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Want the Audi A6 E-Tron PHEV? Move to China!

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Just Like the Real Thing, Only Smaller (No Audi A6 E-tron for US)
Just Like the Real Thing, Only Smaller (No Audi A6 E-tron for US)

Ahead of the 13th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, Audi has let loose a few details of the upcoming Audi A6 E-tron, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

The Audi A6 E-tron PHEV is a luxury mid-size sedan, sized between the A4 and A8, which was shown as a concept a couple years ago, and there’s no word if the production version will be the same, but the concept’s specifications are encouraging. The 2012 Audi A6 L E-tron Concept was equipped with enough battery for 31 miles in electric vehicle (EV) mode, and total output of 306 hp. The production A6 will likely have similar specifications, which we’re waiting to see very soon.

On the other hand, one piece of news that we do know is that the Audi A6 E-tron will be exclusive to China. It may seem counterintuitive, especially for a vehicle that could rival the Tesla Model S for style, as well as being a great stepping stone between conventional and pure electric vehicles. Unfortunately, Audi, who’s openly, or not so openly, admitted that Tesla has the ball, isn’t making the A6 E-tron PHEV available here in the United States. Still, there’ll be plenty of competition between the A6 and Model S in China, but Tesla has a head start there, too!

It’s quite possible that the Audi A6 E-tron will be released in other areas of the world. For now, however, the rest of the world will have to settle for the pint-size Audi A3 E-tron, a smaller PHEV with 31 miles of EV-mode range and just 201 hp. Did we mention it is smaller? Audi, we know that China is the fastest-growing automobile market in the world, but they don’t seem to be very interested in hybrid technology. Will 31 miles EV-mode be enough to pull the nouveau-riche Chinese away from the Tesla Model S? If anything, perhaps the price will make a difference.

Image © Audi

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