AUDI A6 E-TRON FOR PURISTS...

The first all-electric Audi available as a sportback & estate

- With JOHN MITCHELL & JUSTIN DELANEY

YOU could be forgiven for thinking Audi had been quiet as of late as the Chinese sweep across the forecourts in ever greater numbers, but there's life in the premium sector yet - especially in the high end electric sector.

Audi has a tonne of new electric models in the pipeline and this week we got to grips with the first of a whole new generation: the new A6 e-tron.

The first all-electric Audi to be available as both a sportback and an Avant (Audi speak for estate), the new A6 e-tron packs up to 751km of range and a lightning quick recharge system offering 310km in ten minutes thanks to its 800v architecture.

We tested the new car at the expansive Killruddery House in Co Wicklow on a rare sunny day.

This was the first model launch with Chris-tian Gussen back at the helm as Audi Ireland's brand director.