Bojan Vrbnjak
Audi presents Q6 e tron. It fills the gap between the Q4 e-tron and the Q8 e-tron. New medium size SUV is also Audi's first car, based on an all-electric platform Premium Platform Electric (PPE), on which its sister model, the Porsche Macan, is also based.
Audi Q6 etron will be available to order at the end of March, and will be available in showrooms from this summer. They will be available then two models four-wheel drive, and later two rear-wheel drive models. One of Audi special features is a variable light signature not available on any other model or manufacturer.
Exterior and dimensions
Audi Q6 etron is visually similar to the model Q5 with internal combustion, but the grille of the refrigerator is "inverted": The light and dark parts are reversed. S 4,77 meters is an electric car a few centimeters longer than a fossil-fueled model, with 1,65 meters but he is also two centimeters taller. Compared to the Q4 e-tron, the newcomer is about 20 centimeters longer, but 15 centimeters shorter than the Q8 e-tron. By the looks of it Audi likes to emphasize "Quattro bubbles” above the rear fenders, which are meant to emphasize all-wheel drive – in the case of electric cars, the name is misleading, as in all-wheel drive cars, the front axle is added, not the rear axle. The side skirts merge into taillights at the back and daytime running lights at the front - the actual headlights sit below them.
Lighting technology is brand new: the vehicle has variable light signature front and back. The front daytime running lights consist of two assemblies 61 rectangular “dots”, 122 in total, and at the back on the left and right sides are three panels, each with 60 triangular “dots”, a total of 360. These are used to create different light signatures. Anyone can stand in front of or behind the car and with application select your favorite pattern on your smartphone:
Versions, batteries and drives
As with the Macan, two all-wheel-drive models are initially available: the regular Q6 e-tron quattro offers 285 kW, SQ6 e-tron quattro and even 380 kW, if the system is activated Launch Control. However, this makes the two powertrains slightly weaker than the Macan, which offers 300 and 470 kW respectively. Like its sister model, both Launch versions have a battery with net 95 kWh (100 kWh gross). The battery consists of 12 modules with 15 prismatic cells each. All 180 cells are connected in series to achieve the voltage 800 volts – so the configuration is 180s1p. The cells originate from the company CATL, but can also be added from other manufacturers. Their chemical composition is NMC811 and allow a range of approx 600 kilometers for all-wheel drive vehicles.
| Audi Q6 e-tron quattro | Audi SQ6 e-tron quattro | |
| Drive | AWD 285kW | AWD 380kW |
| 0-100 km/h / Max | 5,9 Sec. / 210 km/h | 4,3 Sec. / 230 km/h |
| WLTP-electric consumption | 17,0-19,4kWh | 17,5-18,4kWh |
| Battery / WLTP range | 95 kWh net / 625 km | 95 kWh net / 598 km |
| Max. power. Filling. AC/DC | 11/270 kW | |
| Charging time | 10h with AC (0-100%), approx. 21 min with DC (10-80%) | |
| DC charging speed | approx. 3,2 kWh/min | |
| Base price | 74.700 € | 93.800 € |
While Porsche wouldn't confirm any rear-wheel drive models to us, it did Audi announced two versions of s rear wheel drive: base version and longer range model. Both will probably have a rear engine with power 280 kW – the same as the 285 kW four-wheel drive model. In the entry-level model, instead of a battery with 95 kWh built-in small battery. The middle two modules are omitted here. The remaining 10 modules each contain 15 cells 83 kWh gross (and probably 79 kWh net). The second rear-wheel drive model will have 95 kWh battery but will have z 280 kW drive on the rear wheel significantly greater range than 625 km, which will be offered at the start of sales. When asked if the model will approach 700 km, battery expert Johannes Haf told us that this limit will be "blown to dust".
While Porsche uses permanent magnet synchronous motors front and rear in the Macan, Audi used PSM synchronous motors only at the back, and at the front asynchronous motors (ASM). Advantage: secondary axis (the front) can simply be switched off, while the Macan's front axle must be powered even when it is not needed - otherwise it would brake. Porsche has apparently opted for a more powerful PSM system, Audi however, it uses a more easily deactivated (and cheaper) system ASM. The base model Macan uses 17,9-21,1 kWh, which is slightly more than the Audi with 17,0-19,4 kWh. On the other hand, the Porsche is 15 kW more powerful. In addition to the engines, both drive units also consisted of an input gearbox and an inverter.
Charging with a power of up to 270 kW
Charging is powered by alternating current 11 kW; a 22-kilowatt built-in charger will also be available later as an accessory. Because 800-volt of architecture can also be filled with do 270 kW direct current. Thus, the battery should be in 21 minutes filled from 10 to 80 percent. It should be possible to charge the battery up to within ten minutes 255 kilometers. The option is supported Plug & Charge. If the charging station offers only 400 volts, then, as with the Macan, bank charging comes into play: the battery is split into two parts, which are then charged with power up to 135 kW.
Cockpit and controls
Q6 e-tron cockpit was presented in detail a few months ago. It has a brand new, slightly bent dual screen, which consists of 11,9-inch instrument display and 14,5-inch touch screen, both with technology OLED. There is also a built-in display screen in the header with the function augmented reality and passenger display. On the latter, videos can be watched (without distracting the driver's attention) or the navigation system can be operated to help the person behind the wheel. Transfer method P, N, R, D and B is activated by a switch on the center console. There are physical buttons to control the volume and hazard lights, but unfortunately not for the climate control – it may be difficult to adjust the touchscreen settings on bumpy roads.
As with Porsche, it is also in this case infotainment system based on Google technology. We tested the charging schedule and very quickly received plausible results for routes from Munich to Paris and Malaga. The system also displays how much charging points is occupied and whether the location has already been used on the day in question. And of course the battery is automatically preconditioned if DC charging stops are planned. Porsche offers a number of interior options, from black and white spotted fabric to a version with white leather and wood (brown or black and white birch look) and brushed aluminum. They are also available three different types of seats; the more expensive ones also have speakers installed in the headrests.
Prices and competition
Medium sized SUVs with electric drive, such as Audi Q6 etron or Porsche Macan, there are quite a few. However, Audi needn't be afraid of the traditional premium competition: BMW does not yet have an equivalent model iX3 with maximum power 230 kW, and Mercedes is still preparing a successor to the discontinued model EQC. The Porsche Macan costs at least EUR 84.100, which is about EUR 10.000 more than the electric Q6, which in the basic version costs “only” 74.700 EUR.
But there are models like them Tesla Model Y Performance ali Kia EV6GT, more agile than the model SQ6, 800 volt car brands Kia and Hyundai but at least they can follow fast charging – they charge from 18 to 10 percent in 80 minutes. Reach 625 km the Q6 e-tron quattro is good, but not the best - new Renault scenic with a large battery, it offers the same range, albeit with much less engine power. A detailed comparison will show how Q6 e tron as a complete package it performs compared to the competition.
