Audi recently announced at its annual sales conference that it has as many as 20 new model launches lined up globally over the course of one year. Chief among these will be an all-new generation of the A5 sedan and Q5 SUV, as well as the all-electric A6 e-tron sedan.
Speaking to Autocar India on the sidelines of the Q6 e-tron's global debut, Balbir Singh Dhillon, head of Audi India, confirmed the same saying, “There will be an all-electric A6 e-tron sedan this year, and there’s also new generations of the A5 and Q5 coming.”
Audi A6 e-tron: what to expect?
The A6 e-tron – first previewed in 2021 as a concept bearing the same name – was originally supposed to go into production in 2023. However, with Audi showcasing the Q6 e-tron, the A6 e-tron should also be revealed soon as it shares the same PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture with its SUV cousin that's been co-developed with Porsche.
So, one can expect a 100kWh battery pack with over 600km claimed range, and dual motor all-wheel drive and single motor rear-wheel drive configurations. Visually, it shouldn’t stray too far from the concept as the Q6 e-tron’s design is also pretty close to its own concept. The A6 e-tron will also inherit Audi’s new E3 1.2 electronic architecture, an all-new interior layout with curved screens and all the latest lighting technology from the Q6 e-tron.
Next-gen Audi A5, Q5: what to expect?
On the combustion side, the A5 and Q5 will see all-new generations, which will be based on VW's MLB architecture and likely debut in the second half of 2024. Both these models will also be among the last ICE models to get an all-new generation as Audi intends to launch its final cars with combustion powertrains in 2026, beyond which all new models will be electric-only.
The next-gen A5 and Q5 are expected to be powered by electrified combustion engines, likely in plug-in hybrid guise. Prototypes spied testing overseas have hinted at an evolutionary design with familiar Audi design cues, but the interior and digital interface could be borrowed from the newer EVs as that’s soon going to be rolled out across Audi’s entire model range.
Will these models come to India?
The Q5 is one of Audi’s more popular models in India, so the new-gen SUV will definitely come here in due course. Meanwhile, the A5 is offered in its sporty S5 and RS5 guises in India, but it remains to be seen if new generations of these sports sedans are also brought down here. As for the A6 e-tron, Audi has already confirmed that its SUV cousin is launching by late-2024 or early-2025, so this too is likely to come here. In fact, the company is very keen on localisation and expansion of its EV portfolio in India, which will be key if it has to achieve its target of 50 percent EV sales by 2030.
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