FIRST DRIVE
THE ISLAND OF TENERIFE —where the roads snake through lush forests, wind around dormant volcanoes, and open up to breathtaking coastal views—is the perfect backdrop to test a pair of all-new electric executive sedans from Audi: the 2025 A6 e-tron and its feistier sibling, the S6 e-tron. It’s a place where you can truly stretch a car’s legs—or in this case, its electrons. At first glance, the A6 e-tron and S6 e-tron look like they’ve been sculpted by a team of engineers with a deep love for both wind tunnels and sci-fi movies. Smooth, flowing lines, an illuminated front grille that feels like it should be greeting you with a “Welcome, Commander” message, and a stance that says, “Yes, I’m electric, but I still mean business.” The A6 e-tron is the more refined, grand-tourer of the duo, while the S6 e-tron cranks up the aggression with larger wheels, sharper aero elements, and enough road presence to make supercar owners do
a double-take. Both models sit on Audi’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE), which they share with the Porsche Macan EV— so yes, there’s some serious engineering muscle beneath that sleek sheet metal. Launching the A6 e-tron onto Tenerife’s coastal roads is like pressing fast-forward on real life. Even the base model with its dual-motor setup offers a hearty 422 horsepower (456 hp with launch control), while the S6 e-tron laughs in the face of restraint, pushing out up to 543 hp (available with launch control) with instant torque that makes passing slower traffic almost too easy (sorry, rental Volkswagen Polos). Despite its size, the A6 e-tron glides through corners with surprising agility, the low-slung battery pack keeping it firmly planted. The steering is precise but not overly talkative—classic Audi. The S6, however, turns everything up a notch. More power, a sportier suspension tune, and rear-
"At first glance, the A6 e-tron and S6 e-tron look like they’ve been sculpted by a team of engineers with a deep love for both wind tunnels and sci-fi movies."
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