Audi A6 Hybrid : 2011

Audi has redesigned its flagship executive-class model. The new A6 is set to make its market debut in early 2011. The soon-to-be-available A6 hybrid will be a special highlight of the lineup.

Audi will begin series production of the A6 hybrid in the new A6 model line. It employs an efficient parallel hybrid concept: Its combustion engine, a 2.0 TFSI with 155 kW (211 hp) and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of torque, works together with an electric motor that delivers 33 kW (45 hp) and 211 Nm (155.63 lb-ft) of torque.

The electric motor sits directly behind the TFSI, occupying the space of the torque converter upstream of the modified 8-speed tiptronic. The transmission sends torque 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 by means of an internal refrigerant circuit coupled to the deluxe automatic air conditioning system. This technology largely maintains the rechargeable battery within the appropriate temperature window, 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 (62.14 mph) purely on electricity; at a constant speed of 60 km/h (37.28 mph), it has a range of 3 km (1.86 miles). It can also operate with the combustion engine only or in hybrid mode; when decelerating, 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 provides the power of a V6, combined with the fuel efficiency of a four-cylinder engine. It provides a system performance of 180 kW (245 hp) and a system torque of 480 Nm (354.03 lb-ft). The hybrid sedan accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 7.3 seconds and achieves a top speed of 238 km/h (147.89 mph). Its average fuel consumption is just 6.2 liters per 100 km (37.94 US mpg) – a CO2 emissions level of 142 g per km (228.53 g/mile) (provisional figures).

More details on the A6.

(source: Audi)