Taking a quick look around parking lots on this side of the pond, one would be forgiven for thinking the station wagon – longroof, avant, variant, shooting brake – is dead and buried. Pockets of (rabid) enthusiasts remain and are likely a large part of the reason Audi decided to sell the tremendous RS6 Avant.
The future is murky for a North American launch of this new all-electric concept, given our propensity for SUVs and crossovers. Nevertheless, we’ll take any opportunity to run photos of a slinky wagon – especially one that could slingshot from 0 – 60 mph in under four seconds.
Like the Audi A6 e-tron Concept which was exhibited last year, this Avant also has an all-electric drive system based on the brand’s forward-looking PPE platform. That acronym, of which the Germans have many, represents the bones on which many of Audi’s forthcoming EVs will be built and was designed specifically for such a purpose. The battery size and wheelbase of PPE vehicles are scalable, making them suitable for use in different market segments.
Including, as we see here, a very pretty wagon. Audi insists its lines and elegant proportions anticipate future Audi production models and offer clues about how the company’s wares will look in the not-too-distant future.
“With the Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept, we are offering a completely tangible look at future production models on our new PPE technology platform,” says Audi Board Member for Technical Development Oliver Hoffmann. The concept is 16.3 feet in length and just under 6.5 feet wide, making it roughly the same dimensions as current models in the Audi A6/A7 family.
What’s powering it? Two electric motors are said to be capable of laying down up to 470 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. You can bet hotter versions are in the pipeline. Listed as having a 100kWh battery pack (note that could be a gross, not net, number), Audi boasts a maximum range of 435 miles when fully charged depending on the selected drive system and power output. Assuming one can link up with a properly robust Level 3 charging station, the company says it is possible to replenish just under 200 miles of range in about 10 minutes.
The first Audi production vehicles built on the PPE platform will be successively unveiled starting in 2023, and all new models introduced by the company will be EVs from 2026 onwards. This does not mean internal combustion engines with four rings on them will vanish at that time; that comes later – 2035, to be precise.
[Images: Audi]
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