- Audi confirms no traditional S6 sedan in the 2026 A6 lineup.
- Only current S6 is an electric e-tron Sportback, not a sedan.
- New A6 has 362 hp and hits 62 mph quicker than old S6.
Audi has confirmed that the latest A6 will not include a traditional S6 variant, even with a new RS6 lurking just around the corner. For buyers still attached to the S6 badge, that leaves two options: the all-electric S6 e-tron Sportback, which isn’t even a proper sedan but a liftback, or the standard A6 with an S Line package, which, on paper at least, is actually quicker.
Read: New Audi A6 e-tron Outshines BMW i5 And Mercedes EQE With Lower Pricing
The German automaker currently offers 13 model lines in the U.S. market, comprising a total of 31 models. Seven of those are sedans, while the rest fall into crossover or SUV territory. The lineup grows even more layered when factoring in e-tron variants of the Q4, Q6, and A6. Given that, the decision to quietly retire the S6 nameplate doesn’t come as a major surprise.
As reported by Edmunds, it’s also not as though the standard Audi A6 is lacking in performance. It has the same 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology like models such as the new S5 and SQ5, producing 362 hp and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm). This means it can reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.5 seconds, a tenth of a second faster than the previous 444hp S6.
An Audi spokesperson confirmed to The Autopian that there will be no S6 model offered for the 2026 model year. However, they declined to clarify whether it might return at a later date.
A6 Updates
Confirmation about the S6’s absence from the brand’s current range coincided with Audi launching an updated version of the standard A6 in the US for the 2026 model year. It follows the recent model-year updates to the 2026 Audi A5, Q6, A6 e-tron, and Q6 e-tron models.
This means that, like those models, the 2026 A6 TFSI includes Audi’s updated four-spoke steering wheel, now fitted with two scroll wheels. The infotainment system has also been updated to include fewer lists, and owners can opt for a high-resolution dashcam integrated into the rear-view mirror base.
There is also an improved parking assist function and better voice control. Audi has made these updates while retaining the model’s $64,100 starting price.
2026 Audi A6
