The Tesla Mannequin Y’s success as 2023’s greatest promoting automobile globally proves what we already know: Midsize premium SUVs are so scorching proper now (particularly in America) and many patrons within the class are each interested by and able to make the EV conversion. The brand new Audi Q6 e-tron and its sport-tuned SQ6 variant are pictures aimed on the coronary heart of this extremely aggressive phase, marking their debut with a salvo of latest applied sciences.
The Q6 is the primary Audi mannequin constructed on the brand new PPE electrical car platform shared with Porsche’s upcoming Macan EV, boasting sooner charging and improved effectivity. The EV fills its dashboard with the newest technology of the automaker’s tech and trio of OLED shows powered by Android and AI. Even the taillights break new floor with distinctive options that enhance security and magnificence. Audi has pulled out all the stops for what might be an important mannequin in its battery-powered lineup and a important step on the model’s path to full electrification.
Slotting into Audi’s e-tron household between the three-row Audi Q8 e-tron and the compact This autumn e-tron, the Q6 measures 187.8 inches lengthy with a 114.1 inch wheelbase — scaled to exactly compete with the Mannequin Y and function a premium various to different midsize EV SUVs just like the VW ID 4, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia’s EV6. You may discover round 18.6 cubic ft of cargo area behind the ability raise gate. Up entrance, an extra 2.2 cubic ft of frunk storage accommodates a small carry-on measurement bag or the charging cable. Inside, a spacious cabin boasts room for 5 passengers with a flat, hump-free flooring. Audi additionally claims over 2 tons (US) of towing functionality for the midsize e-tron SUV.
EV efficiency and vary
Underpinning the Q6 e-tron is the Volkswagen Group’s new Premium Platform Electrical structure, which is shared with the upcoming Porsche Macan EV. At launch, the SUV might be provided in two specs — Q6 and SQ6 — every with dual-motor all-wheel drive. The entrance motor is an asynchronous (ASM) unit that gives on-demand torque to the entrance axle as wanted, whereas the rear everlasting magnet (PSM) motor is a little more highly effective and serves full time. Each motors have been designed to make use of fewer heavy uncommon earth metals of their development and an identical diameters for his or her rotors and stators, which permits them to share many elements, saving price and complexity. One notable shared part is every motor’s self-contained dry sump lubrication and cooling system — impressed by motorsports combustion engines — which injects oil straight onto the e-motors’ rotating elements to enhance thermal efficiency, effectivity and, finally, vary.
The Q6 will debut in its all-wheel drive SUV configuration, however rear-drive and Sportback fashions will be part of the household post-launch.
Within the US, Q6 e-tron quattro outputs a mixed 315 kilowatts (or round 422 horsepower), however can enhance to 340 kW (456 hp) for a launch management burst to realize its estimated 5.0 second 0-60 mph dash. In the meantime, the stronger SQ6 e-tron steps as much as 360 kW mixed (483 hp) and a 380 kW (510 hp) launch-controlled dash to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. The SQ6’s 143 mph prime pace can also be barely greater than the Q6’s 130 mph pace restrict.
I used to be in a position to expertise the SQ6’s energy firsthand after I hopped behind the wheel of a European-spec prototype for a really transient first drive round a car parking zone dealing with course on the Audi Model Expertise Middle at Munich Airport. It is fast and intensely responsive in its Dynamic drive mode, which retains each motors energetic whereas additionally weighing up the steering for a extra exact really feel. Effectivity mode, however, deactivates the entrance motor for improved vary, retaining what nonetheless looks like ample energy for round city motoring. I would want extra time behind the wheel for extra detailed driving impressions, so we’ll loop again on the Q6 e-tron when the North American spec arrives.
The Q6 and SQ6 configurations each make use of a brand new 100 kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery pack (or 94.9 kWh when accounting for reserve) that includes a brand new chemistry that requires much less cobalt to supply whereas claiming 50% extra vitality density than the earlier technology. Audi says this permits the Q6’s pack to be 15% lighter than its earlier EV technology of the identical capability, squeezing “over 300 miles” of vary between prices. (Precise EPA estimates are but to be launched.) SQ6’s efficiency upgrades, bigger wheels and wider tires will price it a little bit of vary, however at time of publication, Audi hasn’t said how a lot.
One battery that acts like two
Audi additionally claims the brand new Q6’s 800-volt structure prices 30% sooner than its earlier EVs. If you could find an 800-volt DC quick charging station, the EV can settle for as much as 270 kW, rocketing from 10% to 80% state of cost in as brief as 21 minutes. Nonetheless, most DCFC stations you will discover immediately function at 400 volts. To cope with this, Audi’s 800-volt battery can break up itself into two “digital batteries” that cost in parallel at 400 volts every. On this mode, the utmost charging pace drops to 135 kW, however there’s much less vitality misplaced to voltage conversion, doubtlessly saving cost time and price.
When related to a decrease voltage DC quick charger, the Q6 e-tron’s 800-volt battery can break up into two 400-volt banks.
One factor that I’ve all the time liked about Audi’s e-tron fashions is that they are accessible with twin charging ports, which might now be discovered on the rear fenders of the Q6 the place they permit a bit extra flexibility when parking and charging at house and vacation spot chargers. On the driving force’s facet, the CCS combo port accommodates the DC quick charging and AC Degree 1 and Degree 2 charging. The passenger facet port is AC solely, accepting as much as 9.6 kW/40A on North American single-phase 240-volt energy. Although Audi has dedicated to switching to the NACS customary, the Q6 e-tron is not going to function the “Tesla port” at launch.
Like most EVs, the Q6 can also be in a position to recharge itself with recaptured braking vitality. There are actually 5 user-selectable regeneration modes, together with a brand new one-pedal driving mode that engages full regen when the accelerator is lifted and may deliver the SUV to a cease with out touching the brake pedal. All modes provide as much as 220 kW of recuperation — reclaiming as much as 95% of braking vitality with every cease — robotically balancing friction brakes with the regeneration as wanted.
Lively OLED know-how
This would not be an Audi debut and not using a new lighting know-how that is too superior for our car laws right here within the States. The brand new Q6 e-tron debuts new technology LED and OLED know-how. Up entrance, the daytime operating lights function 61 white LED segments every, whereas the taillights share 360 triangular digital OLED segments that may show animated sequences that greet the driving force when approaching or locking the car. This function additionally powers 11 user-selectable themes that customise the look and form of the SUV’s mild signature. One theme even options animations that play whereas driving, utilizing an algorithm to make sure that the general mild output of the animation stays fixed to scale back distraction to different drivers. US laws forestall using transferring lights on passenger vehicles, so we’ll get solely the static themes.
The subsequent-generation OLED Matrix taillights function consumer selectable themes and driver support iconography.
Past simply trying cool, Audi is considering of the way to make use of its lighting tech to enhance security. For instance, when activating the hazard lights or when the automated emergency braking system is triggered, the OLED taillights reshape to type a triangle icon (much like the form on the button for many vehicles’ hazard lights) to warn different drivers of hazard. Audi additionally demonstrated tail mild configurations that notified pedestrians or different drivers that the Q6 was performing an automatic parking maneuver or {that a} door was about to open into a motorbike lane. In all instances, the impact is delicate and does not appear to have an effect on visibility.
Audi Digital Stage
Settle in behind the wheel to be greeted by Audi’s new triple-display Digital Stage MMI infotainment suite. This setup mates a pair of versatile OLED shows — an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a big 14.5-inch principal touchscreen — to a single glass panel that curves across the steering wheel. The {hardware} runs the latest-generation of Audi’s Multimedia Interface (MMI) software program, which is now based mostly on Android Automotive OS. Although, with out “Google Constructed-In,” customers will use Audi’s personal curated market moderately than Google Play Providers to obtain apps like Spotify, PlugShare, YouTube or Seaside Buggy Racing. (Video apps and video games, by the way in which, might be restricted to make use of when parked and charging.)
Audi’s market additionally allows downloadable “perform on demand” options like improved encompass sound processing or alternate mild signature themes, which form of sounds cool. Nonetheless, principally this opens the potential for microtransactions and paywalling options which, finally, I am not tremendous thrilled about.
Rounding out this triple display screen rig is the ten.9-inch passenger show positioned on the far proper of the dashboard. This can be a totally featured infotainment interface that enables the entrance seat passenger to seek for and ship vacation spot to the principle navigation display screen, choose audio sources and extra. Passengers may even view video sources, like YouTube, whereas the car is in movement due to an Lively Privateness Mode that forestalls the driving force from seeing or being distracted by the auxiliary display screen.
There are fewer bodily controls and extra screens within the Q6 e-tron’s cabin, however a brand new AI voice assistant system (hopefully) reduces distraction.
This technology of MMI options fewer bodily and haptic controls than earlier than, sadly, transferring extra controls onto the contact display screen and voice management. To that finish, the Q6 will function Audi’s new AI-voice assistant powered by a mixture of cloud-based and offline pure language recognition with over 800 capabilities, many with as much as 100 variations. The system can even be capable of reply knowledge-based questions concerning the car itself (like “how a lot stress goes into the tire?”) and common topics.
Directional microphones be certain that a toddler within the backseat cannot change the route by shouting, “Hey Audi, navigate to Coldstone” — solely the driving force can do this. When the car detects that the driving force is alone within the cabin, the “Hey Audi” hotword is not even mandatory; simply converse aloud and the automobile will reply.
The Q6 e-tron can also be accessible with a big augmented actuality head-up show that tasks pace, navigation and driver support info into the driving force’s area of view. Audi says the HUD may also be used to play one in every of two video games utilizing steering wheel controls when the e-tron is parked. Alongside the sting of the dashboard on the base of the windshield, customers can even observe the Audi Interplay Mild, a strip of 84 full-color LEDs that mild up and animate to speak varied capabilities, such because the flip sign, driver support alerts or the AI Assistant voice command. The strip is seen from outdoors the car, permitting it to additionally function a charging indicator when plugged in. We have seen an identical know-how used on the Q6 e-tron’s older cousin, the Volkswagen ID 4.
The SQ6 e-tron’s extra aggressive design and bigger wheels are visible indicators of its elevated energy.
What’s subsequent for the Audi Q6 e-tron?
Having checked the tech and brought the Q6 and SQ6 e-tron SUVs for very brief first drives has left me excited for this new addition to the EV panorama and desperate to spend extra time behind the wheel, expertise the efficiency underneath real-world circumstances and see how Audi’s distinctive method to dashboard tech shakes out on the highway.
The primary Audi Q6 e-trons will start reaching European prospects this summer time with orders opening this month (March 2024) beginning at 74,700 euros (round $81,203). North American costs will virtually definitely be considerably decrease to fit in between the smaller This autumn ($56,395) and bigger Q8 ($75,595) e-tron fashions, however last MSRP hasn’t been introduced. Count on to study extra when reservations open within the coming weeks at AudiUSA.com.
Publish-launch, Audi expects so as to add Sportback variations and two rear-wheel drive configurations to the combination (one lengthy vary mannequin and an entry-level spec that I reckon will use a smaller 83 kWh battery pack.) When requested whether or not we’ll ultimately see an excellent hotter-trotting RS Q6 e-tron variant, representatives of the automaker refused to substantiate past realizing smiles.
