Audi and its Chinese joint-venture partner FAW have announced they will produce a plug-in hybrid car for the Chinese market. Based on the long-wheelbase version of the Audi A6, which is already produced in China, the A6 e-tron will be specially developed for the world’s largest car market.
The sedan will have a 50-km (31-mile) range when operating solely under battery power and will be produced within the joint venture by FAW-Volkswagen in Changchun in northern China. Audi says the A6 e-tron is equipped with the latest battery technology.
The Audi A6 L e-tron is expected to be based on the concept revealed in 2012 (pictured here), which combined a 208hp (211PS) 2.0-liter TFSI petrol engine with an electric motor with a peak output of 70kW (94hp/95PS). The study also featured a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery located in a collision-protected space at the rear of the vehicle, allowing the sedan model to travel up to 80km (50 miles) at a constant speed of 60 km/h (37mph) in pure electric mode.
“We are shaping the future of electric mobility in China,” stated co mpany boss Rupert Stadler. “Audi and FAW have been cooperating closely for more than 25 years. Together, we have built up the premium segment in China. Now we are cooperating on the next generation of automobiles,” said Zhang Pijie, President of FAW-Volkswagen.
In 2013, Audi delivered 491,989 cars in China (including Hong Kong), an increase of 21 percent compared over 2012.
By Dan Mihalascu
Note: 2012 Audi A6 L e-tron Concept pictured
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