(Credit: Audi)
Audi's next electric SUV, the Q6 e-Tron, debuted today, featuring a new battery platform co-developed with Porsche and manufactured by China-based CATL.
Dubbed the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), the battery represents a "technological leap forward in premium electric mobility," Audi says.
The Q6 e-Tron has an impressive 388-mile range on the European WLTP test, or an estimated 300 miles on the US-based EPA testing, and charges from 10% to 80% in 21 minutes. It "excels at short charging stops," powering up 158 miles in 10 minutes of charging, claims the company. A high-efficiency regenerative braking system, which works for "around 95% of everyday braking," also charges the battery along the way.
Audi credits the vehicle's advanced thermal management system and 800-volt battery architecture for its charging capability.
"The battery is automatically divided into two batteries at equal voltage, which can then be charged in parallel with up to 135kW," Audi says. "Depending on the state of charge, both halves of the battery are first equalized and then charged simultaneously."
Inside, the battery is divided into 12 modules and 180 prismatic cells, making it flexible and easier to fit into a wide range of vehicles, as opposed to being one large block of material.
"The PPE shows how we are pooling expertise within the Volkswagen Group and thus making electric mobility scalable," says Audi CEO Gernot Döllner. At the same time, Audi vehicles built on the PPE will maintain the "independent character and the typical Audi DNA, despite shared technical underpinnings."
The EV comes in two trims, the Q6 e-Tron quattro and sportier SQ6 e?Tron. Ordering opens for US customers in mid-2024, with deliveries beginning by the end of this year. That's slightly later than the timeline for EU customers, who can place orders this month for summer 2024 deliveries.
Another big difference between the European and US versions: Americans get more horsepower. The Q6 e-Tron quattro gets up to 456hp, and the SQ6 e-Tron up to 510hp. Its "powerful, compact, and highly efficient motors" bring speedy acceleration, going from 0-60 in just 5.9 seconds for the Q6 e-Tron quattro and 4.2 seconds for the SQ6 e-Tron.
Both variants are all-wheel drive. Two rear-wheel drive models will follow "at a later date, depending on the market," Audi says. Also coming in the future: semi-autonomous driving features. The Q6 e-Tron runs on a new digital platform dubbed the E3 1.2 architecture. It runs all aspects of the vehicle, including the Android Auto OS dash screen, infotainment, the Audi voice assistant, autonomous driving, lighting system, and head-up display.
US pricing has yet to be announced, though for reference it will cost 74,700 Euro for the Q6 e-Tron (~$81,313) and 93,800 Euro for the SQ6 e-Tron (~$102,083).