The Audi Q6 e-tron offroad idea takes the corporate’s ‘offroad’ sub-brand to new heights

EVs are imitating technical outerwear as producers look to the rugged, high-tech types and supplies of outside tools makers to provide their merchandise a recent sheen. Following on from the tracked Genesis GV60 MIV Idea revealed final week and opulent restricted editions just like the Callum Skye, the standard SUV is being usurped by smaller however no much less rugged machines that mix consolation with potential.

Quickly we’ll get the primary take a look at the brand new Volvo EX30 Cross Nation, which takes the Swedish firm’s tiniest EV and offers it an injection of brawn courtesy of raised suspension and a extra rugged physique equipment.

Within the meantime, that is Audi’s potential entrant to the style, an electrical reboot for the corporate’s ‘offroad’ collection of 4×4 property vehicles. The Q6 e-tron offroad idea takes the Sportback model of Audi’s mid-range e-SUV and offers it over 6” of further floor clearance and almost 10” of width. Big flared wheelarches accommodate the particular off-road tyres.

That serves up a reasonably menacing picture, countered by the svelte(ish) swooping roofline sported by the Q6’s Sportback variant – just like the usual Q6 we just lately drove in Norway. In the interim, this prototype is strictly idea solely, created to conjure up a ‘extremely emotive’ model of the all-electric authentic.

If an offroad model of the Q6 does floor, it most likely received’t have the particular ‘portal’ axles sported by the idea – a method of elevating experience peak by offsetting the axle tube above the centre of the wheel. This set-up has the added bonus of accelerating the torque, because of the extra gears wanted to shift the axle tube. As Audi factors out, though the highest velocity is lowered to 108 mph (‘satisfactory for an off-roader’), the grip and torque allow the idea to enterprise up 45 diploma gradients.

Snow, ice and motor exhibits are this machine’s pure habitat, locations the place the bespoke bumper- and roof rack-mounted array of LEDs can burn brightly to their true potential.