Here at MHH International we have recently reported on the gradual release of various iterations of the brand new Audi A6 model. Well, the premium German car maker has now completed the set with their latest variation, the plug-in hybrid. You can see our review of the A6 model on this page but here we’ll concentrate on the benefits of the plug-in hybrid.
After completely redeveloping the A6 Saloon and Avant model lines using the most advanced combustion engine technology, Audi is now reinstating a plug-in hybrid version in each range. The new A6 Saloon and Avant e-hybrid quattro (all-wheel-drive) models build on the strengths of their predecessors, and will be available for export from the UK with a 295BHP (220 kW / 299PS) drive-train delivering plentiful performance and the potential for an impressive electric-only driving range of up to 64 miles. The car will be available to order from early June with Sport, S line and Edition 1 specification options.
The Power
These new A6 e-hybrid quattro models are powered by a 2.0 litre TFSI engine with an output of 248BHP (185 kW / 252 PS) and an electric motor that delivers up to 105 kW. With 450 Nm of torque at your disposal, both saloon and Avant versions can accelerate from 0 to 62mph (100KPH) in 6.0 seconds and, where conditions allow, reach a top speed of 155mph.
The heart of the plug-in-hybrid technology is the high-voltage battery, the capacity of which has been boosted to 25.9 kWh (net 20.7 kWh), a gain of around 45 percent compared with previous generations. This enhancement ensures that, depending on version, the Saloon can travel up to 64 miles under electric power alone, and the Avant for up to 63 miles. Maximum AC charging power is now 11 kW, and if the battery is completely empty, a full recharge to 100 percent can take as little as 2.5 hours. Recharging is slowly but surely getting quicker.
The battery is charged with a view to maximising efficiency and minimising environmental impact. This means that the combustion engine only charges the battery at speeds above 40mph; at low speeds, the charge level is simply maintained. This maximises efficiency and enables partially electric driving in the city or in stop-and-go traffic. The battery can be charged in this way up to 75%. This ensures that the battery is charged with maximum efficiency while driving. To increase the battery’s charge above 75 percent, an external AC charging source is required.
Recuperation
Recuperation performance has also been improved, we learn. The degree of recuperation intensity in electric driving ‘EV mode’ can be adjusted to three different levels using paddles on the steering wheel. The new A6 e-hybrid runs on electric power for as long as possible to fully utilise the available battery charge to the driver’s destination. The vehicle recovers energy automatically when this function is activated. This is based on route data stored in the navigation system. The new A6 e-hybrid quattro can also recover energy automatically without active route guidance.
The hybrid management system seems to cover all eventualities designed as it is to optimise efficiency, flexibility and driving comfort at all times, and, crucially, it selects the operating strategy that best meets these objectives automatically. Two operating modes are available: “EV” and “hybrid.” In EV mode, the plug-in hybrid models run solely on electric power, while in hybrid mode, the hybrid management system maintains a specific charge level as needed in order to save enough electrical energy for later use. In addition to the automatic hybrid mode, the desired charge level can be individually selected using a digital slider.
Thanks to new electronics architecture, the degree of thrust recuperation in electric driving mode (EV mode) can be adjusted to three different levels using paddles on the steering wheel, just like in the all-electric models of the A6. Electric braking, and thus the recuperation level, is activated using the left paddle (minus), and deactivated via the right paddle (plus). The paddles can thereby be used to set a higher level of deceleration before a turn, for example. At level zero, the plug-in hybrid coasts freely without additional drag torque when the accelerator pedal is released. This means that energy is only recovered when the brake is applied.
The Legend That Is Quattro
The new prestige A6 e-hybrid quattro models always feel responsive, safe and agile, thanks in no small part to the electrified dual-clutch transmission working in conjunction with quattro ‘ultra’ drive and all-wheel steering. Fitted as standard to all of the e-hybrid quattro variants, the all-wheel steering system boosts agility in city traffic and tight bends by turning the rear wheels up to five degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels at speeds of up to 37mph. At higher speeds the rear wheels turn in the same direction, facilitating precise handling and a high level of comfort.
In-Car Comfort
Improved aerodynamics and overall vehicle acoustics help to deliver a driving experience that is as refined as it is responsive. Suppression of noise in the cabin has been improved by up to thirty percent compared with the previous model, thanks to detail enhancements such as more tightly sealed windows and optimised door seals. Newly developed engine and transmission mount bushings make for a smoother and quieter ride, and the shape of the transmission gear teeth has also been optimised in the interest of acoustics. Older drivers will remember the misplaced gear grinding noises of old; those days have gone; shifts are now as smooth as butter. Even the tyres fitted to wheels of 19 inches in diameter or above have been acoustically fine-tuned by special noise absorbers.
Audi & MHH International
In addition to this new high-tech A6 model, MHH International offer a very wide range of new and used Audi vehicles from efficient, purely electric, models right through to perhaps the most refined sports car on the road, the fast and highly useable R8. You can see the current stock availability on these pages.
MHH International are your tried and trusted source of premium vehicles from a wide range of manufacturers, exporting to countries around the world via our comprehensive, fully insured process. Find out more about VAT reclaim services and exporting a car VAT-free to your destination country.
