Audi Unveils Q6 e-tron Off-Roader Concept
Portal Axles Boost Off-Road Capabilities
Production Possibility? Audi Gauges Market Interest
Last fall, a camouflaged, unidentified Audi prototype was spotted on the road. It looked similar to the Q6 e-tron Sportback but had a higher ground clearance, sturdier tires, wider track, and even a roof rack.
It looked like a model designed for off-road driving, not a typical electric SUV. Finally, Audi revealed its true colors with the Q6 e-tron off-roader concept.
Q6 e-tron Off-Roader: Portal Axles Take Center Stage
The core of this vehicle is the newly installed portal axles.
Portal axles are a technology that adds a gear structure to the wheel hub to raise the body while ensuring powerful driving performance. They are mainly used in military vehicles or high-performance off-roaders where rough road driving is essential.
Audi has redesigned the suspension structure for this purpose and announced that it has increased wheel torque by 50 percent compared to the previous model.
In particular, the total torque delivered to the four wheels for 10 seconds is 9,883 lb-ft, which is the “actual torque at the wheels” value amplified by the gear ratio of the portal axle, not the motor output.
Thanks to the new suspension, the ground clearance has increased by 6.3 inches (about 16 cm) compared to the previous model, and the track width has also been expanded by 9.8 inches (about 25 cm), completing a more powerful impression.
Audi explains that this allows it to climb slopes of up to 45 degrees. The powertrain is equipped with a dual-motor system that generates up to 510 horsepower, which seems to be the same as the SQ6 e-tron.
However, the top speed is limited to 108 mph (174 km/h) due to the portal axles and off-road tires.
A New Challenger in the Electric Off-Road Segment?
It’s still unclear whether this vehicle will be produced. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner described it as a prototype, saying, “We look forward to seeing our customers’ reactions to this highly emotive car.”
However, it’s rare for concept cars to be tested on public roads, so Audi is likely considering small-scale production while gauging market reactions.
This isn’t the first time Audi has shown interest in electric off-roaders. The ActiveSphere concept, unveiled in 2023, is a hybrid of a pickup and an SUV. In 2019, it unveiled an original electric off-roader called the AI Trail Quattro.
In addition, it proved its electric off-roader technology by winning the 2024 Dakar Rally with the RS Q e-tron and Carlos Sainz.
Genesis recently unveiled the GV60 off-road concept, exploring new possibilities for electric SUVs.
If the Audi Q6 e-tron off-roader concept is mass-produced, it will be interesting to see what kind of competitive landscape will form in the electric off-roader market.
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