Form and function

Bring together the brand’s Sportback style, its newly-developed Premium Platform Electric (PPE) and the very latest in battery and electric technology and you have the Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron. Unveiled this week at the Paris Motor Show, this svelte interpretation of the Q6 e-tron SUV not only adds the style of the Sportback design language, but in doing so creates an even more aerodynamic model with a cd of  0.26 (compared to the SUV’s 0.28), resulting in a range of up 656 kilometres*.

This will give the Sportback version of the Q6 e-tron, the longest range of the Q6 model family, the sweeping roofline which is 37mm lower than its SUV sibling not just adding to its sense of style, but playing an active role in a vehicle that has been engineered in every way to deliver the best all-electric performance and range as well as optimal interior space for passengers and ample room for all of their luggage.

The PPE which was co-developed with Porsche represents the future of all-electric vehicles for Audi, the vehicle’s shapely design coupled with dimensions of 4771mm long, 1965mm wide (excluding wing mirrors) and 1665mm high giving it near perfect proportions, and allowing for superb interior room for passengers and cavernous storage of 511 litres in the rear compartment (1373 litres with the rear seats folded flat) and an additional 64 litres of storage in the compartment under the bonnet (frunk).

Of course, like its SUV stablemate the Sportback version features state-of-the-art lighting which serves  to further enhance the vehicle’s striking appearance in addition to serving its primary functions. The lighting is dynamic and customisable, with active digital light signature (up to eight variants depending on the specification level) and second-generation digital OLED rear lights made up of six 360-segment OLED panels that use a specially developed algorithm to generate a new image every 10 milliseconds. The OLED rear lights 2.0 also allow new levels of communication to other road users, warning of issues up ahead as well as new standards in lighting personalisation and of course, superior road illumination.

Under the skin the Q6 Sportback e-tron features the very latest in drive and battery technology, with two battery sizes and two drive variants available for the Q6 Sportback e-tron on debut in Europe. Exact specification for the Australian market for the Sportback has not been confirmed at time of writing, although the Q6 e-tron SUV will launch here next year with both rear-wheel drive and quattro as well as in SQ6 e-tron configuration.

As debuted, the entry-level variant of the electric Sportback features an 83 kWh battery (net 78 kWh) and rear-wheel drive, outputting 185kW and hitting 100km/h in seven seconds from standstill. 

The rear-wheel drive Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron performance with its 100 kWh battery (94.9 kWh net) delivers 225kW and takes nearly half a second off the 0 to 100km/h sprint to make it 6.6 seconds. This model also takes top honours in terms of range, with up to 656km on hand in ideal conditions.

Step up to the quattro variant, also with a 100 kWh battery and power output raises to 285kW and the sprint time is cut even more to 5.9 seconds. But this is slashed to just 4.3 seconds when you get to the most powerful version, the SQ6 Sportback e-tron with its system output of 360kW and dual motor arrangement. It still delivers over 600km of range and has a fixed top speed of 230km/h – 20km/h higher than the other Q6 Sportback e-tron variants.

In terms of battery charging technology, the HV battery thermal management and the 800-volt electrical system make for impressive charging performance, with the Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron performance model for example, needing only 10 minutes at a fast-charging station to charge a range of up to 265 kilometres at a maximum charging power of 270 kW under ideal conditions. 

Straight line speed and range are just part of the equation when it comes to the Q6 Sportback models, with revised suspension used to make the most of the tremendous drivetrain but without compromising ride and comfort. 

The redesigned front axle significantly influences the driving dynamics, and, like the SUV, the Sportback’s trailing arms are positioned in front of the tie rods in the direction of travel. This increases the vehicle’s agility as well as sharpening the steering response and feedback to the driver.

The new passive damping system FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) also plays its part, offering greater ride comfort in various driving situations, over rough roads for example, while firming up for more dynamic driving. The system adapts accordingly to control the movement of the vehicle’s body. The adaptive air suspension with controlled damping compensates for the load via the level control to maintain an even ride height even under different load conditions.

Inside the Q6 Sportback e-tron, the driver and occupants enjoy the very latest in interior design and execution with a new layout that features the Audi MMI panoramic display and the MMI passenger display. Visually stunning and ergonomically designed, the new interior promotes the feeling of space and light while giving the driver access to all vehicle systems at a glance and control at the touch of a screen. 

The high-contrast interior design intentionally places elements in the foreground or background, resulting in a three-dimensional spatial architecture that balances aesthetics and ergonomics tailored to the occupants. 

Next level technology like the optional augmented reality head-up display takes vehicle systems to a new level, while voice control options have likewise been expanded significantly through the use of AI in the Audi digital assistant to over 800 voice commands. Utilising ChatGPT, the Audi assistant automatically recognises whether to execute a vehicle function, search for a destination, or, for example, provide a weather forecast. The Audi system only forwards queries to ChatGPT when it cannot answer general knowledge questions (but the ChatGPT system never has access to vehicle data and all questions and answers are deleted in the interest of data protection).

The new infotainment system also uses Android Automotive OS for the first time and comes with the latest Audi connect services, while the Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System with 3D sound uses an amplifier at the heart of the system to drive 20 loudspeakers with a total output of 830 watts. 

And of course the Q6 e-tron also features the four speakers integrated into the front seat headrests, enabling Audi to introduce sound zones for the first time.

All this in addition to a full suite of Audi’s outstanding driver and safety assistance systems, as well as achieving five stars in the Euro NCAP tests and ‘Best in Class’ for child safety, make for another exciting debut in the brand’s all-electric range.

Like the SUV version of the Q6 e-tron, the new Sportback variants will be produced under net carbon-neutral conditions at Audi’s main plant in Ingolstadt. Timing and specification for the Australian arrival of the new Q6 Sportback e-tron is still to be confirmed at time of writing, but the first of the Q6 e-tron range will arrive in Australia in 2025 with three variants – rear-wheel drive, quattro and SQ6 e-tron confirmed for Australian delivery.

Go to audi.com.au for updates on the Q6 e-tron all-electric range.

*Range is dependent on model configuration and conditions. Images show overseas models.

(ends)