Audi is gearing up to unveil the next-generation A6 Avant on January 4. They’ve just dropped a teaser image, giving a first look at the new model. Interestingly, this wasn’t always the plan. Audi initially wanted to rename the gas-powered A6 as the A7. The idea was to keep things neat and tidy: even numbers for electric vehicles and odd numbers for gas-powered cars. It made sense, especially with Audi’s growing electric lineup. But they’ve changed their mind. Audi is going back to its old naming system, where numbers simply show the size of the car, not what’s under the hood. It’s a surprising U-turn, especially since the new naming plan was only announced last year. To keep things clear, Audi will use different suffixes for each powertrain. TFSI for petrol, TFSIe for plug-in hybrids, TDI for diesels, and e-Tron for electric cars. They’ll also stick with familiar tags like Sedan, Avant, and Sportback to describe the body style. Read More Lamborghini Polo Storico Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Snowy Alps Audi Drops Confusing Naming Scheme with Next-Gen A6 Avant Audi is ditching its confusing naming system, and the next-generation A6 Avant will be the first to show off the change on January 4. The old system, with cryptic codes like "55 TFSI" and "40 TDI", left many scratching their heads. It was a good idea on paper but didn’t work out in practice. There’s also a new RS6 Avant on the way. Audi might drop the V-8 for a plug-in hybrid V-6. The German automaker is also simplifying its lineup. They’ll keep "A" for cars and "Q" for crossovers, but the A1 and Q2 are on their way out. They’re cutting the smallest models to focus on bigger sellers. And if you were hoping for the new A5 to switch back to the A4 name, don’t hold your breath. The new naming system only affects upcoming models. Audi’s changes might seem small, but they mark a shift in how the brand is thinking about its future. It’s a fresh start, and the next-generation A6 Avant is leading the way. Next-Generation Audi A6: What to Expect The next-generation Audi A6 is almost here. Camouflaged prototypes of the A6 sedan and A6 Avant wagon have been spotted testing for over a year. Audi has plans for a sporty S6, a high-performance RS 6, and even a rugged A6 Allroad. For US buyers, the new A6 is expected to hit the market as a 2026 model, but it’s still anyone’s guess which versions will actually be sold stateside. In the past, the A6 Avant was only available as the A6 Allroad and the powerful RS 6, so Audi might stick with that formula. But we’ll have to wait and see. Read More KAMM Celebrates 60 Years of Porsche 912 with €395k Restomod Audi is keeping quiet about the technical details, but the new A6 is expected to ride on Volkswagen Group’s PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) architecture. This is the same platform used in the new A5, built for gasoline and plug-in hybrid powertrains. It comes with front-wheel drive as standard, but there’s also an all-wheel drive option. This launch is part of Audi’s big model rollout, which includes the new A5, the electric A6 E-Tron and Q6 E-Tron, and updated versions of the Q5 and Q5 Sportback. There’s also a new Q3 set to debut later this year. Source: Audi
