Audi A6 Hybrid : First Look

Motoring Staff - 20/January/2011

Detroit, United States - Audi has showcased its latest A6 hybrid, the second hybrid model after the Q5 hybrid quattro at this years Detroit motor show.

The Audi A6 hybrid features a petrol engine, a 155kW 2.0 TFSI, that works together with an electric motor that delivers 33kW and 211Nm of torque. The electric motor sits directly behind the petrol engine, occupying the space of the torque converter upstream of the modified 8-speed tiptronic transmission. This transmission sends power to the front wheels.

A crash-protected area of the luggage compartment houses a light, compact lithium-ion battery that provides 1.3 kWh of nominal power and generates 39 kW.

Depending on requirements, it is air-cooled in two ways - by means of a blower from the interior or via an internal refrigerant circuit coupled to the automatic air conditioning system. This technology largely maintains the rechargeable battery within the appropriate temperature range, thereby ensuring that the vehicle operates on electric power a comparatively large percentage of the time.

The Audi A6 hybrid can achieve speeds of up to 100 km/h purely on electricity; at a constant speed of 60 km/h, it has a range of 3 km. It can also operate with the combustion engine only or in hybrid mode; in the deceleration phases, it recovers power and activates both the engine and the electric motor together when accelerating quickly. Special indicators on the instrument cluster and on the MMI monitor provide a detailed display of the different driving conditions.

The Audi A6 hybrid takes 7.3 seconds to accelerate from 0 – 100km/h before hitting a top speed of 238 km/h, while average fuel consumption is 6.2litres per 100 km (European figures).

Related Links:
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- Audi A1 1.4 TFSI (2010)
- Audi A7 Sportsback (2011)
- Audi A7, A8, R8 Roadster (2010)
- Audi A1 Sportback Concept (2008)
- Audi A5 (Road Test)
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- Audi S3 (Road Test)
- Audi S4 (2009)
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- Audi RS5 (2011)
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