New design philosophy goes into series production with the Q6 e-tron
The interior of the Audi Q6 e-tron1 is oriented towards the needs of the customer more than ever. The properties of materials used were incorporated into the interior design at a very early stage of the development process and, in combination with the Audi MMI panoramic display and the MMI passenger display, create a visually clear digital stage. The high-contrast design of the interior deliberately places elements in the foreground or background, creating a three-dimensional spatial architecture that is tailored to the occupants in terms of design and ergonomics. The ambiance in the interior was designed to be decidedly homely. The “Softwrap” extends from the doors across the entire cockpit to the center console, creating a homogeneous and enveloping feeling of space. The same colors and high-quality materials, some of which are made from recycled materials, can also be found in the seats. For example, the S line variant’s Softwrap uses the recycled fabric Elastic Melange, which is made from 100 percent recycled polyester. The headlining, lining of the pillars, and the sun visors are made from Draft fabric, which is also 100 percent recycled polyester.
Audi offers the Argument fabric for the normal and sports seats. The sports seats with contrasting stitching (KN) are also optionally available in Elastic Melange fabric. In the S line and S model, the sports seat plus is optionally available in Dinamica microfiber, also a recycled material, or in fine Nappa leather with diamond quilting. Dinamica also adorns the door mirror. Although this fabric looks and feels like suede, almost half of it is made from recycled polyester, which comes from textile waste.
The application surfaces on the instrument panel are painted in volcano gray fine lacquer as standard. Alternatively, sweetgum natural in light brown, or birch linear natural in stone grey wood or matt brushed aluminum in anthracite can be ordered. Birch linear is a technically jointed veneer, i.e., a laminated wood that is cut into veneers and made from locally grown and FSC/PEFC-certified birch wood. This resource-saving process also produces less waste.
In the S line version and the S model, customers can choose a technical fabric in anthracite in addition to matt brushed aluminum in anthracite and open-pored carbon micro twill. The latter is an innovative, technical-looking polyester fabric with recycled content that is characterized by a tactile structure and a new look.
The materials used were selected from a functional point of view and at the same time ensure a clear design differentiation of the various vehicle areas in the interior. Comfort-oriented areas are designed with generous surfaces and soft materials. In contrast, the precisely designed control surfaces in high-quality, high-gloss black emphasize the clarity of interaction.
Specific features in the interior are reserved for the SQ6 e-tron2, for example, the red ring around the start/stop button, the diamond with the S lettering in the seat, or S-specific displays in the MMI as well as black-painted brake calipers with S lettering on the exterior, the exterior mirror housing in Unique Chrome Silver, bumpers with aluminum inserts, the S sports suspension, and the e-tron sports sound with S tuning.
Thanks to the new Premium Platform Electric, which was developed specifically for e-mobility, the vehicle also has a generous feeling of space and roominess as well as a high level of everyday usability. The package of this SUV, in particular, has been specially designed to meet the needs of SUV customers. The interior offers plenty of storage space and stowage compartments. In the center console, there are two cup holders, a wireless cell phone charger, and a storage compartment below the center armrest with more than five liters (0.17 cu ft) of storage space. The greater comfort in the second row of seats is typical of an electric car without a center tunnel. The trunk offers 526 liters (18.6 cu ft) of storage space. If the rear seat bench is folded down, the storage space increases to up to 1,529 liters (54 cu ft). The rear seats can be folded down separately (40:20:40). A further 64 liters (2.3 cu ft) can be stored in the frunk (front trunk) under the hood – a convenient place to stow smaller travel bags, for example.
The exterior: sporty, progressive, and perfectly proportioned
The Audi Q6 e-tron1 has perfect proportions and is a further evolution of Audi’s e-tron design. In the car’s bodywork, soft shapes are in constant interplay with the creases and edges, lending dynamism to the shadows even when stationary. The upright front with the completely closed and inverted Singleframe follows the design language specific to electric Audi models. The vertical design of the front end makes a powerful and confident impression. A mask in selenite silver or high-gloss black frames the highly three-dimensional grille and the side air intakes. The high-positioned daytime running lights give the Q6 e-tron1 a very striking and confident appearance.
The greenhouse stretches low and taut over the powerful body. It is slightly tapared towards the rear, and the gently sloping D-pillars flow elegantly into the bodywork’s muscular shoulders. The continuation between the D-pillar and the roof makes the cabin appear more elongated and the vehicle more dynamic. A prominent line that extends from the rear lights to the rear doors emphasizes the upper section of the quattro blisters – the contours of the body on which the gently sloping D-pillars are supported. The blisters are a core element of Audi’s design DNA. Audi calls this central design principle “making technology visible”. Thanks to the taut and precisely drawn quattro blisters, the car embodies a certain dynamism even when stationary. The shape of the Audi Q6 e-tron1 is reminiscent of the Audi e-tron GT3.
Its powerful and sporty stance, when stationary, is further emphasized by the strongly tucked-in and sills and aprons accented in black. The almost perfect proportions with short overhangs and long wheelbase support this design philosophy. The sill is set off in black, emphasizing the location of the battery. This is where the heart of the fully electric vehicle with 800-volt technology beats – and the Audi e-tron design philosophy places emission-free driving at the center of the design. The dynamically tapered rear creates a mixture of sporty elegance and power. The clean and large rear architecture with the continuous light strip gives the Audi Q6 e-tron1 the clarity and aplomb typical of Audi.
The exterior of the Audi Q6 e-tron1 is differentiated between an attractive entry-level variant and the S line variant. At market launch, up to eight exterior colors including the standard color magnetic gray solid as well as Manhattan gray metallic, glacier white metallic, stone red or mythos black metallic are available. They emphasize the powerful and progressive design of the exterior. Two shades of blue are available: plasma blue and Ascari blue. Daytona gray is reserved exclusively for the S line variant and the S model. The black pro styling package can be ordered as an option for the Q6 e-tron1 with S line or the SQ6 e-tron2. It is characterized by black accents for even more elegance and sportiness. The package includes dark Audi rings at the front and rear, dark window trim, additional parts including the radiator grille in body color, black exterior mirror housings, black inserts in the inverted, closed Singleframe, and the front and rear bumpers.
The interplay of exterior colors and exterior packages with contrasting paintwork in mythos black as standard or in body color on request offers plenty of scope for individualization.
The Audi SQ6 e-tron2 shows off its electric power in a sporty and elegant way. Silver-colored add-on parts set accents at the front and rear – an exclusive feature for the S models, as do the exterior mirror housings in an aluminum look. The horizontal blade at the rear also has an aluminum look, as do the elements in the side skirts and the Singleframe. The SQ6 e-tron2 comes with black 18-inch brake calipers with a diamond S logo and 20-inch wheels in a five-twin-spoke design in matt palladium as standard.
Speaking of the wheel range, the Audi Q6 e-tron1 starts with 18-inch ten-spoke wheels as standard and the 19-inch “5-double-spoke dynamic” wheel in graphite gray in the S Line. Wheels up to 21 inches are available as an option. In addition to the standard wheels of the respective Q6 e-tron models, there is a total of seven other different designs – from sporty to elegant – to choose from; four of these come from Audi Sport. The SQ6 e-tron2 starts with 20-inch wheels.
Whether magnetic grey or Ascari blue metallic, the two edition one models present the Audi Q6 e-tron1 with visual highlights: S line design, radiator grille in body color, 21-inch wheels, brake calipers in red, dimmed Matrix LED headlights plus, LED rear light pro, exterior package black. With the edition one grey, customers receive a key trimmed to match the car’s color (magnetic grey or Ascari blue) and with the Audi rings on the back.
