A6 E-tron leads model blitz

New saloon and estate to be joined by no fewer than 22 new Audi ICE cars and EVS

- FELIX PAGE

As with the Audi A8, the electric successor to the Audi A6 will be a totally new car from the ground up, related to its predecessor in no more than its general silhouette and market positioning.

Due in dealerships next year, the new A6 E-tron will arrive first in saloon-shaped Sportback guise, adopting a much more rakish, coupéinspired roofline that will effectively give it a second role as an electric alternative to today's A7 Sportback.

The roomier A6 E-tron Avant estate will arrive a few months later, touting similar load-carrying capacity to its forebear (courtesy of a slim, spread-out underfloor battery and a 'frunk' in place of an engine). This will give Audi an answer to the similarly conceived BMW i5 Touring.

Also as with the A8, the A6 will arrive in production form little changed from the radical concepts by which it has been previewed. This means it will sit extremely low and be sculpted by its designers with a keen eye on maximising aerodynamic efficiency.