BILBAO, SPAIN—The roads I’m driving on, from Bilbao to San Sebastian and back, are among the most scenic and challenging I’ve driven. Narrow and winding, with steep inclines, many blind corners, and few guardrails, these roads were great for testing this car. While hustling the through some very tight and winding roads, I feel like I’m driving the future.
And I am. As far as Audi is concerned.
The Q6, which slots between the compact Q4 and bigger Q8 to round out the German automaker’s EV SUV lineup, introduces a slew of new tech not seen in any previous Audi.
The mid-size Q6, and its sportier SQ6 sibling, are built on an all-new EV platform known as , or PPE, which Audi has jointly developed with Porsche.
The main features of PPE are high-voltage battery packs and a modular design which can be configured for use in both passenger cars and SUVs. The Q6’s lithium-ion battery is 100 kilowatt-hour (kWh), which can support DC fast-charging of up to 270 kW. This means the battery can be charged from 10 per cents to 80 per cent in about 21 minutes. With a level two home charger (240-volt), a full charge will take about 11.5 hours.
Other PPE aspects of note include new electric motors, one at each axle, and an 800-volt battery infrastructure. The latter allows for bank charging, which means the Q6’s battery can be charged in parallel if the charger uses 400-volt technology. In this case, the Q6’s 800-volt battery is divided into two equal voltage batteries that can be charged simultaneously at speeds of up to 135 kW.
The Q6 produces 422 horsepower (456 hp with launch control), with a projected range of 494 kilometres. The SQ6 puts out 483 horsepower (509 hp with launch control), with an estimated range of 443 kilometres.
Both European-spec., pre-production units I drove were quite fast, and while I didn’t do any testing myself, Audi’s published figures back up my impressions. The Q6 has a 0-100 km/h time of 5.1 seconds, while the SQ6’s is 4.3.
Both models feature a new front axle and a redeveloped steering system, which Audi says is for better handling. A passive suspension damping system, a first for Audi, has also been deployed for improved ride comfort. Other chassis items of note include an optional adaptive air suspension, wider rear tires, and electric motors that enable rear-biased torque distribution. As for wheels, the Q6 comes with a standard 19-inch set, with a 20-inch option. The SQ6’s are 20 inches, but 21-inch sets are available.
During the drive, all these things synergize to produce sharp and responsive handling, especially in dynamic mode. This is quite noticeable on the SQ6. That car, with its greater power, more aggressive chassis tuning and sharper steering response, is one of the most dynamic and engaging EVs I’ve driven to date.
In its design, the Q6’s all-new digital light signatures for the headlights and tail lights are worth noting. The latter are all-new Organic LED (OLED) elements that can display warning symbols in addition to regular light graphics. These features may not be allowed by Transport Canada, but they can do this.
Inside, the Q6 carries new technology, led by the Digital Stage, which is comprised of a curved display that houses two screens. Those displays, which are OLED, measure 11.9 inches for the instrument cluster, and 14.5 inches for the infotainment touchscreen. An optional 10.9-inch LCD display, mounted on the dashboard for the front seat passenger, is a new Audi feature. The Digital Stage also includes a second gen Head-up Display with augmented reality that projects speed, traffic signs, and navigation data on to the windshield. These displays are gorgeous, and feature incredible detail, especially for map data. I was especially impressed with the HUD, which projected elements that were up to 200 metres away!
Elsewhere, the car’s materials, some of which are made from recycled fibres, all look great and are pleasing to interact with, as one would expect of an Audi. The Q6 is spacious, too, with a maximum 1,529 litres of cargo space. There’s even a small 64-litre cubby under the hood.
With the launch of the Q6 and SQ6, which are due to hit Canadian dealers near the end of this year, Audi begins its second generation of EVs. The company says it will launch PPE-based cars in all core segments by 2027, which makes the Q6 a sign of things to come. The future is closer than ever.
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