We’ve got the latest spy shots of the new fully electric Audi Q6 e-Tron. The SUV is expected to be launched as a 2023 model and will share its platform with the all-electric Porsche Macan. This all-new Audi Q6 e-Tron reveals a very modern new front design with flat headlights, the typical Audi grill, and huge air intakes in the front bumper. With EVs now going mainstream, automakers know that having a good range of vehicles in the ever-burgeoning SUV segment is vital for their success, and Audi is now preparing to take on its rivals, head-on.

Overview

The compact luxury SUV segment is about to heat up. Audi, like several other automakers in the industry today, is developing a new line of electric vehicles. One of them is the Audi Q6 e-Tron, an all-electric SUV. The car will have a footprint that is similar to that of an Audi Q5.

Following the success of the Audi e-Tron SUV and the e-Tron GT sedan, the 2023 Q6 e-Tron will indeed be related to the A6 e-Tron and the yet-to-be-unveiled electric Porsche Macan. These models are among the first cars to be built on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), a modular platform developed exclusively for electric vehicles by Porsche, Audi, and Bentley.

The all-electric SUV from Ingolstadt is expected to debut as early as next year, according to Audi CEO Markus Duessman, who says that the new Q6 e-Tron will be positioned midway between the Q4 e-Tron and the mainstay zero-emission e-Tron SUV.

The new Audi Q6 e-Tron

From these latest spy shots of the SUV, we can say that the Q6 e-Tron’s styling isn't groundbreaking, but then again, the entire Audi lineup’s design is harmonious, which in my opinion is one of the brand’s strengths. Even with the camouflage, the influence from the larger e-Tron is almost immediately obvious, especially when you view the profile of the vehicle from the side. Mercifully, the overall form factor isn’t one you’ll find on one of those sporty coupe SUVs, that generally feature a sloping roofline. With short overhangs and a long wheelbase, the Q6 will definitely be roomy.

The thick rear pillars, and the design of the front and rear light clusters, should be quite clinical, given that this is an Audi, a brand that does lighting better than anybody else. Overall, unlike some of its competitors, Audi is known for playing it safe with the design of their e-Tron range, given how they want to make the transition to electric, seem as normal and seamless as possible.

Drivetrain

There isn’t any word on the specs of the Q6 e-Tron yet, however, Audi must have definitely learned a lot since the launch of the e-Tron SUV back in 2018. While that SUV had a range of 204 miles, the upcoming Q6 e-Tron will feature new generation batteries and superior electric motors to help with maximizing range. Don’t be surprised if some of the specs from the A6 e-Tron Concept, also apply to the Q6 e-Tron. The A6 e-Tron Concept, which was shown in April, featured two electric motors and had a combined power output of 476 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. The concept car's 100 kWh battery had a range of up to 434 miles.

Given that the Q6 will use the PPE platform as opposed to the MEB platform. You can expect a more sophisticated drive, that will use air suspension, torque vectoring, all-wheel drive, and all-wheel steering. You also can’t rule out a more powerful RS-variant, down the road.

Conclusion

The new platform will debut with the new Audi Q6 e-Tron by as early as the end of 2022, followed by the A6 e-Tron sedan. Apart from the Q6 e-Tron, the all-electric Porsche Macan, which will debut in 2023 and run alongside the current Macan generation for a limited time, will also be made on the same platform. The new Q6 e-Tron will go up against the likes of the new Tesla Model Y, the Jaguar iPace, and the Mercedes Benz EQC.

Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien