Audi continued to champion the wagon format long after its rivals had jumped on the SUV trend, and in 2024 the guys at Ingolstadt still think there’s a need for sedans capable of swallowing a refrigerator. And looking at these pictures of the upcoming A6 Avant e-tron with almost no disguise, who can blame them?
Okay, so this late-stage prototype isn’t quite as stunning as the A6 Avant e-tron concept that previewed it in spring 2022. That car had lashings of chrome trim, hidden door handles, 22-inch wheels, and a colossal rear diffuser. But it’s only the details that are different. The split headlights, the sleek body design, slim windows, tapering roofline, and sporty rear screen rake are all present. It even has camera-based door mirrors.
And let’s not forget that this example is dressed down for testing duties so as not to draw too much attention to itself. It’s not hard to imagine that visiting the options list when the configurator goes live later this year or selecting an S-Line model or full-blown RS6, won’t amp up the wow factor to match the concept.
Related: 2025 Audi A6 Avant E-Tron Drops Camo, Shows Electrifying Looks
One clear design difference between this test car and the concept is in the grille. Audi has fitted virtually full-height grilles to its cars for over 10 years but it seems to be rowing back from that idea. While the concept’s grille was already shorter, it still stretched almost right down to the front splitter, leaving only room for an ‘e-tron’ badge. But the final car’s grille is shorter again because it needs to make space for the ADAS sensor tech in the lower bumper.
Under the skin is VW’s PPE platform, the same architecture used by the Q6 e-tron SUV and its sister car, the Porsche Macan which debuts at the end of this month. The A6 e-tron concept had a dual motor all-wheel drive system with 469 hp (350 kW / 476 PS) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque and was claimed to be capable of 435 WLTP miles (700 km) on a full charge. The Q6 e-tron prototype, on the other hand, has a 375 hp (280 kW / 380 PS) setup.
We’re guessing both will be offered on the A6, but that Audi will also offer a lower-power version with just one motor. Want a combustion engine? Then you’ll have to buy the A7 that arrives a little later. It will also be available in fastback sedan and wagon shapes, but it rides on a different platform and has different front and rear lights to help tell it apart.
