Liviu Marcus
As is often the case with luxury SUVs, critics had a field day questioning the lack of performance in various terrains, but not anymore as Audi introduces the Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept. What Audi has done is a very brave move; it fully crosses the luxury segment into the performance category through electrification. The end product is a car that competes directly with other luxury SUVs while at the same time defining the future.
Table of Contents
Redefining Off-Road Luxury
Audi’s CEO, Gernot Döllner, got it right when he said that the Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept was an ‘intensely emotional interpretation’ of the Quattro ethos. By now, Quattro is something that symbolizes superior all-wheel-drive, and this fresh creation takes that innovation even higher. The Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept is not just another luxury SUV—it’s a car that makes you see the technology in a way that has not been seen before and is as exciting as it is innovative.
Engineering Excellence
The electric drive system of the Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept is central to this model, each axle being powered by its own electric motor. This configuration outputs a magnificent 380 kW (517 hp) of maximum power and an incredible 13,400 Nm of maximum torque. Well, done at the wheels; that is a lot of power for a car that is not only technological but also a monster of an automobile capable of going over some of the roughest terrains.
Dimensions and Design
This offroad version of the Q6 e-tron Concept has more significant ground clearance, 160 mm more in comparison with the traditional Q6 series. Further, the track width is increased to 250mm more than the previous model. Such changes, together with wider wheels, dramatically affect the car’s size, making it look tougher and more powerful, ready for an off-road driving experience.
Technical Prowess
The Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept shows the portal axles to be incredibly effective in potent torque delivery and robust off-road performance. Perhaps one gets a hint of this from a transmission ratio that enables the car to climb over slopes with an incline of 45 degrees; this is an indication that Audi designed this car for tough off-road use. The top operating speed is rather limited to 175 km/h, however, this fact is quite suitable for the vehicle’s concept of being more practical and powerful than incredibly fast.
Making an Impression
Making its first appearance at the Kitzbühel Ski World Cup last weekend, the Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept left the audience in complete awe. Although this design grabs the attention of anyone nearby, automotive enthusiasts await proper driving tests to find out whether the said specifications can be achieved in real life.
My Take
The Audi Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept is a disrupting technology. And that’s not just an evolution of the luxury SUV genre—it’s a revolution. By combining electric power with a very rigid structure, Audi was able to create a car that would seamlessly go from a posh city cruiser to a rugged jeep. About the fact to excite with engineering and design of the concept car, it is possible to state that Audi has designed this car with devotion to improvement.
Given that the future of automobiles is heading towards a sustainable one, the Audi Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept is one of the most brilliant evidence of the sustainable performance cars that are possible. If the company decides to put this concept car into the production line, it will most probably revolutionize the category of both luxury and off-road cars.
For a car fanatic, like I am, this idea will make me expect a lot more of this idea. It makes people rethink what an electric car is and what off-road performance is, and it gives a glimpse of the future, where it can be perfect if the two concepts are combined. The Audi Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept is not just an automobile; it is an allegorical saying, an announcement that it is possible to have a premium SUV that can also handle off-road endeavors.
Photo Gallery: Audi Q6 e-Tron Offroad Concept
