Audi is going big on plug-in hybrids—so big that two have arrived more or less at once.
Let’s start small(er), with the A6 55 TFSI e quattro. The sedan pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline with 249hp to a small electric motor and 14.1kWh battery, giving totals of 362hp and 500Nm as well as a claimed 53km of electric-only range. Nil to 100kph takes 5.6sec and the top speed is 249kph, while Audi claims CO2 emissions of as low as 43g/km and fuel economy of 63km/L.
Then we have the A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro, which gets a 3.0-liter V6 to go along with its electric motor and battery. Total output is 443hp and 700Nm, giving 0-100kph in 4.9sec and a 249kph top speed. Not quite as efficient as the A6, though, down to its increased size and weight. You’ll only be able to cover 45km in electric-only mode before the battery runs out of juice, while Audi claims a measly 47.6km/L and 57g/km.
Both are all-wheel-drive, but the A8 has an eight-speed automatic while the A6 has to make do with a seven-speeder. Their respective drivetrains operate in much the same way—three modes (EV, Hybrid, and Hold) for the hybrid system alongside the existing Comfort, Efficiency, Auto, and Dynamic modes, plus regenerative braking and a plug to juice up the battery overnight.
Ordering for the A8 opens at the end of this year. No news on the A6, but it shouldn’t be long after.
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
