Concept hints at upcoming Q6 e-tron, with 436bhp and up to 372 miles of range On sale Late 2025 Price from £65,000 (est)
Ayisha Gharu Ayisha.Gharu@haymarket.com
AS EVOLUTION SHOWS us, the animals that best adapt to their surroundings are the ones that survive and thrive. Likewise, in the world of electric cars, new species need an in-built advantage if they want to forge ahead.The approach taken by the Audi Activesphere concept is to be two cars at once.
You see, it may look like a luxurious coupé SUV at first glance, with its angular lines, Rolls-Royce-style rear-hinged doors and huge, 22in wheels, but the Activesphere has a trick up its sleeve: at the touch of a button, it can become a pick-up truck.
Its rear screen slides forward to reveal a large cargo bed that can transport bulky items, with brackets to secure a couple of e-bikes. Or, with the glass slid back, you get a covered boot for your family’s holiday luggage.What’s more, winter sports fans can use the rack that’s integrated into the roof’s structure to transport skis.
Power comes from two electric motors – one on the front axle and the other on the rear, giving the Activesphere four-wheel drive. In total, there’s 436bhp and 531lb ft of torque – more than you get in today’s Q8 e-tron.
The Activesphere’s motors take their power from a 100kWh battery – enough for an estimated range of 372 miles on a single charge.That’s farther than any current electric Audi will take you, and beats the rival Jaguar I-Pace, but it falls just short of the 380-mile official range of the BMW iX xDrive50.
The Activesphere’s 800-volt electrical system means it can handle ultra-rapid charging. It can accept power at rates of up to 270kW, matching the Audi E-tron GT and Porsche Taycan and enabling a 10-80% top-up in as little as 20 minutes if you can find a suitably powerful charging point.
Inside, the concept car showcases a minimalist layout. In its autonomous driving mode, the steering wheel disappears into a flush position below the windscreen. If the driver wants to take over, the steering wheel glides out into its normal position.
An unusual feature is that many of the Activesphere’s functions are controlled using an augmented reality (AR) headset, both while driving and when in autonomous mode. For example, if you want to change the temperature inside the car, the system follows the driver’s gaze, with the air-con control moving towards them in AR so they can interact with it via physical gestures.
Meanwhile, important information, such as warnings of traffic jams or slippery roads ahead, can be displa
