After spy photos, delays, interior reveals, and too many teasers to count, the Audi Q6 e-tron has finally been unveiled.
It’s based on Premium Platform Electric (PPE), a new architecture jointly developed with Porsche, which made its debut underneath the second-generation Porsche Macan that was revealed at the end of January.
Audi Australia has confirmed the Q6 e-tron will come here, but hasn’t specified launch timing.
The new Q6 e-tron is 4771mm long, 1993mm wide, 1648mm tall, and rides on a 2899mm wheelbase.
Q6 e-tron (left) and SQ6 e-tron (right)
By comparison, the second-generation Macan is 13mm longer, 55mm narrower, has a 26mm lower roof, and rides on a 6mm shorter wheelbase.
At launch in Europe the Q6 e-tron will be available with two all-wheel drive drivetrains, both with a motor for each axle.
The standard Q6 e-tron has a total of 285kW at its disposal, and is capable of a 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 210km/h.
Step up to the SQ6 e-tron and there’s 380kW under foot, with the 0-100km/h time slashed to 4.3 seconds and the top speed increased to 230km/h.
Predictably both Q6 variants are less powerful than the two models that will initially populate the new Macan range: the 300kW/650Nm Macan 4, and the 470kW/1130Nm Macan Turbo.
Both Q6 e-tron models have a battery rated at 100kWh gross – the same as the Macan – but only 94.9kWh net, which is 1.1kWh less than the number quoted by Porsche. Maximum range is 625km using the WLTP standard.
Audi has confirmed it will launch single-motor rear-wheel drive variants in the not-too-distant future to lower the price of entry. Rear-wheel drive models will be available with either the 100kWh battery or a lighter 83kWh unit.
Handling and grip are said to be good thanks to the car’s rear-biased weight distribution, while a larger motor at the rear prioritises torque output to the wider rear wheels.
Like the Macan, and probably all upcoming vehicles on the PPE architecture, the Q6 e-tron has an 800V electrical system, and supports DC fast charging up to 270kW, as well as AC charging up to 11kW.
As we’ve known for a while now, the Q6 e-tron’s styling is a gentle evolution of the design language used in the rest of the Audi range.
Up front there’s a closed off single-frame grille flanked by a pair of split headlights, available with matrix LED lighting units. While at the rear there are full-width tail-lights that are optionally illuminated by OLED lights.
Unlike the new Macan, which is only available right now as a “coupe”, the Q6 e-tron sports a more traditional upright tailgate, although spy photos indicate a sleeker Sportback model is lurking in the shadows.
Audi says the new Q6 e-tron has 526L of storage space in the boot, which grows to 1529L when the 40/20/40 split-fold rear seat is laid down. Under the bonnet is a 64L frunk.
Inside the cabin there’s seating for up to five people, and the dashboard is dominated by a new-to-Audi curved display area that houses a 11.9-inch instrumentation display and a 14.5-inch touchscreen.
The infotainment system runs on the Android Automotive operating system, and supports app downloads.
The dashboard wraps around into the doors, and includes a “dynamic interaction” light bar that communicates with the driver and passenger. The cabin is said to feature plenty of soft-touch and recycled materials.
Options include a third display – a 10.9-inch unit – in front of the front passenger that’s polarised so as not to be visible to the driver, and an augmented reality head-up display which can show information that seems to be up to 200m away.
For those willing to open their cheque books still further, there’s an 830W Bang & Olufsen sound system with 20 speakers, including four integrated into the front head rests.
The European order books for the Q6 e-tron are open now, but deliveries won’t take place until the third quarter this year.
Although the Macan and Q6 e-tron are mechanically and structurally related, they will be made at different facilities, with the Porsche to be produced in Leipzig, and the Audi made in Ingolstadt.
Pricing on the Continent starts at €74,700 ($124,000) for the Q6 e-tron, and €93,800 ($156,000) for the SQ6 e-tron, undercutting the Macan 4 that begins at €84,100 ($140,000) and the Macan Turbo that kicks off at €114,600 ($190,000).
The dual-motor long range Tesla Model Y, for those interested, is priced from €52,490 ($87,000) in Germany.
