Audi Ireland has opened the order books (does anyone still use a physical order book? Anyway…) for the incoming new all-electric Q6 SUV. The starting price for Irish models will be €81,000 for the most affordable model.
Up to 635km
That most affordable model will be the just-announced Audi Q6 e-tron performance, which will be a rear-wheel drive version with a 94kWh battery and a range of up to 635km on one charge. That version will arrive in Ireland in the autumn of this year, while the four-wheel drive Q6 e-tron quattro and the sporty SQ6 will go on sale here in the summer.
That quattro model will come with a 387hp all-wheel drive twin-electric motor setup, while the more powerful SQ6 will come with 489hp.
Developed with Porsche
The Q6 is based on the new PPE electric car platform (Premium Platform Electric), which Audi has co-developed with Porsche (the same platform is used under the new Porsche Macan Electric) and which is specifically designed for electric power. Thanks to that, the various components - from the battery to the electric motors, charging systems, inverters and so on, can be kept to a minimum possible size, reducing weight and saving space in the cabin and boot.
For instance, the new permanent synchronous magnet electric motors for the PPE require about 30 per cent less installation space than those of previous electric models. Their weight has been reduced by about 20 per cent.
Add 270km in 10 mins
The single-motor Q6 e-tron performance model (we’re not sure why Audi isn’t capitalising the P in performance…) will have that lengthy range of up to 635km, but also 326hp from its motor, and will be able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.6 seconds.
As with all versions of the Q6, it has a very high-speed charging system so if you connect it to a very high-speed charging station (such as a 350kW ESB or IONITY station) it can add as much as 270km of extra range in just ten minutes.
Audi Ireland Brand Director Damien O’Sullivan: “The Audi Q6 e-tron model range is the first family of models built on the premium platform electric - a testament to Audi’s mission to provide connected and sustainable electric mobility. The variations within the model offers our customer the choice they desire and deserve. The Audi Q6 e-tron model range will do extremely well in Ireland and I encourage those curious to visit their local dealer as these models arrive.”