Audi Q6 E-Tron range and efficiency
PPE. That’s the all-important acronym to remember around the Audi Q6 E-Tron. It stands for Premium Platform Electric and it’s destined not only for use in the new Porsche Macan and this Q6, but the next-generation Audi A4, A6, and numerous other cars. It’ll certainly play a huge role in Audi’s goal to offer an electric vehicle in every core segment by 2027. So there’s a lot riding on it both for Audi and for the more upwardly-mobile marques in the Volkswagen group. So what does it have to offer?
Well, in terms of raw specs in this instance, a 100kWh (94.9kWh usable) battery with 30 per cent greater energy density, that’s 15 per cent lighter than previous-generation batteries of a similar kWh figure. Audi says the base Q6 E-Tron Quattro will be good for 388 miles of range, which works out at 3.6m/kWh in terms of efficiency.
It’s plumbed in via an 800-volt system good for 270kW of charging – for 158 miles of range in 10 minutes – and twinned with the all-new E3 electronic architecture, itself destined for a career across the VW Group’s premium brands. That 800 volts can split into twin-400-volt packs for more efficient parallel charging when at lower charging speeds up to 135kW.
The Q6 also sports new motors which are both more compact and lighter, but with 62 per cent greater power density and 33 per cent greater performance. Rear-driven models are coming, with a 100kWh battery for the maximum range – likely well over 400 miles – and an 83kWh entry-level model.
For now, though, it’s all about Quattro and all about performance, as Audi leads with the Q6 E-Tron Quattro and SQ6. Yes, like with the Macan, there’s a high-performance one. It is the tendency in premium EVs to lead with the fast expensive one, as these models yield better profits thanks to higher margins. Hence the Porsche Taycan arrived first in top-billing Turbo S form.