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Supposed to have been the new A7, the A6 sees the return of petrol and diesel engine options.
Supposed to replace the A7, the A6 now offers electrified or non-hybrid assisted combustion engines. Image: Audi
The first model to emerge after its surprise u-turn in only producing electric vehicles in Europe after 2026, Audi has taken the wraps off of the new combustion engine A6 as the direct successor to the previous generation that had been in production since 2018.
Not the ‘new’ A7
Continuing with the C-type internal moniker first applied to its predecessor, the Audi 100 in 1968, the new C9 A6 had been expected to replace to A7 as part of Ingolstadt’s now scrapped nameplate structure in which all even numbered vehicles were to adopt full electrification and uneven numbered products partial electrical assistance as either mild-hybrids or plug-in hybrids.
ALSO READ: EV-only future scrapped as Audi U-turns on going fully electric
Having already adhered to this with the introduction of the all-electric A6 e-tron last year, the new combustion engine A6 no longer directly replaces the A7 but serves as an alternative to its EV sibling in markets where electrification still has been as rapid as in Europe.
Familiar look
Again offered as either a sedan or Avant estate, the A6 takes styling inspiration from the new A5 in what Ingolstadt bills as its most aerodynamically optimised model ever made, with a drag coefficient of 0.23 for the former and 0.25 for the latter.
Styled to also resemble the e-tron GT, the A6 sedan measures 4.9 m long and 1.8 m wide, with its wheelbase stretching 2.9 m.
Longer and wider, therefore, than the outgoing C8, the C9 also has increased boot space of 492-litres, which varies between 503-litres and 1 534-litres in the Avant.
Joining the A5 in riding on the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) platform, a heavily updated version of the MLB Evo, the A6’s underbody changes goes further than the platform itself as both the front and rear axles are now made entirely out of aluminium.
Said to be stiffer than the C8 A6 and available with alloy wheels ranging in size from 18 to 21-inches, the C9 sports not only a new brake torque vectoring system but a brake-by-wire stopper that works in conjunction with the 48-volt mild-hybrid system to aid brake regeneration.
In addition to a new electromechanical power steering system, all-wheel steering becomes an option for the first time, with a further choice being three suspension layouts; standard, the lower by 20 mm S line, and the adaptive air suspension.
Available in either standard or S line exterior trim, the C9 A6’s similarities with the A5 includes the new Singleframe grille, second generation OLED head-and-taillights and a revised colour palette consisting of the following; Arkona White, Mythos Black Metallic, Glacier White Metallic, Chronos Grey Metallic, Florett Silver Metallic, Madeira Brown Metallic, Grenadine Red Metallic and Firmament Blue Metallic.
Reserved for S line models only are three additional hues: Daytona Grey Metallic, Ascari Blue Metallic and Midnight Green Metallic.
Inside
Inside, the interior also mirrors that of its sibling by consisting of the e-tron GT-inspired curved dashboard complete with the 11.9-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster, the 14.5-inch MMI infotainment system and, as an option, the 10.9-inch MMI display on the passenger’s side.
Along with most of the physical buttons being replaced with touch-sensitive switchgear, or located within the infotainment itself, Audi has improved sound insulation by a claimed 30%, revised the Head-Up Display, integrated ChatGPT into the central MMI, and availed a new choice of material options largely made out of recycled polyester.
On the spec front, standard as well as optional features include wraparound ambient lighting, quad-zone climate control, soft closing doors and two Bang & Olufsen sound systems: a 16-speaker delivering 685-watts and a 20-speaker outputting 810-watts.
Taking care of safety are Adaptive Cruise Control, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, Park Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Keep Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Front Turn Assist and Automatic Emergency Braking.
Welcome back TFSI and TDI
Up front, the initial A6 range spans three engines, all but one equipped with the mentioned 48-volt mild-hybrid hardware that adds an additional 18kW/230Nm for short spells, while being capable of regenerating as much as 25 kW.
The unit in question to omit the hybrid system, the entry-level 2.0 TFSI, develops 150kW/340Nm is paired to a seven-speed S tronic transmission. The claimed top speed is 244 km/h with 0-100 km/h taking 8.2 seconds.
Next up, the mild-hybrid 2.0 TDI outputs 150kW/400Nm on its own, but can be had with quattro four-wheel-drive as an option.
The claimed top speed is 244 km/h and 243 km/h for the quattro, with respective 0-100 km/h sprint times of 7.8 seconds and 6.9 seconds.
The flagship for now, the electrified 3.0 TFSI V6 makes 270kW/550Nm with drive going to all four wheels through the S tronic ‘box as standard.
Limited to 250 km/h, the A6 3.0 TFSI quattro will get from 0-100 km/h in a claimed 4.7 seconds.
Not yet for South Africa
Soon to arrive in Europe priced from €55 000 (R1 185 950) for the base 2.0 TFSI sedan, the A6 has, for the moment, not been confirmed for the South African market where the nameplate has historically struggled to match its rivals, the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The A5 has received approval, though, and will become available in the third quarter of 2025.
NOW READ: Combustion bids farewell as Audi debuts new EV-only A6 e-tron
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