Electric loaders: These are the new electric station wagons

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Switzerland is a combination country. More precisely: it was him. In the past, middle-class models such as the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class or VW Passat were very popular as station wagons. However, with increasing interest in SUVs, Switzerland changed course. And electromobility has further strengthened this trend. But the current trend returns to station wagons with large tailgates: manufacturers integrate battery packs so cleverly that they can fit not only in crossovers, but also in the flat station wagon body.

Chinese manufacturers were the first to prove how this could be done: MG introduced the MG5 electric station wagon in 2022, and Nio introduced the ET5 a year later. Stellantis subsidiaries Peugeot and Opel have also stepped up their game this year: their two tech siblings, the e-308 SW and Astra Electric, are available as sedan and station wagon. Now other manufacturers are joining this bandwagon. Here’s an overview of upcoming electric station wagons.

Better late than never: The automaker from Ingolstadt (D) will electrify its upper middle-class station wagon – but this will not happen until mid-2024 at the earliest due to fundamental problems in the group’s new software architecture. Audi shows A6 Avant E study presented at Shanghai CHN in 2022 -Tron first gives a glimpse of future series models of the new PPE technology platform. The Porsche Macan and Audi Q6 E-Tron already use them.

The near-production run has approximately the dimensions of the current A6 Avant (boot volume 565 to 1680 litres) and will be available as a sedan and station wagon (Avant). The A6 Avant E-Tron Concept comes with all-wheel drive, air suspension and two electric motors producing a total power of 350 kW (476 hp). The 100 kWh battery will allow a range of approximately 700 kilometers thanks to optimum aerodynamics and a drag coefficient of 0.24 (sedan 0.22). Thanks to the 800 volt technology developed by Porsche, charging up to 270 kW is possible and the batteries are charged from 5 percent to 80 percent in less than 25 minutes.

It was clear that Audi’s parent company, VW, wasn’t going to give up a station wagon for the Passat’s battery-electric equivalent. So next year the ID.7 will also receive what VW traditionally calls a station wagon or Tourer. Why name change? The secret of the marketing department. Most details about the station wagon version are still under wraps. However, since it is based on the same platform as the sedan, the battery and driving data must remain the same.

In the Pro version of the sedan, the batteries have a capacity of 82 kWh (net 77 kWh), which is enough for a range of up to 621 kilometers. The station wagon should have a drag coefficient of 0.24, which is only 0.01 higher, and so should be almost equally aerodynamic; this helps with range. The rear-wheel drive ID.7 Tourer with 286 hp (210 kW) will be released in Pro equipment. With a charging power of up to 200 kW, the batteries are charged to 80 percent in five and 28 minutes. Of course, no price yet; The current ID.7 starts at 66,500 francs. For both ID.7 models, there will definitely be a more powerful version with all-wheel drive.

One of the rivals of the Audi A6 Avant is the BMW 5 Series Touring. But BMW does something differently: It uses platforms that enable both conventional combustion engines and fully electric powertrains. This year BMW launched the new 5 Series, which includes two E versions as the i5. And the station wagon should be available from spring.

BMW isn’t showing off more than a silhouette yet, but the Touring is likely to be identical to the sedan, right down to the B-pillar. This also applies to the technical data: The basic version of the BMW i5 eDrive40 will have 340 hp (250 kW) with rear-wheel drive and a net 81.2 kWh battery pack. The all-wheel drive BMW i5 xDrive M60 model with the same battery produces 601 hp (442 kW). The rear-wheel drive i5 can travel up to 582 kilometers and its price starts from 69,950 francs. The four-wheel drive vehicle is available at prices starting from 99,950 francs and has a range of up to 510 kilometers. However, prices for station wagons are not yet known.

The focus is still on electric SUVs; Mercedes will be the last of the German donkey manufacturers to follow suit with an electric station wagon. Mercedes surprisingly announced at the IAA 2023 in Munich (D) that the next CLA, whose sales will begin as a sedan in 2025, will also follow as a station wagon model.

The German automaker used a prototype at the IAA to show what this new model family could look like on the new Mercedes Group platform (MMA): “The car is very close to series production and offers a glimpse into Mercedes’ entry into the electric world,” said product manager Timo Kallenbach.The model is the Mercedes Vision EQXX study of 2022, from the bottleneck shape of the body to the efficiency of the powertrain.The new CLA electric car is expected to cover more than 750 kilometers in the standard cycle and will be the new entry-level model from 2025.

Source: Blick