New 2024 Audi S6 e-tron spied testing at the Nurburgring
Based on Audi’s PPE platform, the all-electric A6 will spawn high-performance S6 and RS6 variants in due course
Audi will embark on a relentless rollout of new EVs in the coming years, as its most ambitious product plan in history begins to take shape. More than 20 new models are expected by 2026, including final editions of combustion-engined cars that will be sold alongside their electric counterparts. The new A6 e-tron will be among the first of the latter when it arrives next year, and it’ll form the basis of battery-powered S6 and RS6 models in due course.
These latest spy shots depict a lowered A6 e-tron saloon with a beefy brake package testing at the Nurburgring, providing a first glimpse at what’s in store for the future of fast Audis. The firm's chief designer, Marc Lichte, has previously hinted that the RS6's trademark muscle-bound stance will transfer to its electric replacement, so given that this prototype wears a standard-width body, it's likely to be an S6 instead. Audi hasn't built an RS6 saloon since the C6 version from 2008, so it follows that the all-electric Avant will wear the RS badge.
We've already seen the A6 e-tron in concept form, which is said to share 90 per cent of its design with the production version. This appears to ring true with this S6 e-tron prototype, which adopts the same slim headlight design, tapered rear deck and monolithic proportions. When the camouflage is lifted, expect a smattering of S-specific detailing to distinguish the performance model, while the subsequent RS6 e-tron will offer more impactful bodywork changes.
Developed in conjunction with Porsche, Audi's forthcoming PPE platform will form the basis of the S6 e-tron, built around an 800V electrical architecture. The PPE-based A6 e-tron concept car generates 450bhp and 590lb ft of torque from its dual-motor setup, and with the RS6 e-tron tipped to exceed the current car's 621bhp output, the S6 e-tron will slot somewhere in between.
The motors will be fed by a 100kWh battery, with the more powerful S6 taking a range hit against the A6's 435-mile target. Speedy top-ups will be possible thanks to the platform's 270kW charging capability, with up to 186 miles of range added after plugging in for 10 minutes.
The S6 will ride on air springs and adaptive dampers with bespoke Audi Sport tuning, working in tandem with the platform's five-link front and multi-link rear suspension hardware. As indicated by these spy shots, an upgraded brake system will be employed to rein in the S6 e-tron's considerable performance and mass. The S6 could launch alongside the standard A6 e-tron, which will reach showrooms in 2024. The full-fat RS6 is expected later.
