The Audi Q6 e-tron becomes the first model on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), showing how the company is moving towards offering top-notch electric cars. This electric SUV symbolizes advancement through technology. It’s not just about great driving and charging abilities, but also about being more efficient and having a longer range.
The PPE, made in collaboration with Porsche, and the E 1.2 electronic system are big steps forward for Audi’s electric car lineup worldwide. They kick off a big upgrade and rejuvenation of their range of models. The Q6 e-tron demonstrates Audi’s commitment to having electric cars in all key categories by 2027. Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, said at the world premiere in Ingolstadt, “The Audi Q6 e-tron, built on the new PPE platform, is a big leap forward in premium electric cars for our customers. The PPE shows how we’re bringing together expertise in the Volkswagen Group to make electric cars scalable. With the PPE, we can introduce high-volume models with top technical standards in different segments, further electrifying our lineup.”
Powerful, compact, and super efficient electric motors, along with a new lithium-ion battery made of twelve modules and 180 prismatic cells with a total capacity of 100 kWh, ensure a range of up to 625 km. The new Audi Q6 e-tron delivers the sporty performance Audi is known for, with a power output of 285 kW, setting standards for performance, range, charging, driving dynamics, and design. When the extra function is engaged, the SQ6 e-tron can reach a system output of up to 380 kW, making it even more powerful.
At launch, there will be two all-wheel-drive models, followed later by rear-wheel-drive models designed for efficiency and range, marking the start of the Q6 e-tron series.
Thanks to 800-volt technology and a max charging capacity of 270 kW, quick charging stops are possible with the Audi Q6 e-tron. Up to 255 km can be recharged in just ten minutes at an appropriate charging station. Intelligent thermal management is crucial for this impressive charging performance. With Plug & Charge, the vehicle authorizes itself at compatible charging stations and starts charging automatically. For the first time, bank charging is enabled, where the battery is divided into two halves and charged simultaneously.
Advanced recuperation helps increase the efficiency and range of the Audi Q6 e-tron, handling about 95% of everyday braking processes. The SUV offers ample space, comfort, and usability, meeting customers’ SUV expectations.
The Audi Q6 e-tron presents a striking and sporty appearance, with soft curves blending seamlessly with sharp edges, even when the car is still. Its front showcases a closed Singleframe design, bordered by a mask in selenite silver or gloss black, encasing the three-dimensional Singleframe and side air intakes. The digital daytime running lights, set high, give the Q6 e-tron a distinct and independent look.
The car’s greenhouse sits low and tightly over its robust body, tapering slightly towards the rear, where the D-pillars gracefully merge into the muscular shoulders of the bodywork. This creates a dynamic appearance, accentuated by a line running from the rear lights to the rear doors, highlighting the upper section of the “quattro blisters” – a key feature of Audi’s design. The rear of the car exudes a mix of sporty elegance and masculine power, with a clean and wide architecture accentuated by a continuous light strip.
The Audi Q6 e-tron not only marks a new chapter in electric mobility but also in Audi’s lighting technology. It introduces the world’s first active digital light signature, achieved through a software module in one of its domain computers. The second-generation digital OLED rear lights, with six OLED panels and a total of 360 segments, create a new image every ten milliseconds, enhancing the light’s liveliness and intelligence. This active digital light signature sets a new standard in lighting design and functionality, improving road safety. The car’s proximity detection system has been expanded to include a communication light, warning other road users of accidents or breakdowns.
Furthermore, the Audi Q6 e-tron offers a new level of customization with up to eight digital light signatures available for the Matrix LED headlights and digital OLED rear lights 2.0, allowing owners to personalize their vehicle like never before.
The interior of the Audi Q6 e-tron is all about meeting the user’s needs like never before. The design is three-dimensional and high-contrast, putting certain elements front and center while others fade into the background. This creates a space that’s designed and ergonomic for the people inside. The Audi MMI panoramic display and the MMI passenger display create a clear digital stage. The interior feels cozy, with the “Softwrap” extending from the doors across the entire cockpit, giving a unified and enveloping feel. The seats use the same colors and high-quality materials, some of which are recycled. Different areas of the interior are designed with comfort in mind, with soft surfaces for comfortable areas and high-quality black controls for clear interaction with the vehicle.
Thanks to the new PPE, designed specifically for electric cars, the Audi Q6 e-tron feels spacious and practical for everyday use. There’s plenty of storage space and compartments, including a roomy trunk with 526 liters of space. Folding down the rear seats increases storage to 1,529 liters. The rear seats can be folded down separately, and there’s an additional 64 liters of storage in the frunk under the front hood. Overall, the Q6 e-tron offers enough space for five passengers and their luggage, meeting the expectations of an Audi SUV.
The Audi Q6 e-tron comes with a fully connected and digital interior based on new electronic architecture. The Digital Stage, formed by the Audi MMI panoramic display and the MMI passenger display, is a key feature. These displays are integrated into the design, giving the interior an open and spacious feel. The Audi MMI panoramic display has a curved design and OLED technology, with the driver’s area designed in a curve. Ambient lighting makes the display seem to float at night. The front passenger also gets a display with Active Privacy Mode, allowing them to stream content without distracting the driver.
The optional Augmented Reality Head-Up Display is another big feature, reflecting information onto the windshield for the driver. It shows things like speed, traffic signs, and navigation symbols, making it seem like they’re floating up to 200 meters away. This information is easy to understand and doesn’t distract the driver.
The new infotainment system of the Audi Q6 e-tron marks a first for the brand, using Android Automotive OS as its operating system. With over-the-air updates, users can always enjoy the latest content and services, including Audi connect features and the enhanced e-tron route planner. Third-party apps like YouTube are accessible directly through the integrated app store, without the need for a smartphone. The app store offers a wide range of options, including music, video, gaming, navigation, productivity, weather, and news services, with continuous expansion and market-specific additions.
The Bang & Olufsen Premium sound system, a highlight of the Q6 e-tron, boasts a highly efficient amplifier powering 20 speakers with 830 watts of power. Four of these speakers are integrated into the front seat headrests, enabling sound zones within the car. The dynamic interaction light (IAL) enhances communication within the vehicle, spanning the interior as a broad arc. Additionally, the Q6 e-tron series comes standard with the enhanced e-tron route planner.
The chassis of the Q6 e-tron features newly developed systems and components, ensuring superior acceleration and deceleration in all driving conditions. With a precise set-up philosophy and coordinated suspension control systems, driving dynamics are significantly influenced, especially by the partially redesigned front axle.
In a first for Audi, the control arms are positioned in front of the suspension arms, providing packaging advantages for the high-voltage battery and improving kinematic properties. Refined axle kinematics and a fixed steering rack lead to increased driving dynamics and improved steering behavior, making the vehicle feel more agile.
The rear-biased torque distribution of the highly variable all-wheel-drive system enhances the dynamic driving characteristics of the Q6 e-tron. Different dimensions of the electric motors enable rear-biased torque distribution, complemented by wider rear tires to ensure grip and driving dynamics.
As the first all-electric model series produced at the Ingolstadt plant, the Q6 e-tron family represents Audi’s commitment to sustainability. The company is gradually converting production sites for the manufacture of all-electric models, prioritizing vertical integration and providing essential skills to the workforce for future endeavors, such as the new battery assembly plant in Ingolstadt. Audi’s dedication to sustainability extends from production to product, aligning with its decision to phase out the combustion engine and embrace electric mobility.
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