Autocar Magazine has published some really interesting test mule spy photos this morning of what appears to be a derivative of the upcoming Q6 Sportback, though decidedly more hardcore and clearly built for off-road use. Is it some sort of nod to Dakar?
Let’s focus on what we see in these shots. The headlights are Q6, and while we haven’t seen a fully undisguised Q6 Sportback just yet, we’ve seen enough spy photos to give us a good idea that this is that. However, this mule is so much more than even the believed RS Q6 Sportback e-trons we’ve seen earlier this summer.
The test mule also has large all-terrain tires, higher suspension, fender flares and roof rack. Formulaically, that’s very similar to the Audi Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar Audi promoted following its victory in the Dakar Rally in early 2024.
If it’s not a special edition, Autocar also theorizes that this could be a drivetrain test mule for the German brand’s upcoming rival for the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. That model won’t be based on the PPE platform that underpins the Q6, which they surmise may be why it’s got significantly more animated track width than say the Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar.
That wouldn’t be the first time Audi engineers have affixed the body of one car on the chassis of another. This happens generationally, where early mules of one car will wear old generation bodywork with tacked-on fenders.
To our eye though, this is not that. We’ve only published one obscured photo here as header, so you can see the full set over on the Autocar Magazine Website and in those photos you see what looks pretty clearly like fully sorted bodywork. The flared fenders have a production quality level about them, while the front bumper has what appears to be a unique LED light array in the lower fender. Our best guess is that this is a more extreme take on the theme begun by the edition Dakar, something that seems to work well with the more coupe-like profile (looking at you ur quattro) of the Sportback.
