Audi Q6 e-tron: 6 big things you need to know

Open gallery The Audi Q6 e-tron marks a major leap forward for Audi's all-electric design and technology Underpinning the Audi Q6 e-tron is an all-new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) chassis design The Audi Q6 e-tron has been designed to offer more range, as well as enhanced driving character The Audi Q6 e-tron's 800V 270kW charging capability should mean ultra-rapid top-ups Sleeker style and bold quattro blisters mark a more progressive dynamic design for the Audi Q6 e-tron The Audi Q6 e-tron's advanced OLED tech opens up new possibilities for innovative light graphics The interior of the Audi Q6 e-tron has been designed to be more spacious and more homely For the Audi Q6 e-tron, the car's designers have added a separate passenger screen Close Promoted by Autocar Promotions 7 mins read 17 April 2024 Every story of technological progress has a pivot point: a transformational moment when the lessons learned in the early days of the journey come together in a way that adds up to more than the sum of their parts and takes the technology to the next level. For Audi, that moment is the all-new fully-electric Audi Q6 e-tron. The Audi Q8 e-tron, Audi e-tron GT and Audi Q4 e-tron have all been exceptional models that set new standards for premium electric design and performance. But the Audi Q6 e-tron takes Audi’s e-tron design and powertrain technology to new heights – delivering more range, ultra-rapid charging, even more driving character, and even smarter more-intuitive in-car technology that makes every journey easier. That’s why we decided to delve deep to find the six big reasons why the Audi Q6 e-tron is such a game-changer.  Learn more about the all-new Audi Q6 e-tron #1 An all-new fully-electric platform Underpinning the new Audi Q6 e-tron is an all-new chassis design that makes the Audi Q6 e-tron the technological spearhead of Audi’s electric future. Called Premium Platform Electric (or PPE for short) that first ‘P’ for ‘Premium’ is pretty important. It indicates that PPE has been designed specifically to underpin Audi’s future fully-electric SUVs, saloons and avant estates – delivering even greater range, even faster charging, and even more compelling and agile driving character. So, the Audi Q6 e-tron isn’t just important as an all-new model. It really does mark the start of the next phase of Audi’s e-tron story. Read our review Car reviewAudi Q6 E-tron 55 prototypeElectric Q5 equivalent promises a similarly balanced spread of competencies and hugely competitive EV credentials Read our review Back to top #2 Impressive electric range Using the full breadth of learnings from Audi’s first wave of e-tron models, the PPE platform’s high-tech lithium-ion batteries and electric motors have been engineered to be more efficient in every way. As a result, the Audi Q6 e-tron quattro Sport SUV will offer up 381 miles of range on one charge from its 100kWh battery*. It’s all down to a wealth of subtle changes under the skin. The chemical make-up of the batteries is more energy dense. Using just a third of the modules, and less than half the cells of the Audi Q8 e-tron, they’re packaged more tightly to minimise wasted space. The number and length of connecting cables has also been cut to reduce weight and minimise energy losses, while an integrated cooling plate and a fibre-composite cladding enhance heat transfer and insulation from outside temperatures. Equally, the Audi Q6 e-tron’s electric motors – an asynchronous induction motor on the front axle, and a permanent-magnet synchronous motor on the rear – feature a wealth of enhancements such as silicon-carbide semi-conductors, square ‘hairpin’ windings and direct oil cooling for greater performance and efficiency.  Offering up to 388PS on the Audi Q6 e-tron quattro and up to 490PS on the Audi SQ6 e-tron as standard, the motors have also been designed to provide energy-recuperating deceleration for 95% of everyday braking, with a better balance of braking force from front to rear. Back to top #3 Faster, easier charging The Audi Q6 e-tron’s advanced 800V electric architecture offers ultra-rapid 270kW charging capability, letting you recharge from 10% to 80% in as little as 21 minutes**.  The Audi Q6 e-tron’s batteries use sophisticated predictive software that blends route-planning data from the in-car navigation and your driving behaviour to pre-cool or pre-heat the battery so it’s at the optimum temperature when you reach a charger, reducing the time needed to charge. The Audi Q6 e-tron can even use 400V ‘bank charging’ to divide the battery into two ‘halves’ with parallel charging up to 135kW. Finally, when you do get home, the Audi Q6 e-tron includes two charging ports, with an AC charger on one side, and a