New Audi A6 L e-tron Returns 106.9mpg US But Only in China

This is the China-only new A6 L e-tron, a plug-in hybrid derivative of the stretched A6 Audi builds there.

The Audi A6 L e-tron uses a turbocharged four-cylinder 211hp 2.0-litre TFSI engine combined with a 122hp electric motor which is integrated into the eight-speed tiptronic gearbox. The combined output is rated at 245hp and 500Nm (368.8 lb-ft) of torque. According to China’s standards for plug-in hybrids, fuel consumption is just 2.2lt/100km (106.9 mpg US) with the CO2 emissions of just 52gr/km.

The lithium-ion battery has a 14.1kWh capacity and it’s located underneath the boot, bringing down its capacity to 337 litres. Thanks to that battery though, the A6 L e-tron has a purely electric range of 50km (31.1 miles) while the total range is rated at 880km (about 546 miles). Audi says that the battery can be charged fully in “roughly two hours” when a high power outlet and charging cable is used, with the typical household outlets prolonging the procedure to “somewhat longer than eight hours”.

Despite weighing over 2 tonnes, performance is still brisk enough with the sprint from 0-100km/h (0-62mph) taking 8.4 seconds and the top speed limited to 210km/h (130mph). The driver can choose from different driving modes like the “EV” mode which prioritizes the electric power use to speeds up to 135km/h (about 84mph), “Hybrid” mode which leaves the system to operate for the best possible efficiency and “Battery Hold” mode which sends all the available energy into charging the battery.

The new Audi A6 L e-tron is expected to be launched on the Chinese market in 2016 and will be produced in the northern Chinese city of Changchun by an Audi joint venture with FAW-Volkswagen.