The Audi A6 Sportback e-tron breaks all aerodynamic records

Audi has once again outdone itself with the launch of the A6 Sportback e-tron, a new fully electric model that has an impressive coefficient aerodynamic (Cx) of 0.21, the lowest ever achieved by the brand. An achievement that places the A6 Sportback e-tron at the forefront of aerodynamic efficiency within the Grupo Volkswagen and they will surely use the same techniques in future models.

The key behind this advance is the obsessive attention to the details and interdisciplinary collaboration. Audi aerodynamics specialists Andreas Lauterbach and Matteo Ghelfi, together with wheel designer Andreas Valencia, explain how this record was achieved through an iterative process involving more than 1,300 simulations and numerous hours in the wind tunnel.

«From the beginning of the project, we set very high goals. ambitious in terms of efficiency and autonomy. The last thousandth of Cx value is the most difficult to achieve, but in the end, we exceeded our expectations", says Lauterbach.

History of aerodynamics at Audi

Audi's dedication to aerodynamics is not new. Since the NSU Ro 80 From the 1967 Audi 0.35 (C100) with a Cd of 3 to the 1983 Audi 0.30 (C80) with a Cd of 3, the brand with the four rings has been at the forefront of aerodynamic design. The third-generation Audi 0.29 (B6) achieved a Cd of XNUMX, and now, the AXNUMX e-tron is here to dethrone all previous models with a Cd of XNUMX. 0.21.

Key technical innovations

The developments in the A6 Sportback e-tron are the result of a series of technical innovations. The shape of the vehicle, with a slim glass surface and a roof line inclined, is essential for its aerodynamic performance. In addition, the car's underbody, with optimized curvatures and reinforcement ribs, and the rear diffuser, play crucial roles.

«We examined each curve individually. The underbody of the A6 Sportback e-tron is largely faired, and we optimized many parts, including the spoilers of the wheels and the 3D bumpers," explains Ghelfi.

Tires designed for efficiency

Wheel design has also been an essential part of the project. Andreas Valencia, the wheel designer, details how specific aerodynamic wheels have been developed. 19, 20 and 21 inches for the A6 e-tron. These rims not only meet the stability requirements, but also make a significant contribution to the vehicle's aerodynamic efficiency.

«We want the wind to flow along a wall rather than a set of geometric shapes. That's why we developed rims with aero blades made from a special plastic," says Valencia.

Results

The results of these efforts are clear: the A6 Sportback e-tron not only achieves a Cx of 0.21, but the A6 Avant e-tronIts family variant achieves a Cx of 0.24, placing it as the leader in its category.

Impact on autonomy

Every small tweak in the design has had a significant impact on the autonomy of the vehicle. For example, optimizing the aerodynamic bezels at the rear improved Cx by 0.008 points, adding eight additional kilometers of autonomy. The cold air intake under the single frame contributed an improvement of 0.012 points, equivalent to about 12 kilometers more range.