In Detail: The New Audi A6 Avant (C9)

The term “large chassis Audi” is internet jargon for big body Audi models. Technically, the term (and “small chassis Audi”) were coined to describe modern post-war Audi models in their earliest days. In that vein, “small chassis” refers to the corporate B-segment cars, while “large chassis” refers to the corporate C-segment and D-segment offerings. The latest A6 being the ninth-generation C-segment car, it’s technically a “C9” and technically a “large chassis”.

Save the Large Chassis Audi(s)

So, what’s in a name?

Good question.

In early February, just one month before the official reveal of the car officially launched today, Audi announced an about face in regard to naming. The plan for this car had been to shift to the “A7” moniker, leaving “A6” solely for the A6 e-tron battery electric vehicle (BEV) revealed months ago. However, input from dealerships and owners convinced the brand to reconsider.

The car with the name “A6” (much less derivatives such as “S6” and “RS 6”) has been a staple part of the Audi lineup since the first move to the current alphanumeric A6 and S6 back in the mid 90s…. and actually some of the cars that coined the phrase “large chassis Audi”. These names and the era from which they spawned mean something to longtime car enthusiasts, so stripping them away from cars like the one you see here and giving them only to an all-new BEV wasn’t landing well. The car market is coy about BEVs, not exactly stirred by them to say the least, making acceptance of this sterile yet more efficient BEV drivetrain technologies a hard pill to swallow. Stripping well-loved names in the process just seems like following that hard pill with a chaser of vinegar.

So, they’ll both be called A6. That’s probably for the best. Whether or not we refer to that A6 e-tron as a “large chassis” or “C” anything remains to be seen. These unofficial terms tend to be rooted in internal lexicon, yet final coining comes from the public for things like facelift .5s (B8 vs. B8.5 for example) or mark-generations (TT mk1, TT mk2, TT mk3 for example).

Here’s what we do know. The A6 e-tron is based on Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) modular platform matrix co-developed by Audi and Porsche. It’s an electric-only architecture. It’s effectively a “skateboard” chassis with batteries on the bottom, so while it could share components with internal combustion (ICE) cars, things like drivetrain aren’t interchangeable. Effectively, you won’t be swapping an internal combustion engine into a PPE A6 e-tron.

The A6 Avant you see here is on an architecture Audi refers to as Premium Platform Consumption (PPC). It’s likely an evolution of Audi’s modular transverse MLB architecture, though that’s not been entirely revealed yet. Coming this late in the internal combustion lifecycle, it’s doubtful they’ve gone ahead and conceptualized a whole new modular ICE platform, even if the Volkswagen Group is planning on extending its plans for ICE cars…. which is a more recent development.

We don’t know Audi’s type codes yet. For instance, the outgoing A6 “C8” is the type 4K internally, where many parts fitting the car begin with “4K”. So, the last car would have been called a C8 or a 4K. We don’t yet know the codes for A6 e-tron or this A6, so time will tell. We’ll need some designators for the two cars…. something like C9-E, C9-C. Likely that’ll get sorted once we start seeing these cars in system and any new terminology will gel around Audi’s own internal code.

Digging into the New PPC C9 A6

Notably, unlike other market such as Germany and the UK, Audi of America hasn’t released any details about the C9 A6. The car revealed is an A6 Avant, and the U.S. market public relations team tends to stay mum unless it’s a model bound for our market…. even when that model may end up here as an A6 allroad. If it’s not the allroad or a U.S. market derivative, they simply don’t talk. So, what we have to report is European market because neither the sedan nor any other derivative planned for Stateside and Canadian sale was shown.

Take it for what it is then – European market where American offerings can and will vary.

Let’s start with the outlook from Audi’s CEO Gernot Döllner. In the associated release, het states, “We are writing the next chapter in our Avant history: The new Audi A6 unites an elegant and dynamic design with exceptional aerodynamics. Efficient yet high‑performance drive systems and cutting-edge suspension technology combine sportiness with a high level of comfort, making traveling in the A6 a first-class experience.” With this model, the company is also continuing its major product initiative that began in 2024. The modernization and rejuvenation of the product portfolio is part of the Audi Agenda, with which Audi is positioning itself for the future in the face of intensified competition. “With the A6, we are now renewing an important model series,” said Döllner.

On Design

Audi describes its latest design language as “reduced”, meant to convey function and timelessness. More efficient aerodynamics are part of the goal here, dropping its drag coefficient to 0.25 that is the best for any internal combustion A6 to date. While not quite as slippery as the A6 e-tron, we’d argue its sacrifice resulted in a design that’s a bit more differentiated from the rest of the market than is the A6 e-tron.

Key design elements incorporated for the express purpose of aerodynamic efficiency ar numerous. At the front, they include large air curtains and controllable cool-air intakes. Out back, the roof spoiler and aerodynamic panels on the sides of the rear window continue the exercise in helping make this A6 more slippery.

Proportionally, the car takes on a bit more of an exotic shape. While the outgoing C8 was already broad-shouldered, the so-called “quattro blisters” of the new car are a bit more contoured and appear to be an evolution of what we’ve seen on the RS e-tron GT. Placement of the four rings is influenced by more recent designs like the newest A3, while the front and rear fascias take on a new approach to filling out the lower bumper areas in an interesting way.

At the front, the most prominent change new to the Audi design language are the vertical round air intakes are functional, feeding the aforementioned air curtains, aiding aerodynamic efficiency.

Perhaps some of the most identifiable changes are the lights, particularly at the rear where Audi has incorporated a really unique design. A long central line that appears black unless lit red when this weight line transforms into a heckblende. Above that, taillights with triangular OLED lit panels seem to synthesize a gemstone-like texture, while reverse-angled clear lenses below house the turn signals.

Sidenote: What’s a “heckblende” ?
Back in the automotive “rad era” of the 1980s and early 1990s, distinct separate taillights on each side of the car were far more in fashion than they are today. As a result, enthusiasts seeking a unique look inspired an aftermarket industry trend where companies like lighting supplier Hella manufactured lens assemblies that would visually connect the two. “Heck” being the german word for “back” or “tail” and “blende” being the German word for…. well… “blend”, coined the phrase.

The trend would become on fashion enough that it would eventually influence car manufacturers to begin to implement designs like this from the factory. One notable early adopter wearing a heckblend from Audi was the RS2 Avant.

On Specification

Gleaning what can be gleaned from the launch materials, we know that the car in these photos is an A6 Avant with 2.0-liter TDI and quattro. It’s got S line trim, though note Audi has dropped putting the Audi Sport red rhombus in the badging that is another change requested by brand aficionados so as not to dilute the value of the badge by confusing it with an S or RS model.

The color is Madeira Brown Metallic, seen here with black optics. The paint color is a brown introduced with the Q8 e-tron. It’s a dark brown metallic that isn’t far off from the brown in the original Audi Sport “tri-colore” rhombus logo of the 1980s.

3.0 TFSI (270 kW) quattro ultra powertrain with 48 volt MHEV plus technology
photo: Audi AG

Engine Offerings, 3.0 TFSI & 2.0TDI plus MHEV for Both, but Maybe Not America

The engine focus of today’s reveal likely isn’t all that relevant to North America. For starters, it’s a 2.0-liter TDI, and diesels aren’t part of the North American product offering any longer.

Next, it’s what Audi calls an “MHEV plus”, effectively a mild hybrid that supports the combustion engine by increasing performance and reducing emissions.

The primary components of the system are a 48-volt battery, a belt alternator starter (BAS) and a powertrain generator (PTG) with integrated electronics to run them. The PTG allows for fully electric parking and maneuvering of the car, or even while driving in slow-moving traffic like a city. It produces 230 NM of torque and about 24 hp that can also be used to augment the power of the engine when called upon for acceleration. Under deceleration, it can recapture up to 25 kW of power.

Though not seen in the car revealed, a version of Audi’s 3.0 TFSI V6 with 362 hp was also confirmed. In the case of the European market car shown, it’s notable that this engine was also confirmed to feature the partial electrification of the MHEV. It’s possible through product simplification that these may be the only engines offered in Europe for the C9 A6. At the very least, they’re the only ones mentioned in the associated materials.

The outgoing C8 A6 is sold in the U.S. with just one engine, and that’s the 3.0 TFSI. I’ve confirmed with Audi of America that they do not intend to include MHEV tech on the North American spec A6 when it arrives. Alas, they’re also saying no to Avant, though “no Avant” hasn’t meant “no allroad, or no RS 6 Avant” in the past.

Chassis Improvements

Like MHEV tech, market availability of specific components is always an X factor when detailing new models like the C9 A6. Even still, the C9’s got some new features worth mentioning. Chassis improvements are one of those places, where all-wheel steering as seen in cars like the C8 RS 6 Avant, or adaptive air suspension as seen in the latest RS e-tron GT performance are integrated options for Europe.

Audi also calls out steering specifically, where they claim even more direct feel than the C8 that is said to be more communicative. Improvements come from the torsion bar, rigidly bolted steering rack and stiffener control arm bushings. Camber has also slightly increased on the front axle.

Inside, a Large Cabin for the Latest Large Chassis Audi

Audi expands upon its panoramic display concept already launched in cars like the Q6 e-tron, A6 e-tron and A5. Personalization is another key difference, including seven digital light signatures in the front and rear cabins.

Other changes also mark firsts for the A6. One is the adjustable panoramic glass roof, tech we’ve seen carry over from Porsche, first to the recently updated e-tron GT family and now to the C9 A6. Another is improved premium Bang & Olufsen 3D sound, including speakers in the front headrests. Finally, four-zone climate control with an optional air quality package including an ionizer and fine dust sensor add a new level to interior comfort.

Exploring the A6 for Deutschland, Including Audi exclusive and Original Accessories

For those most interested in the new C9 A6, it’s worth a mention that Audi Deutschland’s website Audi.de already has its consumer-facing C9 A6 section live. Yes, it’s in German but most browsers have translation tools built in nowadays, so I figured you’d want to know.

UPDATE: Audi.de has now updated their content to include a basic configurator tool for the C9 A6. You can find it HERE.

I’m including some of those photos here because they reveal other details not seen in the launch set of photos and specifically highlight Audi exclusive options for the C9 A6.

The first is a profile shot in Quantum Grey. Like the reveal car, it’s also an S line specification, though it doesn’t have black optics so shows Audi’s ubiquitous Multi-Spoke S wheel design in familiar two-tone graphite grey with high-sheen face, plus elements like the vertical air curtain inlets in silver. These are little details of course, but it’s still worth calling attention to them.

Next is an interior photo depicting Audi exclusive capabilities for the cockpit. Specifications listed include neodymium gold and mint grey with poplar wood with silver brown natural finish.

After that are two images depicting accessories. Specifically, there appears to be a new roof box design from Audi Original Zubehör. The other shows carbon fiber mirror caps that are pretty typical offerings from Audi Accessories, though here we also get a closer look at the new door handle design we see for the first time on the A6.

How Soon Can We Expect It?

Audi AG says delivery of the first C9 A6 models will begin at the end of May 2025. Audi of America and Audi Canada haven’t confirmed North American launch dates just yet, but we know the American teams have prepared for an onslaught of new models in 2025 and its likely the A6 will be amongst them.

VIDEO

Check out all released video assets from Audi AG posted as an A6 (C9) playlist to our Youtube channel HERE.

PHOTO GALLERY