By Otsile Kadiege

Back in March this year, Audi officially lifted the veils off the all-new Q6 and SQ6 e-tron electric SUV. The newcomers ushered in a new design philosophy for Audi as well as a long list of new technologies, a new platform and architecture, extensive use of recycled materials, powerful motors and efficient battery packs with commendable range. Now the automaker is adding the coupe-SUV Sportback to the model lineup.

Exterior design and styling

Like its SUV sibling, the Q6 e-tron Sportback range bears unmistakable Audi design cues. Some highlights include a closed three-dimensional Singleframe grille in selenite silver or gloss black, air intakes, slim and animated Matrix LED headlights, a contrasting gloss black panel on with “e-tron” badging on the doors, a slightly slopping D-pillar roofline, and a light strip connecting the second-generation OLED rear lights.

According to Audi, with the second-generation of digital OLED rear lights, the Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback takes lighting design, functionality, and therefore road safety to a new level. The second-generation of innovative digital OLED technology not only shapes the appearance, but also increases the range of functions. The technology, which debuted in the Audi Q6 e-tron, also sets new standards in terms of individualization: With a total of up to eight digital light signatures in the redesigned daytime running lights of the Matrix LED headlights and in the digital OLED rear lights 2.0, owners can individualise their Q6 e-tron in a completely new way.

Interior design, tech and practicality

Inside, the interior of the Q6 e-tron Sportback mirrors the cabin of the SUV version. Highlights include use of high-quality materials, some which are recycled, sports seats with quilted red stitching for the SQ6 e-tron Sportback, dashboard wrap-around ambient lighting, a flat-top and bottom multifunctional steering wheel, an augmented reality head-up display, an 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit, a 14.5-inch MMI touch display running on  Android Automotive OS, a 10.9-inch MMI front passenger display with Active Privacy Mode and a 22-speaker Bang & Olufsen Premium sound system with 830 watts of power.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback has a 511 liter luggage compartment and a 64 liter ‘frunk’. When the rear row of seats are folded, the luggage compartment increases to up to 1,373 liters.

Performance and battery packs

Two battery sizes and two drive variants are available for the Q6 Sportback e-tron. With its 83-kWh high-voltage battery (net: 75.8 kWh). The rear-wheel drive Q6 Sportback e-tron and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.0 seconds in Launch Control mode.

The electric motor of the rear-wheel drive Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron performance has an output of 225 kW and goes from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 6.6 seconds in Launch Control mode. With its system output of 285 kW , it takes the Q6 Sportback e-tron quattro 5.9 seconds to do the sprint. The most powerful version, the SQ6 Sportback e-tron boasts a system output of 360 kW with its two electric motors on the front and rear axle and reaches 100 km/h in only 4.3 seconds in Launch Control mode. Its large battery gives the rear-wheel drive Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron performance a claimed range of up to 656 km. With an 83-kWh battery, it has a range of up to 545 kilometers. The all-wheel drive model drives up to 636 kilometers, while the all-wheel drive SQ6 Sportback e-tron1 has a range of 607 kilometers.

All variants of the Q6 Sportback have a top fixed speed of 210 km/h. The SQ6 Sportback e-tron1 tops out at 230 km/h.

Charging

Sophisticated HV battery thermal management and the 800-volt electrical system make for impressive charging performance. For example, the Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron performance needs only ten minutes at a fast-charging station to charge a range of up to 265 kilometers at a maximum charging power of 270 kW under ideal conditions. It only takes the high-voltage battery 22 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent. The S model also charges at up to 270 kW, while the rear-wheel variants charge at a fast-charging station at up to 260 kW (with the 100-kWh battery) or 225 kW (with the 83-kWh battery).

Availability

The Q6 Sportback e-tron and the SQ6 Sportback e-tron are manufactured under net carbon-neutral1 conditions at Audi’s main plant in Ingolstadt. They will be available to order at the turn of the year 2024/2025. Audi South Africa will then confirm local availability.