A6 e-tron prices: the most aerodynamic Audi ever designed starts from £69,900

Audi has released prices for the new A6, with the hatchback kicking things off at £69,900. The full name is the Audi A6 e-tron - e-tron because it's electric and 6, because if you were paying attention, you'd know that all even Audi numbers are electric Audi models.

Welcome then, to the Audi Electric Electric - the most aerodynamically Audi ever designed. Available in both hatchback and estate (aka Sportback or Avant in AudiSpeak), the A6 and the sportier S6 e-tron have the same PPE platform as the recently launched Q6 e-tron SUV. That means it’s powered by a 100kWh battery, which can handle 270kW max power delivery taking the battery from 10-80 per cent charge in only 21 minutes.

Officially the rear-wheel-drive 362bhp A6 Avant gets 437 miles of range, where the A6 Sportback ekes out 463 miles. The dual-motor, all-wheel-drive S6 Avant will give you a sub-400-mile range, where the S6 Sportback claims 405 miles.

There’ll be three trim levels across the series: Sport, S-Line and Edition 1, and then the S6, which doesn't even need 'performance' in its name. It's just the S6 Edition 1.

The entry-level Sport trim (not to be confused with its Sport model, or Sportback body type) offers five-spoke 20in alloys, keyless entry and a digital key through your smartphone. The body-coloured doors mirrors fold and heat, there’s an electric boot, parking sensors with 360-degree display, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control and park assist plus.

Inside the cabin, there are leather seats (heated at the front with lumbar support), a leather steering wheel, tri-zone climate control and acoustic glazing. There’s also a tech-heavy infotainment suite with a 14.5in curved cockpit display, coupled with a 11.9in driver display, fancy navigation, ambient lighting, Audi Connect and a smart door panel. Plus, there’s extra storage in the front boot and standard spec means three-pin domestic and Mode 3 public charging cables come with the car.

Upgrade to the S-Line (£73,400 for the Sportback, £75,200 for the Avant) and you get the 10-spoke 20in alloys, rear privacy glass and sportier bumpers.

Internally, there are now sports seats clad in both fake and real cow, aluminium pedals, a sportier steering wheel with a flat top, illuminated door sills and a smattering of ‘S-Line’ motifs stitched, stamped and stencilled to show off the grade.

Souping things up to the fanciest A6 Sportback/Avant e-tron performance Edition 1 will set you back £78,400 or £80,200 respectively. Additional safety features include lane departure warning and lane departure assist tech, occupant detection, more airbags and a fancier adaptive cruise control suite.

There’s also more lavish exterior styling with black Audi rings at the front and illuminated ones at the back, 21in alloys, red brake calipers, intelligent matrix lights, black door mirrors and “e-sound sport” – basically better fake noise.

Inside, the finish gets posher and comfier, with mock-suede fabric, ventilated sports seats, heated seats at the front and back, a heated steering wheel, cabin preconditioning and an additional screen for the front passenger.

The [deep breath] Audi S6 e-tron Edition 1 Sportback costs £97,500, while the Avant will set you back £99,300. That extra near-twenty grand on top of the entry-level pricing bags you a power upgrade from the A6's 362bhp to 496bhp, and a 0-62mph time of just 3.9s. And of course, all the upgrades of the previous trims, plus adaptive air suspension, e-sound Sport, OLED rear lights and five-arm glossy 21in alloys over the brakes, shod with red calipers.

The cabin is decked out in Nappa diamond-stitched leather and features a veritable tech fest, with an augmented reality HUD, a panoramic roof with adjustable transparency, Microsoft Office integration and a headrest speaker so you can appreciate the upgraded Bang & Olufsen sound suite to the max.

Other creature comforts include the interior lighting package, rear USB chargers, and soft closing doors.