Audi has just whipped the covers off of the Q6 E-Tron Offroad concept which hints at the German automaker’s vision for a capable electric off-road vehicle. Not likely to see production wearing all of this kit, it still remains a cool vision of what is possible.
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Debuting on Audi’s social media channels, the automaker has now released some more concrete information on what is available with the high-riding all-electric bakkie. Likely serving as a concept to gauge customer interest in a potential production version, much of the exterior borrows styling cues from the Q6 Sportback e-tron.
That said, it bears much of the styling prominent on the Sportback up front but with off-roading in mind, it features significantly widened wheel arches that accommodate dark alloy wheels equipped with chunky off-road tyres. Under the ‘bonnet’, the Q6 e-tron concept boasts dual electric motors that deliver a combined output of 380 kW, matching the SQ6 e-tron in Boost mode. However, the most obvious changes are the aggressive modifications that make this seem like a viable choice for venturing off of the beaten path. Equipped with portal axles, the Q6 E-Tron Sportback now comes with a significant 160 mm increase in ride height and a 250 mm wider track.
“The debuting Q6 gives a taste of a potential vehicle in the progressive off-road segment,” said Audi, suggesting plans to incorporate more rugged capabilities into its electric vehicle lineup. “We look forward to seeing our customers’ reactions to this highly emotive car,” commented CEO Gernot Dollner.
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Unlike conventional setups, the Q6 e-tron’s portal axles integrate directly into the wheel hubs, necessitating a redesigned suspension system by Audi. This configuration translates to a whopping total wheel torque of 13 400 N.m, a substantial 4 400 N.m increase over traditional axles. This figure is available in short 10-second bursts but it is worth noting that this value reflects the torque delivered to the wheels after multiplication by the portal axles’ gear ratios, not the raw output of the electric motors themselves.
Audi explains that while traditional portal axles typically provide a 20-30% increase in wheel torque, their design offers a significant 50% boost. This capability comes at the expense of a slightly reduced top speed of 175 km/h, which when considering its pioneering purpose is a more than acceptable trade-off. In exchange for the reduced speed, the Q6 e-tron concept can tackle gradients of up to 45 degrees.
Whether this will ever make it into production is unknown and unlikely, but it provides a glimpse into Audi’s electric future and how its technology can be implemented for off-roading.
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