Audi unveils first next-gen EV with new all-electric Q6 e-tron SUV
- The EV is levelling up
- Audi has unveiled its new all-electric Q6 e-tron SUV
- It’s setting a new standard for premium EVs
Published on Mar 20, 2024 at 4:05 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Mar 25, 2024 at 2:17 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The EV is leveling up as Audi unveils its new all-electric Q6 e-tron SUV.
It’s setting a new standard for premium EVs.
A next-gen electric vehicle, the all-electric Q6 e-tron SUV is based on a new PPE platform that was co-created alongside Porsche.
READ MORE! This Audi A6 Avant E-Tron has unbelievable headlights
The Porsche Macan EV – seen here charging in Norway – is the other PPE-based vehicle, which came to market earlier in the year, but Audi is bound to have a unique take.
The specs and design of the Q6 e-tron SUV see it aiming for the popular midsize SUV segment.
However, pricing currently remains a mystery.
Several legacy automakers are pulling back on their electrification plans but this all-electric SUV is a sign that Audi is committed.
They plan to wind down internal combustion engine vehicles entirely by 2027 and go completely electric by 2033.
The all-electric 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron improves on Audi’s EV platforms.
It also completes its electrification of Audi’s SUV lineup, sitting between the smaller Q4 e-tron and bigger Q8 e-tron.
It’s the electric counterpart to the popular Q5.
Side note: Audi seems to be making even numbers electric and odd numbers ICE.
The Q6 e-tron is more efficient than its predecessors with PPE including battery boosts from the cells to the pack.
Audi has turned to energy-dense CATL NMC cells in a prismatic form factor.
It increased its module size with 15 cells per module and 12 modules per pack.
At the pack level, Audi’s PPE pack is more efficient in design with a new thermal management system.
The next-gen battery pack has a total capacity of 100 kWh and a useful capacity of 94.9 kWh.
The European model will have the two middle modules removed.
That brings the total capacity to 83 kWh.
Audi has also made some major improvements to drive with the PPE platform both in efficiency, power, and torque density.
This was achieved via advanced cooling and lubrification systems – and that’s just for starters.
The Q6 e-tron SUV uses an asynchronous motor on the front axle.
There’s also a permanent magnet motor at the rear.
What’s more, Audi has also amped up battery preconditioning, which can shave 18 minutes off charging time in cold temperatures.
If the weather does dip – a factor that is known to be a bit like kryptonite for EVs – the Q6 e-tron SUV has a new heat pump within the powertrain thermal management system.
On the plus side, this video of a Tesla Cybertruck plowing through snow with crazy track wheels while towing proves its cold-weather capabilities.
If that’s not enough, this owner used their Cybertruck to work a coffee machine after cold weather caused a power outage.
Another bonus is that the same heat pump can also reduce the impact of climate control on the range – useful in cold weather.
The heat pump increases range by 30 km (18.6 m) between -10°C to 20°C (14°F to 68°F):
These PPE improvements also allow for scalability and reducing costs.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
