Audi Q6 e-tron quattro confirmed for production

“Audi will present an electric SUV in early 2018. The e-tron quattro concept provides a concrete foretaste of this,” confirmed Hackenberg, before later revealing, "We will use this car to introduce this technology to a bigger number of customers in the market. We'll fill one factory [with production]." When asked of the scale of the plant he said, "I won't tell you about the size of the factory but it's a lot. It's not a small one."

Three motors and up to 496bhp

At the heart of Audi’s latest concept is an in-house developed electric drive system. It uses three motors – one mounted up front sending drive to the front wheels and the remaining two sited at the rear acting on the rear wheels. Nominal power is put at 429bhp, although a boosting function made available in the more sportier of two drive modes temporarily increases its maximum output to 496bhp. It is accompanied by peak torque of 590lb ft.

The power is sent to all four wheels via a drive-management system. An electronic torque-vectoring function also apportions power between the individual rear wheels depending on grip levels. The gearbox offers the choice between two modes: Drive and Sport.

Audi is yet to reveal a weight figure for the e-tron quattro. However, it is claiemd to have an Audi SQ5-beating 0-62mph time of just 4.6sec. Top speed is limited to 131mph to preserve the battery charge.

Energy to run the electric motors is drawn from a large liquid cooled 95kWh battery bolted to the floor below the passenger compartment – a position aimed at providing the new SUV the lowest possible centre of gravity while achieving a front-to-rear weight distriubution of 52:48. Hinting at its modular nature, Audi says the lithium-ion unit is suitable for other future electric models.

On a full charge, the battery is claimed to provide the e-tron quattro concept with a range of over 311 miles based on the criteria used in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test procedure. Early tests suggest a combined AC/DC charging system operating at 150kW can store sufficient energy to provide up a range of up to 249 miles in around 30 minutes, according to Audi.

Wireless charging offered

Alternatively, the new SUV can be charged at up to 11kW via inductive means using the German car maker’s latest wireless charging technology and a piloted parking function that has been conceived to automatically park it over a charging plate imbedded in the ground. The charging process starts automatically, with a magnetic field providing an alternating AC current that is converted to DC by the e-tron quattro’s electronic package. Once the battery is topped up, the charging automatically ceases. The whole process can be monitored and controlled via a smartphone app.

An expansive array of solar cells mounted on the 1980mm-long roof also provides the battery with electrical energy. Described as the largest solar module to be used in the automotive sector, it is claimed to produce sufficient energy under a typical European climate to provide an added 622 miles of range per year.

Underpinning the new Audi is a modified version of the MLB platform from the upcoming second-generation Audi Q5. It has been reworked with an altered floorpan and structural elements to accommodate the batteries low down for the best possible centre of gravity.

The suspension, which uses a five-link design both front and rear, receives air springs with both adaptive damping and a self-levelling function to automatically lower the body in two stages by up to 30mm for improved aerodynamic efficiency at constant motorway speeds.

Drawing on developments brought to the latest Audi Q7, the e-tron quattro also adopts four wheel steering system with up to five degrees of movement on the rear wheels to reduce the turning circle and aid maneuverability at lower speeds around town while increasing agility at higher speeds.

The 22-inch wheels boast an aerodynamically optimised design and come shod with 265/40 low-rolling-resistance tyres clearly aimed more at on-road efficiency than off-road ability.

Active aerodynamics

Stretching to 4880mm in length, 1930mm in width and 1540mm in height, the e-tron quattro is 250mm longer, 30mm wider and 115mm lower than the existing first-generation Q5. Yet despite the generous dimensions, the drag co-efficient is significantly better than any of Audi's current SUV models at 0.25.