from 10% to 80% in around 21 minutes. A/C charging comes by way of an 11 kW home charger, while a 22 kW version will be available at a later date.
Taking a look inside the new A6/S6 e-tron
Displays, displays, displays — that’s a noticeable portion of Audi’s interior design ethos when it comes to the A6 e-tron, and the Q6, for that matter. Both this liftback A6 and its SUV sibling share the same interior, with a 14.5-inch infotainment screen and an 11.9-inch infotainment display. The 10.9-inch display on the passenger side is available an an option.
The 2025 Audi A6 e-tron and S6 e-tron models pack a few other cool technological touches, including an electrochromic roof that will go from opaque to clear glass at the touch of a button. It’s not the first car to do that, granted, but you still don’t see it often and it’s a touch that makes the car’s interior feel that bit more modern. The roof uses polymer-dispersed liquid crystal that’s actually opaque when it is not energized then becomes transparent when voltage is applied. Owners can choose from four presets as to how they’d like to control that function.
The 2025 Audi A6 e-tron models pack 26 cubic feet of cargo volume, and while these cars technically have a frunk, the storage space only measures out to a bit less than one cubic foot.
Pricing and availability
When it does arrive, the 2025 Audi A6 e-tron and S6 e-tron models will join their gasoline-powered counterparts in Audi showrooms and on lots. The automaker says orders will open up in Europe, at least, in September. Prices for “an upper mid-range model” will start at 75,600 Euros, while the S6 Sportback e-tron will start at 99,500 Euros. At current exchange rates, that boils down to $81,825 for the A6 Sportback e-tron sedan, and $107,700 for the S6 e-tron.
Pricing will likely shift for U.S. models, though, so we’d expect the electric A6 to kick off around $70,000, rising to about $100,000 for the S6 e-tron. Audi also mentions a model with a smaller battery is also on the way, but it’s unclear whether that will make its way to our market or not.
