Weekend Drive by Hormazd Sorabjee: Q up for a new future
Audi’s newest EV, the Q6 e-tron, is a step into tomorrow. It has a bold new platform, integrated AI and new tricks and thrills
There’s no turning back. Audi has committed to going fully electric by 2030 and the German luxury brand just took a significant step closer to achieving that goal. The all-electric Q6 e-tron was globally unveiled at the company’s headquarters in Ingolstadt earlier this month.
The Q6 e-tron isn’t just another EV in Audi’s range. It’s the first EV to be built at Audi’s home plant in Ingolstadt and the first to be based on the new Premium Performance Electric (PPE) platform shared with sister brand Porsche.
So, what’s so special about the PPE platform and why is Audi excited? Its hardware and software firepower will transform future Audis into computers on wheels. The heart of the Q6 e-tron is the very techy-sounding E3 1.2 electronic architecture, which has AI integrated into it. So if you’re struggling with setting the right temperature, the Q6 e-tron’s electronic brain will suggest you use the cooled seats. A mere command such as, “I am feeling cold”, will have the car warm up. The voice activated Audi assistant heeds 800 voice commands, including some unusual new ones, like lowering a window half-way down.
The talking point of the Q6 e-tron is the all-new infotainment system, which will be rolled out in all future Audis. A single curved pane houses an 11.9-inch digital instrument panel and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, which can house as many as 70 apps. And for the first time in an Audi, there’s a touchscreen for the front passenger too, to enjoy videos which are safely obstructed from the driver’s view.
The interiors have a superb mix of textures, and the materials are largely all recyclable. Another advantage of the PPE platform is its long wheelbase and flat floor. Unlike a combustion engine car, it is free of the hindrance of the transmission tunnel that typically causes a hump in the floor. As a result, cabin space is optimised. There’s generous legroom, headroom and luggage areas, which includes a 60 litre ‘frunk’ or front-truck under the nose.
The exterior is not as revolutionary, and Audi has played the design with a straight bat. There are some interesting touches like the blister-effect rear fenders, but it’s the lights that dazzle, especially the six OLED light panels, which have 360 individual segments to zap out multiple light animations and patterns. Think of it as the automotive equivalent of Diwali!
With two motors churning out a combined 387hp, the Q6 e-tron can bolt to 100kph in a decent 5.9 seconds. That’s no longer quick by EV standards, but the instant-response electric motors make it feel faster than the numbers suggest.
Audi has indicated that the Q6 e-tron will come to India in the first quarter of 2025 and will be priced at ₹80 lakh. This tech-laden EV could the gamechanger Audi has been waiting for.
