If the Audi Q6 e-tron will be launched in 2024 with only two engines, we are able to reveal to you the first information on the still secret versions of this new electric car. A coupe body, more affordable, long-range or hyper-sporty versions: there will be something for everyone!
After a campaign of teasingAudi has finally lifted the veil on its new electric car, the Q6 e-tron. This large SUV, a head-on competitor to the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and Tesla Model Y, highlights its new platform and its latest technologies to stand out.
This Q6 e-tron, which we have already seen, will arrive in summer 2024 with two different engines. However, they will not stay alone for long, since a whole range will expand the catalog, in order to offer a version for each use. Here's everything we know.
Two versions at the start
When orders open on March 27, 2024, the Audi Q6 e-tron will be available in two versions: the Q6 e-tron quattro and the SQ6 e-tron. They share a battery with a capacity of 100 kWh, of which 94.9 kWh can be used. Charging takes advantage of the 800 volt architecture to accept up to 270 kW of power, enough to go from 10 to 80% battery in 21 minutes.
THE Q6 e-tron quattroas its name suggests, will be a all-wheel drive. Its two engines develop a total power of 285 kW, i.e. 387 hp, for 535 Nm of torque. Enough to promise a 0 to 100 km/h delivered in 5.9 sec. Autonomy level, Audi announces 625km in one charge according to the WLTP standard thanks to a consumption of 17 kWh/100 km (taking into account recharging losses).
This Q6 e-tron quattro is not a featherweight, with 2,325 kg on the scale – the fault, in particular, of the enormous battery. Count 83,450 euros at least.
THE SQ6 e-tron, like the rest of the Audi range, will play more on the sport score. We go to 360 kW (489 hp), which can even climb to 380 kW (517 hp) the time of a overboost. The torque, for its part, pushes to 820 Nm. Logically, 0 to 100 km/h is faster, and is content with 4.3 sec. Inevitably, autonomy suffers a little, moving to 598 km WLTP, with consumption set at 17.5 kWh/100 km.
Who says bigger engine says weight (again) increasing: it is therefore necessary to take into account 2,350 kg for this SQ6 e-tron. The price goes the same, with 99,870 euros excluding option.
We have made a summary table for you:
| Q6 e-tron quattro | SQ6 e-tron | |
|---|---|---|
| Power (kW) | 285 | 360 / 380 (overboost) |
| Power (hp) | 387 | 489 / 517 (overboost) |
| Torque (Nm) | 535 | 820 |
| 0-100 km/h (s) | 5.9 | 4.3 |
| Max speed (km/h) | 210 | 230 |
| Max WLTP range (km) | 625 | 598 |
| WLTP consumption (kWh/100 km) | 17 | 17.5 |
| Weight (kg) | 2,325 | 2,350 |
| Price (euros) | 83,450 | 99,870 |
That's it for the official information. Now let's move on to the dark side, with releases coming in the following months.
Cheaper and lighter propulsion versions
The next step for Audi will be to offer more accessible versions. For this, two levers: one smaller batteryand the transition to a single engine. Two versions will be released current 2025.
Concerning the battery, the raw capacity will therefore increase from 100 to 83 kWh (the actual usable capacity is not yet defined). Concretely, the pack goes from 12 to 10 modules, removing the two in the center – no change, therefore, to the space on board.
It will retain the 800 volt architecture of its big sister, but the maximum charging power may be a little lower. We let our eyes and ears drag, and we could consider a power “limited” to 225 kW. This already remains respectable, and the recharge time should not changesince the capacity to recover is less.
Concerning the engines, we will move to an architecture “propulsion”, with a single engine at the rear. Two versions will be available.
The first, soberly called “Q6 e-tron”should keep the 280 kW rear motor (381 hp) of the Q6 e-tron quattro. Perhaps we will be entitled to a less powerful version, with a electronic clamping.
Surprisingly, despite the smaller battery: this would be the version that would have the greatest autonomy of the range, therefore exceeding the 625 km of the Q6 e-tron quattro. Let's thank the reduced power and weight here.
This “great autonomy” version will be supported by the “Q6 e-tron Performance”. It will still be propulsion, but with an engine more powerful. If Audi remains silent on the power of the engine, we can venture into the technical intricacies of the Q6 e-tron platform to find valuable clues.
The Q6 e-tron is therefore based on the PPE platform, shared with the electric Porsche Macan. It turns out that the Porsche Macan Turbo has a 495 kW engine (673 hp) on its rear axle and, as we were told that only two rear engines were on the program on the platform, we should therefore find it in this Q6 e-tron Performance.
Here too, it remains to be seen whether the latter will be restrained or not. This could be within the realm of possibility: more than 670 hp to be placed solely on the rear wheels, that's starting to add up…
A high-performance RS version
Who says Audi says, of course, RS. No reason for the Q6 e-tron to escape the brand's hyper-sporty label, and we should therefore be entitled to a RS Q6 e-tron.
Here too, no details have filtered out. So let's move into the conditional, and see what Porsche does. The Macan Turbo, which currently heads the range, therefore combines the 495 kW (673 hp) rear engine with a 175 kW (238 hp) front engine, all announcing a cumulative power of 470 kW (639 hp). This RS Q6 e-tron could therefore use these two engines, but in a different configuration. Maybe more powerful? Response, again, in 2025.
Ah, and in terms of chassis, the RS Q6 e-tron should recover rear wheel steering, strangely absent from the launch versions but available on the Macan. Enough to improve the agility of this beautiful baby, 4.77 m long.
A new Sportback body
Do you want more ? Please note that a version Sportbackwith a “coupe SUV” look, will also arrive with all of the versions we have just talked about.
Here too, no surprises, since all electric Audi SUVs (and a good part of the thermal ones) are entitled to this body with the plunging roof. All engines will be taken over, but with a few kilometers of additional range compared to the SUV, thanks to its more advantageous aerodynamics.
Here too, go to 2025.
Bonus exoticism
Oh, and for your information, a Q6 e-tron dedicated to Asian markets will also be available: the Q6 L e-tron.
Designed by and for China, it will have an extended wheelbase and specific styling details to best suit local tastes. It will never arrive in Europe.
Ten versions for all tastes
We have made a small summary table for you of the different versions planned in Europe:
| Number of engines | Battery capacity (kWh) | Power (hp) | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q6 e-tron | 1 (propulsion) | 83 | NC (381 max) | 2025 |
| Q6 e-tron Performance | 1 (propulsion) | 83 | NC (673 max) | 2025 |
| Q6 e-tron quattro | 2 (4×4) | 100 | 387 | 2024 |
| SQ6 e-tron | 2 (4×4) | 100 | 517 | 2024 |
| RS Q6 e-tron | 2 (4×4) | 100 | NC | 2025 |
You will have understood: with five engines and two different bodies for this Q6 e-tron, Audi is living up to its reputation for occupying the smallest niche in automobile production.
It remains to be seen whether the customers will be there, since Audi will not sell off its new electric SUV. The quattro version is in fact priced from 83,450 euros excluding options…
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