Audi Cancels the RS6 e-tron Avant, Polestar Delays the 6 Roadster
Electric performance vehicles are struggling to capture the attention of enthusiasts, leading Audi and Polestar to reevaluate their plans.
Polestar
Performance-focused EVs are struggling to gain traction with enthusiasts, leading automakers to reconsider their plans.
According to a report for Top Gear, Audi canceled plans for a high-powered RS6 e-tron station wagon.
In an interview with Autocar, Polestar confirmed that it was shifting its planned production of the 6 roadster, instead focusing on the upcoming 7 SUV.
Electric sports cars are a tough sell. Many car enthusiasts revel in the visceral sounds and vibrations emitted by an internal-combustion engine, which EVs can’t match, even with piped-in engine noise. Sports car buyers also like to handle shifting duties themselves, and EVs aren’t compatible with a manual gearbox. The lack of interest in electric performance cars now has many automakers reconsidering their plans, with Polestar set to delay its electric roadster and Audi reportedly cancelling a potent RS6 e-tron.
No Fast Electric Wagons
Audi launched its mid-sized electric sedan in the United States this year, with the A6 e-tron and S6 e-tron set to live alongside the gas-powered A6 for the foreseeable future. The current offerings are no slouches, with the base A6 e-tron producing 375 horsepower from a single rear-mounted motor and the all-wheel-drive Quattro variant upping output to 456 hp. The S6 e-tron’s dual-motor powertrain is good for a healthy 543 horsepower.
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Audi
The RS6 e-tron would have been even more powerful than the S6 e-tron that is already on sale.
Still, rumors had persisted that the German automaker would develop an even more powerful version of the A6 e-tron that would wear the RS badge. The word on the street was that the RS6 e-tron could have churned out over 800 horsepower, with all-wheel drive helping it blast to 60 mph in around three seconds. The RS6 e-tron would have likely arrived in wagon form—or Avant, in Audi-speak—just like the gas-powered RS6 Avant. Audi already sells an A6 e-tron Avant in other markets.
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But now, according to a report from Top Gear, the RS6 e-tron project has been canceled. The publication’s sources at Audi said there wasn’t enough demand to continue development of a high-powered electric wagon. We have reached out to Audi for comment and will update this story when we hear back.
Instead, the RS6 badge is set to return on the gas-powered wagon, which enters its sixth generation for the 2026 model year. Prototypes have been caught testing with wide wheel arches and a mean-looking grille, and the RS6 Avant is expected to retain a V-8 engine, possibly adding electric assistance from a hybrid system.
Polestar Prioritizes SUVs
Meanwhile, over in Sweden, Polestar has decided to postpone the launch of its electric roadster, set to be called the Polestar 6 and originally previewed by the O2 concept from 2022. In an interview with Autocar, CEO Michael Lohscheller said the automaker was instead prioritizing the Polestar 7, a small SUV, and a successor to the Polestar 2, an electric hatchback that was recently dropped from the U.S. lineup.
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Polestar
According to Lohscheller, Polestar still plans on eventually putting the 6, which will share its platform with the recently revealed Polestar 5 sedan, into production. While it was originally expected to arrive around 2028, the Polestar 6 now might not reach dealerships before 2030. The Polestar 6 would likely be incredibly expensive—the Polestar 5 is expected to start around $135,000—and would be produced in low volumes.
The 7 and next-generation 2, meanwhile, will both be high-volume models, something Polestar desperately needs as it has struggled to get the Polestar 3 SUV and Polestar 4 SUV launched in the United States. The brand’s sales have also tanked in China, the home market for Polestar’s parent company Geely, and there are reports that Polestar may leave the country entirely, the most lucrative market for EVs on the planet. The 7 will target younger shoppers and will carry an affordable price tag, Lohscheller told Autocar.
More on Electric Performance Cars
Review, Pricing, and Specs for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Audi’s EV Sports Car Could Have a Virtual Gearbox
2027 Mercedes-AMG GT EV: What We Know So Far
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Caleb Miller
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.