Yahoo Autos View Photos of the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron Prototypes
Audi brought us to the beautiful Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic to drive pre-production versions of the upcoming Q6 e-tron and its sportier SQ6 sibling. The two SUVs are essentially electric counterparts to the bestselling Audi Q5 and SQ5.
The Q6 prototypes we drove wore brightly colored wraps that simultaneously disguised their actual designs and drew lots of attention from the Faroese locals.
The Q6 and SQ6 e-trons' exterior dimensions are similar to those of the gas-powered Q5. However, the electric models have shorter front and rear overhangs and a longer wheelbase.
The Q6s are the first vehicles Audi has built on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, which will underpin the brand's next-gen EVs for the foreseeable future. It boasts an 800-volt electrical system and uses next-gen electric motors.
The PPE platform enables 270-kW DC fast-charging rates, which Audi estimates will allow the Q6 battery to go from 10 to 80 percent in under 30 minutes. The company expects the battery to regain 155 miles in 10 minutes on a fast-charger.
Both e-trons we drove have all-wheel drive. The Q6's dual-motor powertrain produces up to 395 horsepower, while the SQ6's setup generates up to 509 horses, figures temporarily available via Boost mode.
Since they're still in the pre-production phase, we're not allowed to discuss the Q6s' interior design. We can, however, say how impressively hushed both models were inside.
The Q6 and SQ6 we drove both ride on 21-inch wheels and an air-spring suspension. Despite the similar equipment, the higher-performance SQ6 has less body roll and feels more controlled during cornering.
The new e-tron SUVs are the first Audi EVs to feature one-pedal driving, a staple of many electric vehicles. Previous e-trons didn't offer this because the automaker thought customers couldn't smoothly control it.
Not only were the Q6 and SQ6 incredibly quiet inside, but the cabin was also isolated from ride harshness on our Faroe Islands drive. America's less forgiving pavement will provide a better test, though.
Production of the 2025 Audi Q6 and SQ6 e-trons won't start until 2024. While they'll feature the brand's latest lighting technology, including customizable designs for daytime running lights, U.S. laws restrict the innovative animations.
2024 Audi Q6 e-tron Prototype
