All-new electric SUV shares tech with the latest Porsche Macan and beats it on range On sale August Price from £68,975
Stuart Milne stuart.milne@haymarket.com
TEAM WORK MAKES the dream work, or so management experts tell us.When it comes to the complicated and expensive subject of developing new cars, though, it rings true.
The Audi Q6 e-tron SUV is living proof, sharing its underpinnings – and much of its advanced battery and electronics technology – with the new electric Porsche Macan. But while the Macan is more overtly sporty, the Q6 e-tron is a little more focused on everyday use.
Those underpinnings are hugely significant, bringing more efficient 800-volt charging technology. Both the Q6 e-tron and the sportier SQ6 e-tron have a 94.9kWh (usable capacity) battery for an official range of up to 388 miles in the regular version.That beats key rivals, including the BMW iX3 (285 miles), Jaguar I-Pace (261 miles) and Tesla Model Y (330 miles), as well the Macan (331 miles). A cheaper version with a smaller battery (of around 78kWh usable capacity) will follow next year, and both batteries bring the ethical and environmental benefits of using less of the rare-earth material cobalt.
Range is helped by a standard heat pump (which is an efficient way of warming the interior), while clever tech keeps the battery at the optimum temperature to maximise range and minimise charging times.
Like the Macan, the Q6 e-tron can charge at rates of up to 270kW (faster than the iX3, I-Pace and Model Y), which can boost the battery from 10-80% in as little as 21 minutes and add 158 miles of range in 10 minutes. A 0-100% home charge will take around 14 hours at 7kW.
‘Plug & Charge’ technology allows the car to talk directly with public chargers without the need to authorise via an app or the charger’s touchscreen, while billing is taken care of through the myAudi app.This is initially compatible only with the UK’s Ionity network, which has chargers in 26 locations, but it’s promised to roll out for other providers.
Helpfully, the Q6 e-tron has a charging port on each side, so you don’t have to worry about which side is closest to your home charger. However, only the port on the left can support rapid charging. Both flaps can be opened electrically from inside the car, closing automatically once the cable is removed.
The Q6 e-tron’s regenerative braking system, (which recovers energy during deceleration and converts it to electricity to top up the bat
