Audi Built A Beefy Off-Road Q6 E-Tron Concept
Remember the Local Motors Rally Fighter? Pepperidge Farm remembers, and apparently Audi does, too. The automaker’s recent Q6 e-tron off-road concept bears a striking resemblance to the defunct-but-funky lifted coupe, though it’s got electric motors.
Audi said the Q6 concept offers 6.3 inches of ground clearance and portal axles, which move much of the axle components higher up and assist with that clearance. The new axle design improves torque delivery over previous iterations, lowering the vehicle’s top speed but improving its gradient climbing capability. To that end, Audi said the concept can climb gradients of up to 100 percent.
The Q6 e-tron is a new model for Audi in 2025. While we don’t know if the concept has upgraded power numbers over the standard model, the SUV you and I will be able to soon buy tops out at 456 horsepower with the dual-motor Quattro powertrain option. There will also be an SQ6 e-tron with amped-up specs reaching 510 horsepower.
See Photos of the 2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron and Q6 E-Tron Off-Road Concept
This being a concept, the chances of seeing a beefed-up off-road Audi EV on sale anytime soon are likely slim. The company said it built the concept to demonstrate that the Q6 could have emotion and that its platform could support a range of vehicle types. If you want to see the car in action, Audi plans to debut the concept at the F.A.T. Ice Race in Austria on February 1 and will blast it across its social channels.
[Images: Audi]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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That looks like a lot more than 6.3 inches of ground clearance. Did you mean 6.3 additional inches of ground clearance?
When I saw the news about the Audi Q6 E-Tron concept, I was curious what this SUV would be like. An electric platform, high ground clearance, power – it sounds impressive. But I have my own path. Instead of new technologies, I chose a proven classic and a couple of years ago took a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 5.3 at auction https://carfast.express/en/auction/lots/88774135-chevrolet-silverado-2014-vin-3gcuksec1eg515716 . The choice was conscious: I needed a reliable pickup for work and off-road driving, and not a glossy concept. The car was not in the best condition at the auction. The body had scratches, a small dent on the door, the suspension needed attention, and the engine did not run as smoothly as it should. But the price was good, and I knew I could fix it up.