Electric Audi RS6 e-tron Launching Next Year

Jan. 29, 2023 1:38 PM ET by Jay Traugott Electric Vehicles / 4 Comments

Expect it to have a wider track, bigger wheels, and more power compared to the A6 e-tron.

Audi will launch a high-performance version of its upcoming A6 e-tron, set to be appropriately called the RS6 e-tron in 2024. The confirmation comes from Top Gear who spoke with Audi design boss Marc Lichte. Lichte said the RS6 e-tron will retain the same body style as the A6 e-tron but will boast a wider track, bigger wheels, and, obviously, more power.

As a reminder, the A6 e-tron will include a 100 kWh battery with a range of 435 miles or so on a single charge. Expect a 0-62 mph of less than four seconds. Again, that's for the so-called "base" model. Both vehicles will share the same PPE platform, which is co-developed with Porsche.

Audi

The designer said that Audi managers in Berlin "went crazy when they saw the images and the models on the stage" in reference to both the final designs for the A6 e-tron and the RS6 e-tron.

"And I'll tell you why," he continued. "RS is all about the combination between performance and functionality. I love the RS6 because I can put bikes inside, skis, so many things. That's why I love it. And for me, stance. It's always the wide track. And if you think about competitors of Audi, are they in the market right now with performance EVs with the wider track? I would say no."

For now, he did not divulge any performance specs, other than it will have "different" performance, but based on what the A6 e-tron will be able to do, expect the RS6 e-tron to be quite something.

Audi

The A6 e-tron (pictured here) is 90 percent of the production version, according to Lichte. "But this is the narrow body," he said. "And this was very attractive I would say. Very wide, and very sporty. So the [RS6 e-tron] will have definitely a different body, that means different track, different wheel diameter."

We've known for a while now that Audi intends to become an electric-only brand beginning in 2026 with several more exciting models on the horizon, but that does not mean its ICE models are dead just yet.

"I promise you, both EVs and ICE will be impressive," Lichte said. "Especially the last-generation ICE RS models, they will be bwoah… mind-blowing." So did that same crowd of managers whoop and cheer these too? "Honestly, [it was] like this. You will be surprised."

So, Audi, how about an RS6 Avant e-tron next?