Over the past few decades, crossover utility vehicles have shifted from light unibody sport-utes like the original soft-top RAV4 to tall hatchbacks, like the current RAV4. It’s a shift in intent that serves most drivers well, but it’s not usually the most exciting form factor in the automotive kingdom. So what happens when you inject a whole lot of SUV DNA into a CUV? Do you get initialism poisoning? As it turns out, you don’t. The Audi Q6 e-tron offroad concept looks like some far-fetched fever dream, but not only is it a functional prototype, it might be exactly what Audi needs.
The regular Audi Q6 is a compact electric crossover, which means it competes with stuff like the Genesis GV70 Electrified and the Lexus RZ. It seems like fine transportation, especially with its 800-volt architecture and platform shared with the Porsche Macan Electric, but it’s not exactly the centerpiece of the showroom. So how do you make a Q6 e-tron upstage something like an RS6 Avant?
Well, how about a set of portal axles? If you aren’t familiar with these pieces of drivetrain technology, don’t feel bad. Basically, they’re gearsets at each corner of the car that drop the centerline of the wheel hub below the centerline of the axle. This lets a vehicle keep its control arms roughly parallel to the ground while getting a massive lift, and it prevents CV axles from failing prematurely due to being run at high angles. As a bonus, portal axles usually offer a lower effective gear ratio, and shorter gearing multiplies torque, effectively putting more to the ground.
With all of this in mind, the portal axles on the Q6 e-tron offroad concept help give it a 6.1-inch lift and a claimed 50 percent more torque at the wheels, both good things for when the terrain gets inhospitable. Audi claims this prototype can handily climb a 45-degree grade, which gives this crossover some proper SUV bragging rights.
More importantly, it just looks wicked, doesn’t it? Huge meats barely fitting beneath G-Class-sized fender flares, a full brace of off-road lights, a platform roof rack, and actual exposed recovery points all do the business. It’s a properly cool package, and Audi CEO Gernot Döllner seems pretty stoked about it. In his words:
The Q6 e-tron offroad concept is a reinterpretation of quattro. The model shows the potential that our platform for all electric vehicles already has today. This vehicle can claim new ground. We look forward to seeing our customers’ reactions to this highly emotive car.
What’s this about claiming new ground and monitoring customers’ reactions? Could the upper-middle-class could get its own equivalent of a Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato? It’s unlikely, but it’s something Audi shouldn’t rule out. While halo cars usually aren’t huge profit generators, they can be great marketing tools. Just ask Audi.
Remember the immediate effect the original Audi R8 had on the brand’s image? Sure, the brand was already making upscale cars with particular attention paid to design and materials, and some were fast, but the R8 generated mass desire that made Audi cooler overnight. Looking forward to Audi’s focus on electrification, it seems the position of absurdly awesome halo car is currently somewhat open, and while the RS e-tron GT is fast, the Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept is provocative. It gets the people going.
So Audi, if you’re listening, a limited run of Q6 e-tron Offroad models would be much appreciated. While it probably won’t move the needle on direct sales, think of what it could do for brand image. This thing looks badass, and any chance of potentially seeing one on the street is a hope worth having.
(Photo credits: Audi)
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Should I be excited, when MB’s E400 All-Terrain 4×4 Squared was something that supposedly could be actually ordered ?
https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/mercedes-benz-e400-all-terrain-4×4-squared-review-with-video/
This looks like a one off bastard vehicle you find in a forza garage, I love it. Surprised they’re not trying to associate it with their Dakar success in an offroad EV
Looks like the love child of a VehiCROSS and 911. Perfect for when the commute has no real roads.
Yep, the one thing EVs need is more torque
I’ve always enjoyed taking inappropriate vehicles places they shouldn’t by rights be able to, so I love the look. BUT, portal axles add a lot of weight and some suspension complexity: I have to wonder how the on-road test drive would go for someone looking for a luxury offering
“highly emotive car” .. such big corp talk from a company that seems to forgotten how to
What happened to the rear hatch area? Now we just have a…German Toyota Crown or something.
Thankfully due to the timing, this is the second-most offensive German-related memory I’ve had today, but the gap is narrowing the more I look at it.
/sorry
It looks like something a redneck Russian YouTuber built.
This is so stupid. I love it.
That there is a badass sumbitch. Paint it orange and put 01 on the door.
No they shouldn’t make it. They would sell 5. Brand image? So now they are gonna have a G wagon? I didn’t go to Harvard or Yale but that doesn’t make sense to me. If you want it there are several companies that sell portal axel kits. Audi would charge a shit load, it could be done for less than $100k, most likely closer to $70k. Which is still $, but a lot less than what Audi would charge. I don’t see Audi buyers being impressed with this type of halo vehicle.
500% better looking with a narrower track?
Maybe not 500, but I think the track is a tad wide.