First Look: Audi Q6 & SQ6 e-tron – Up to 510 HP, 625 KM Range

The all-new Audi Q6 e-tron breaks cover as the Four Rings marque’s answer to the new Porsche Macan EV.

Following a lengthy teaser campaign featuring its prototype preview and high-tech cabin teaser, the much-anticipated Audi Q6 e-tron has finally made its global debut today. Aside from being the marque’s latest all-electric model, the Q6 e-tron is also Audi’s first model to underpin Volkswagen Group’s new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) EV architecture, which this EV SUV shared with the new Porsche Macan EV.

The Q6 e-tron slots between the Q8 and Q4 e-tron as part of Audi's newly-revamped EV SUV lineup.

Sandwiched between the Q8 and Q4 e-tron, the new Q6 e-tron measures 4,771 MM long, 1,993 MM wide, and 1,648 MM tall, with a wheelbase that spans 2,899 MM. This makes the Q6 e-tron measure 180 MM longer than the Q4, while being similarly sized as the new Macan EV.

Aside from the Singleframe front grille, the Q6 e-tron also comes with Audi's proprietary matrix LED lights with selectable digital light signatures.

Similar to both aforementioned e-tron SUVs, the Q6 e-tron gets a very familiar design, with its exterior highlight being the fully enclosed Singleframe front grille design that has become a staple in all Audi e-tron SUVs. Said grille is flanked by sleek LED matrix headlights that have an active digital light signature for the DRLs. This digital light signature is also present on the Q6’s LED taillights, allowing users to select a few presets for its lighting signatures.

In terms of the overall body style, the Q6 e-tron comes with more rounded curves and fewer edges compared to the bigger Q8 e-tron, while its flared-out wheel arches and protruding shoulder line give this EV SUV a more muscular stance. To jazz things up, customers can opt for the black pro styling pack, which, as its name suggests, adds a slew of black accents, dark badging, and more.

Depending on the variant, the standard Q6 e-tron rides on 18-inch wheels, while the S line variant gets bigger 19-inch wheels. Meanwhile, the sportier SQ6 e-tron gets snazzier 20-inch wheels as standard, while its bodywork has been blessed with a slew of faux aluminium accents to differentiate it from the standard Q6 variants.

The Q6 e-tron comes with Audi's latest cabin layout, featuring an augmented reality support and no less than three displays on the front dash.

As detailed by Audi during the Munich Motor Show last year, the Q6 e-tron cabin is meant to showcase the latest cabin layout by the automaker, featuring no more than three screens on its front dash. The centerpiece of this cabin is the dual panoramic display comprising a 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a bigger 14.5-inch infotainment unit, the latter running on the latest Android Automotive software.

Besides the two main displays, customers can also opt for an augmented reality head-up display (HUD), plus the third optional 10.9-inch display for the front passengers, enabling them to watch videos without distracting the driver. Topping off the cabin amenities list are the interaction light bar as well as a 22-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system.

Thanks to the 800-volt PPE architecture, the Q6 e-tron can support DCFC at up to 270 kW.

As we mentioned earlier, the Q6 e-tron underpins the same PPE architecture as the Porsche Macan EV, featuring a newly-developed 100-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that grants the standard Q6 up to 625 KM of maximum EV range. Thanks to its 800-volt battery architecture, the Q6 e-tron supports DCFC at up to 270 kW, allowing a 10-80% charge to be done in just 21 minutes.

The standard Q6 e-tron gets a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup rated at up to 382 HP.

For the international market, the standard Q6 e-tron’s dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup boasts a total system output of 382 HP (285 kW), allowing a fairly-decent 0-100 KM/H sprint finish of 5.9 seconds, as well as a capped V-Max of 210 KM/H.

Should you need more power, there’s the sportier SQ6 e-tron variant, which gets a peppier total system output of 483 HP (360 kW) and 510 HP (380 kW) with the launch control engaged. Thanks to this extra grunt, the SQ6 e-tron boasts a swift 0-96 KM/H (60 MPH) sprint finish of 4.2 seconds, while its top speed climbs up to 230 KM/H.

Sales and deliveries for both the Q6 and SQ6 e-tron are set to commence later in Q3 this year for the European market.

The all-new Audi Q6 e-tron will make its official European market entry later in Q3 this year, with its prices set to begin at €74,700 (RM383,834) for the standard Q6, while the sportier SQ6 is tagged higher at €93,800 (RM481,976). Besides the two variants, Audi is also working on several other versions of the Q6 e-tron, including a sleeker Sportback version and two rear-wheel-drive (RWD) models that focus on efficiency and range.