Audi’s New A6 L e-tron Probably Has The Coolest Wheels In Shanghai

They’re not what really makes the new A6 L e-tron shine, but damn; those turbine-style alloy wheels with the super thin blades sure do look cool.

What makes this edition of the A6 special is that it’s Audi’s first plug-in hybrid model to be made in China – that and the fact it can run on pure electricity for 50km (31 miles) offering a total range of 880km (547 miles).

Based on the Chinese-market long version of the A6, the e-tron’s plug-in hybrid drive pairs a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol with 211PS (208hp) and 350Nm (258 lb-ft) to a disc-shaped electric motor producing 91 kW (122hp) and 220Nm (162 lb-ft) integrated to an 8sp tiptronic automatic.

There’s a lithium-ion battery stored beneath the luggage compartment that eats away some space reducing capacity to 340 liters (11.9 cu ft), which can be charged through a high-power industrial outlet in roughly two hours, but if you’re at home, it will take more than eight hours.

Total system output is 245PS (242hp) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) with the +2 tonne sedan (4,409 lbs) cruising to 100km/h (62mph) in 8.4 seconds and on to a limited top speed of 210km/h (131mph).

Audi states that, “according to the measurement method prescribed in China for plug-in hybrid vehicles, it consumes just 2.2l/100 km or 106.9 US mpg, corresponding to 52 grams CO2 per kilometer (83.7 g/miles)”.