Telões, Portugal– In its 2026 refresh, Audi has turned its A6 sedan into an aerodynamic masterpiece. With a drag co-efficient of just 0.23, the A6 now boasts the title of Audi’s sleekest gas-powered car ever.
And if that’s not enough, the car is operating on the new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) which is Audi-speak for its networked electronic design. There’s one for internal combustion vehicles – like this A6 – and for EVs, which is called (you guessed it) Premium Platform Electric. This is a big rollout for the German manufacturer, with many of the 20 vehicles slated for introduction in the next year sporting the new electronics.
The new network design, known as the E3 1.2 electronic architecture, gives the car impressive supercomputing powers through connections to five different domain systems, one for each part of the car. There’s one supercomputer each for the drive, assistance, infotainment and comfort, safety, and backend connectivity systems.
With the digital heavy lifting being performed outside of the vehicle, it means there’s more capacity available and updates can be taken care of over the air any time they are needed. This allows buyers to add custom features to their cars after purchase. It also makes it possible for a second owner to adapt the vehicle to their unique needs even years after the car is first put on the road. It also improves security for the entire vehicle ecosystem, Audi says.
In the A6 the principal advantage of this that’s evident to the user is the new, optional 10.9-inch infotainment screen dedicated to the front passenger. Now the person riding in the right seat doesn’t have to awkwardly reach across to the main screen to modify and control functions like navigation, audio, HVAC and vehicle customizations. Everything they need is right at their fingertips in a display that can also easily be turned off.
Based on an Android operating system, the car’s multi-media info system now has the ability to download apps directly to its OS and will incorporate AI-enhanced voice commands. The system boasts over 800 voice commands, and can integrate Chat GPT AI into the Audi virtual assistant.
While the new interfaces may be the highlight of the vehicle’s interior, Audi has also equipped the A6 with other new features for 2026, including many customizable interior design options and a spectacular optional panoramic glass roof that uses a liquid crystal display to control shading from fully opaque, to opaque in segments, to fully clear.
While we didn’t get to test the A6 at a media preview in Portugal, we did get to drive the 2026 A6 Avant, the wagon version. The two vehicles share just about everything except the body form, including length, wheelbase and engine choices.
In Canada we’ll be getting just one engine for the 2026 A6, the turbocharged, six-cylinder 3.0 litre engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system with all-wheel (quattro) drive and seven-speed dual clutch automatic. Eliminated this year is the four cylinder, turbocharged 2.0-litre with two-wheel drive that was an option in previous A6s here. Having driven Avant wagons with both engines in Portugal, it’s no loss.
The 2.0-litre felt anemic powering the 1,890-kilogram wagon, and the sedan’s only 30 kilos lighter, so the lighter weight would not eliminate the strain. The 3.0-litre however, with its mild-hybrid boost, delivered a powerful ride, with great off-the-line acceleration and plenty of grunt for overtaking. It has 362 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque, and the hybrid system adds up to 24 hp and 169 lb.-ft. on demand. That’s plenty of power for the kind of highway driving the car is suited for, and lets it cruise along at a smooth and quiet pace.
Fuel economy is improved thanks to that super-efficient aerodynamic design. In European testing it earned a combined fuel economy rating of 8.0 to 7.4 litres per 100 km.
In a full walk-around exterior designer Francesco d’Amore pointed out the key features contributing to the car’s low drag. Even though the car is 67 millimetres longer than before, its longer roof line and lower body and new technical features account for the aerodynamic improvements, he explained. According to d’Amore, the integration of aerodynamics and style have resulted in a car that’s rather like a bespoke suit – it’s subtle and attractive without seeking attention.
Starting from the front, the A6’s grille sits low and extends into the lower edge of the bumper. The spoiler integrated into the bumper reduces airflow under the body and prevents front axle lift. The forward air intakes, also known as air curtains, not only make the car look sporty, they also greatly improve airflow around the wheels.
At the back of the sedan, the trunk lid spoiler looks a bit like a traditional duck tail and has been specially designed to minimize the car’s wake, or turbulence. It balances the forces of lift at the rear axles against drag.
The A6 also has an optional air suspension that lowers the ride by up to 30 millimetres as compared to the standard suspension. In normal drive modes – balanced, efficiency and comfort – the car rides 20 mm lower, while in dynamic mode it drops another 10mm. The lowered centre of gravity lends the car a sportier feel and decreases drag. At higher speeds the body also lowers in balanced and efficiency modes.
Audi engineers worked hard to make this A6 as quiet as possible. While the aerodynamic improvements contribute to reduced wind noise, new sound insulation, more tightly sealed doors and windows, and optional acoustic glazing boost comfort for the occupants. The transmission is quieter and new engine and transmission mount bushings also cut vibrations. Even the larger sized tires –19 inches or bigger – have internal sound bafflers.
2025 Audi A6
2025 Audi A6
2025 Audi A6
According to Audi Canada’s director of product planning Felix Enciso, the manufacturer expects buyers will be people looking for a high-quality, sporty and elegant vehicle. Prospective buyers can order one starting in the late summer of 2025, with deliveries to begin later in the third quarter. Pricing has not yet been announced but can be expected to follow from the previous model year. The 2025 A6 started at $80,750.