Audi Q6 e-tron Spied On American Roads

May. 03, 2023 10:57 AM ET by Jarryd Neves Spy Shots / Comments

The latest electric SUV from Ingolstadt should be revealed in the second half of 2023.

Audi's upcoming Q6 e-tron has been spied on American roads, with pictures of the heavily disguised electric SUV doing the rounds on Reddit. First posted by u/StereoTypo, the images preview a vehicle that closely resembles the vehicle Audi teased not too long ago. The automaker is likely at the end of the development cycle and is testing the vehicle on local ground, presumably to fine-tune the ride and handling for American tastes.

How do we know it's the Q6 e-tron? There are several signs.

Up front, there's a lack of a traditional radiator grille. Camouflage covers the entire front fascia, suggesting there is no functional grille. Expect an ornamental version of the "Singleframe" grille, as seen on the RS e-tron GT.

Look closely; you'll see the Q6 isn't immune from the split-headlight treatment. This will be the first time Audi employs this trend, and the newcomer will likely usher in a new design language for the brand.

u/StereoTypo / Reddit

The Q6 e-tron is your typical Audi SUV from the side profile: inoffensive, discreet, and subtle. The rear end boasts slimmer taillight clusters that will be linked by a fashionable lightbar if the current crop of Audi electric vehicles are any indication. Generously sized reflectors are located on the upper parts of the rear bumper.

The Q6 e-tron (not to be confused with the China-only Q6) will reportedly debut in the second half of 2023. It will be underpinned by the sophisticated Premium Platform Electric (PPE) platform which, thanks to the 800-volt architecture, should allow for rapid charging speeds of up to 350 kW. The upcoming Porsche Macan EV will also be underpinned by PPE.

Audi is yet to disclose performance data, but we expect impressive figures. Reports indicate 469 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque for one of the non-RS models.

u/StereoTypo / Reddit

Those who desire more power and performance will be attracted to the RS Q6 e-tron, which our spy photographers have caught testing several times. The camouflage makes it hard to differentiate it from its more pedestrian sibling, but the more aggressive front fascia and larger brakes tell us all we need to know. This model is expected to deliver at least 600 hp, which is plentiful.

Of course, a Q6 e-tron Sportback will also be made available. It will most likely share its components, electric drivetrain, and other bits with its more upright sibling. Audi has been working on the Q6 e-tron for quite some time, so we expect it to arrive as a polished product.

As for range, we expect Audi to target at least 300 miles. The outgoing e-tron SUV had a miserable claimed range which impacted popularity, so Ingolstadt will definitely learn from that mistake and offer a competitive figure.