Audi Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept Could Climb Mount Everest...Probably
Image Credit: AUDI AG.
What a week it has been? First, we had the wild Genesis GV60 on snow tracks, and now, it seems Audi has been dabbling in the dark arts of off-roading again. Remember that Dakar rally car they built? The one that looked like a futuristic bathtub on wheels? Apparently, someone in Ingolstadt thought, "Hey, that was fun; let's jack up an SUV and see what happens!" And lo and behold, the Audi Q6 e-tron offroad concept was born.
I've seen some odd things in my time as a motoring journalist – cars with more wings than a Boeing 747, cars that talk to you like a nagging spouse, and cars that cost more than a small island nation. But this electric off-roader from Audi? This one takes the cake, or perhaps the strudel, considering its Austrian unveiling.
Image Credit: AUDI AG.
This Q6 has more ground clearance than a giraffe on stilts, a wider track than a sumo wrestler's stance, and enough torque to pull a small moon out of orbit. Thanks to some Frankensteinian engineering with the portal axles, this thing can climb a 100% gradient. No, it doesn't mean it can climb a wall. For some reason, 100% gradient means a 45º slope, and while it might not sound like a lot - trust me, it can get hairy real quick. I wouldn't recommend trying that with your brand-new electric SUV unless you have a whole spare car in a garage.
Let's geek out a bit about those portal axles. Audi, in their infinite wisdom, decided to reinvent the wheel, literally. They've created these new portal axles that increase the torque at the wheels by a whopping 50%. How much exactly? 9,883 lb-ft to all four wheels for about 10 seconds. That's a triple shot of espresso. This thing can crawl up the side of a mountain on idle. The downside? The top speed is limited to 108 mph. But you don't need speed where this Q6 can take you.
Image Credit: AUDI AG.
Surely, all that torque and ground clearance must mean this thing guzzles electricity like a college student at an all-you-can-eat buffet? Surprisingly, no. Audi claims the Q6 e-tron offroad concept is based on the standard Q6 e-tron, and it still has impressive range and efficiency. So, you can conquer the Rubicon Trail without worrying about finding a charging station in the middle of the wilderness.
For now, this is still a concept car. It's a shiny toy that Audi is showing off to gauge public reaction. Will it ever see the light of day as a production model? Maybe if enough people write strongly worded letters to Audi headquarters, they'll consider it. Or maybe, since this is Audi we're talking about, they'll just shrug their shoulders and say, "Nah, let's build another electric sedan instead."
Image Credit: AUDI AG.
Let's not be pessimistic. Let's dream a little. Imagine yourself behind the wheel of this electric beast, cruising through the Sahara Desert, climbing over sand dunes like they're just some speed bumps. How about navigating the Amazon rainforest, fording rivers, and dodging jaguars? All while listening to your favorite Spotify playlist through the finest audio setup on the market.
In all seriousness - the Audi Q6 e-tron offroad concept is an amazing glimpse into the future of electric off-roading. It shows that electric vehicles can be just as capable, if not more so, than their gas-powered counterparts. They can. But for now, we can only admire this quirky creation from afar and hope that Audi sees the light and decides to bring it to the masses.
