Audi RS Q6 e-tron to debut next year with 600 plus hp

Audi will reveal the RS Q6 e-tron next year. An insider told our sister publication Autocar UK that the SUV will be Audi’s next electric performance model, and that it will be significantly different and bolder than the SQ6.

The Q6 e-tron has been developed alongside the Porsche Macan Electric, so it uses the same Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture along with key chassis, battery and electronic components.

Audi RS Q6 e-tron powertrain

The SQ6 has a 490hp dual-motor powertrain with four-wheel-drive whereas the RS Q6 is expected to use the Macan Turbo’s powertrain, upping power to 629hp for a 0-100kph time of just 3.3sec. Audi has been keen to distance itself from Porsche, as the RS Q6 will be geared more towards comfort.

The RS Q6 e-tron will have bespoke, bold styling cues in the vein of today’s hot RS6 and RS e-tron GT models, including large haunches and huge wheels, as well as a model-specific RS interior. 

Audi has also previewed the Q6 e-tron’s Sportback version. Exact specifications of this remain under wraps, but it will most likely be mechanically identical to the regular Q6 e-tron – four- or rear-wheel-drive and a 100kWh battery. Darkened images of the model were shared at the Q6 e-tron’s launch and show a more svelte, teardrop-like design. The front will be similar to the regular Q6 e-tron, but it will have a coupe-SUV roofline.

The interior is likely to be untouched, too. So, it will still feature Audi’s standard 12.6-inch driver cluster and 10.9-inch infotainment screen, plus the optional 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen that allows the front passenger to stream videos, make changes to the navigation and control the car’s audio system.

Audi RS Q6 e-tron price

While prices and specifications haven’t been announced, the RS Q6 e-tron is expected to cost well over a crore as the SQ6 e-tron starts from £93,675 (around Rs 1 crore) in the UK.