Audi Q6 e-tron EV Bound for Australia

Audi has revealed the Q6 e-tron, its first production model built on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) – a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) platform developed jointly with Porsche and which will underpin many BEV models from the two companies in coming years.

The Audi Q6 e-tron will be available initially in two variants – the Q6 Quattro and SQ6. Both boast an All-Wheel-Drive (AWD), dual motor, 100kWh battery set-up, with the Q6 boasting 285kW of power, while the SQ6 gets 380kW.

The Q6 e-tron can get to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 210km/h.

The SQ6 gets to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds, while its top speed is 230km/h.

800-volt technology and a maximum charging capacity of 270kW mean up to 255km of range can be recharged in 10 minutes. Charging from 10 to 80 per cent takes around 21 minutes. Range is up to 625km (WLTP standard) for the Q6
e-tron and 598km for the SQ6.

If a charging station works with 400-volt technology, Audi says the Q6 e-tron can enable bank charging. This mean the 800-volt battery is automatically divided into two batteries at equal voltage, which can then be charged in parallel up to 135kW. AC charging with up to 11kW is possible at standard home chargers.

Audi says that most of the systems and components making up the chassis are newly developed. The company says the driving dynamics of the Q6 e-tron are significantly influenced by the partially redesigned front axle. For the first time in an Audi model, the control arms are positioned in front of the suspension arms. This results in package advantages for the positioning of the high-voltage battery. The steering rack is now fixed to a subframe, and Audi says the new front axle improves the steering behaviour.

The different dimensions of the electric motors on the rear and front axles enable rear-biased torque distribution even under full load and in order to complement this set up, the rear tyres of the Q6 e-tron are wider than those at the front.

Futuristic touches include the OLED lighting at the rear which enables the Q6 to ‘communicate’. In addition to the regular taillight graphics, warning symbols in critical driving or traffic situations can be displayed.

Inside, a panoramic display consists of an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit and 14.5-inch MMI (Multi-Media Interface) touch display. There’s a 10.9-inch MMI front passenger display too, plus an optional augmented reality head-up display. A new infotainment system uses Android Automotive OS as its operating system.

Audi says content for the new infotainment system is always up to date thanks to over-the-air updates. Apps such as YouTube are available via the store for third-party apps, which is integrated directly into the MMI and does not require a smartphone. Applications from categories including music, video, gaming, navigation, parking & charging, productivity, weather, and news services, are to be available.

A self-learning voice assistant, the Audi Assistant, can be used to control numerous vehicle functions. The digital assistant with AI support is displayed using an avatar in the central touch display of the MMI and in the augmented reality head-up display.

Audi says the new voice assistant understands more than 800 voice commands.
While there are just two AWD variants available at launch, Audi says rear-wheel drive models will become available.