With the recent sales record of the most cars sold in a single month, Audi confirmed of going hybrid in the near future. The mid-size executive sedan A6 is now reported to go the plug-in hybrid way, as per the sources, with its other siblings of repertoire like A3, A4, A6 and Q7. In fact, Audi had already revealed the plug-in hybrid A3 named as A3 Sportback e-tron, whereas it’s the A6 L e-tron to go the ec0-freidnly way on the second number. Though, the A6 e-tron will be only for the Chinese market, as what we were reported at the time of writing. Its penetration into other markets is still not yet known.
A6 L e-tron was first previewed at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show in the conceptual form. the production versions will be based on the long wheelbase trim. Chinese joint-venture partner FAW and Audi both are going to work on this vehicle in the designing and development stage. Once when it will gain the green light from the authorities the production will then be commenced at Changchun plant in northern China.
Engine specifications of the Audi A6 L e-tron weren’t revealed, but the concept was done with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine of 211hp paired with an electric motor worth of 95 horsepower. A liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery was placed at the rear of the car which could run 50 kilometers on a single charge.
As in general, China has remained in the news of being polluted immensely, even facing complete shutdown to curb the pollution, the government in China is also sounding commited for increasing the sales of electrified vehicles in the country by providing subsidies in large numbers.
Looking at sales result of Audi in China, it sold 491,989 vehicles (including Hong Kong) in 2013, accumulating one third of its total sales during the year.