All-New Audi Q6 e-tron Represents the Future of Audi Electrification
The 2025 Q6 e-tron & SQ6 e-tron are the first Audis to be built on the all-new Premium Platform Electric and will provide greater range and faster charging.
Audi announced this week the all-new 2025 Q6 e-tron. It represents a big step forward in terms of electrification for Audi vehicles. It will be the first Audi built on the all-new Premium Platform Electric (PPE). The 2025 Q6 e-tron quattro delivers the longest range and fastest charging of any Audi EV SUV in history. Aside from the all-new electrification architecture the Q6 e-tron introduces the latest infotainment system from Audi. You will also find on the new all-electric SUV the next generation of Audi’s signature advanced lighting technology.
A longer range, quicker charging times, new infotainment, and fancy new lights are all exciting upgrades, but what about the performance? Good news, the Q6 e-tron quattro and SQ6 e-tron both come with standard all-wheel drive and plenty of performance. Both models will get to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds and can tow up to 4,400 pounds. Not a bad combination. The new models are expected to hit showrooms in the fourth quarter of this year. Pricing and full option lists will be available closer to the on-sale date. For now, let’s take a closer look at everything we do know about these exciting new models.
Performance
The 2025 Q6 e-tron quattro will pack 422 horsepower (456 horsepower with launch control), which Audi estimates will be enough to get the SUV to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. It has a top speed of 130 mph and an estimated 307 miles of electric driving range. The SQ6 will have 483 horsepower (509 horsepower with launch control) which should be good for a 4.1 second 0 to 60 mph run. It will top out at 143 mph. All this performance does impact the range a bit as the SQ6 is rated for 276 miles of electric driving. The Q6 will ride on standard 19-inch wheels, with 20-inch wheels as an option. The SQ6 has 20-inch wheels as standard and 21-inch wheels as an option. Both models use 5-link independent front and rear suspensions. The SQ6 also has red brake calipers, and a sport adaptive air suspension.
Battery and Electric Motor Enhancements
The new models feature a new asynchronous AC induction motor (ASM) on the front axle as well as a newly designed permanently excited synchronous AC motor (PSM) on the rear axle. The new motors are about 30 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than previous generation Audi motors. The 2025 Q6 e-tron also features an entirely new battery structure operating at 800 volts. This new structure will be able to take full advantage of the current maximum DC fast-charging capacity of 270 kW. The vehicle can be charged from 10 percent to 80 percent in 21 minutes. If you don’t have that much time, you can add roughly 135 miles of range in just 10 minutes.
“The Q6 e-tron arrives standard with the enormously convenient Plug & Charge function, which streamlines the charging process at selected public charging stations. At compatible Electrify America charging stations and when activated in an account, the Plug & Charge feature will automatically authorize and confirm billing via encrypted vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2i) communication; activating the charger when the charging plug is inserted into the vehicle, forgoing the need to produce a credit card or RFID payment at the charger.”
Regenerative Braking
The 2025 Q6 e-tron also got a significant upgrade in the braking department. There is a new axle-specific brake blending setup which helps the brake pedal modulation feel more natural. “The regenerative brakes also have five different modes, including a true One-Pedal Drive B-mode that will bring the vehicle to a complete stop at braking forces up to 0.25 g with no low-speed creeping. Three manual deceleration modes controlled by the steering-wheel paddles all provide the familiar low-speed creep found in combustion vehicles and can be set for strong deceleration (0.15 g), medium deceleration (0.06 g) or coasting. A fifth deceleration mode, Auto, helps optimize efficiency by utilizing the forward-facing camera to determine if regenerative braking or coasting is more efficient depending on traffic and road gradient, while also providing low-speed creep.”
Design
Audi has long been a leader in exterior and interior design and that looks to continue with the new Q6 e-tron. From the outside there is no mistaking this as anything else but a modern Audi. The signature closed Singleframe grille is present here. The new model is also the first to get a distinctive quad headlight design. But more on the lights later. Step inside and you are greeted by a spacious cabin that is full of high-quality materials. There is plenty of space for all occupants, and the three-dimensional, high-contrast design emphasizes comfort and usability.
Technology
Audi vehicles are all about technology and the Q6 e-tron is absolutely loaded with it. The biggest news is the new “End-to-End Electronic architecture” known as E3. “Based on a new domain computer structure with five high-performance computers, the new E3 1.2 architecture controls all vehicle functions, from infotainment and driving functions, through to semi-automated driving in later evolutionary stages. This is Audi’s most powerful electronic architecture to date in terms of computing power.” There is also a new fully connected digital interior called the Digital Stage.
“The Digital Stage is comprised of an 11.9-inch Audi OLED virtual cockpit in front of the driver and a 14.5-inch center touch OLED display, both integrated as one slim, free-standing, curved panoramic design element oriented toward the driver. At night, sleekly integrated ambient lighting makes the Curved Display seem to float above the dashboard.” Additional technology includes a second-generation Augmented Reality (AR) Head-up Display (HuD), a new Audi infotainment system, a new self-learning voice-activated system called Audi Assistant, and more.
Advanced Lighting
Say what you will about Audi, but no one beats them in lighting technology. And with the new Q6 e-tron they are taking another step forward. “In the case of the available second-generation digital OLED taillights, six panels with a total of 60 geometric segments each (360 total) can generate a new image every ten milliseconds using a specially developed algorithm. This active signature creates an impression that the car is alive and awake – making the Q6 e-tron appear more intelligent than ever before. Customers can personalize their Q6 e-tron at the touch of a finger to select among the eight front and rear light signature designs to their liking with the available rear OLED taillights and the new daytime running light design featuring 61 individual LED segments per side. Each of the eight light signatures are selectable from the new Audi MMI and via the myAudi app.”
Safety
The new Audi is loaded with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). “The completely new suite of features includes Adaptive cruise control, Lane change warning, Exit warning, Collision avoidance assist, Emergency brake assist, Traffic sign recognition, swerve assist and front turn assist, and a distraction and drowsiness warning system. Also new with the Q6 e-tron is rear turn assist, which can help prevent or mitigate collisions at intersections, side roads, courtyards or garage entrances, by informing about cyclists or other vehicles approaching from behind, and Rear occupant detection, which can help prevent unintentionally leaving a child or pet unattended in the back seat.”
Audi EV Future
As we said in the title the all-new Audi Q6 e-tron represents the future of Audi electrification. Many future Audi EVs will be using the same technology that is debuting here in the Q6 e-tron. This is a significant step forward for Audi and for EVs in general. Will it be enough to convince those that are resisting the transition to all-electric vehicles to give them a try? That remains to be seen, but this new Audi is certainly a step in that direction.
Images: Audi
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