Key Takeaways
- New Audi Q6 e-tron performance, sacrifices power for efficiency by removing an electric motor, increasing driving range.
- 355-mile estimated EPA driving range.
- 321 horsepower from a single electric motor on the rear axle.
After the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron made its debut earlier this year, along with a quicker SQ6 e-tron variant, US dealers are eagerly waiting for what will likely be the brand’s best EV yet. Before the new electric crossover arrives stateside, Audi has revealed a new variant called the Q6 e-tron performance. Before you get too excited, the ‘performance’ part of the name doesn’t relate to the car’s acceleration or top speed but to its efficiency, delivering over 350 miles of range courtesy of having a one-motor setup.
The Q6 e-tron Quattro, which was previously announced for the US market, delivers 422 horsepower (456 hp with launch control), while the SQ6 gets 483 hp (510 hp with launch control). Audi says the preliminary EPA estimates yield a 300-mile driving range for the regular Q6; no number has been released for the SQ6.
The Audi Q6 performance aims to reduce straight line speed in exhange for a longer driving range.
2025 Audi Q6 e-tron
- Engine
-
Electric
- Horsepower
-
456 hp
- 0-60 MPH
-
5 seconds
- Top Speed
-
130 mph
- Electric Range
-
300 miles
Less Oomph, But For Longer
Like the quattro model, the Q6 performance will use a 100 kWh gross battery pack with 94.9 kWh usable capacity. This should enable a 641-kilometer (398-mile) driving range, besting the dual-motor setup by a significant margin. However, the European WLPT testing cycle is more optimistic than the US EPA one, so the range would likely be closer to 355 miles. Audi has only released European specifications for the Q6 e-tron performance, so far. “US-specific pricing, specifications and the timing of these vehicles will be subject to future announcements and announced in due course closer to their respective on-sale dates,” an Audi spokesperson told CarBuzz. “We have previously confirmed there will be a rear-wheel-drive variant of the Q6 e-tron available in the US in the future.”
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Even on the conservative EPA cycle, the Q6 performance should net an 18% range improvement compared to the quattro. As a trade-off, the performance only gets a single electric motor at the rear, producing around 321 hp, a roughly 24% drop in power. What’s more, Audi says that output figure is only available at full throttle, so the realistic number is a bit lower. The Q6 performance should hit 62 mph in 6.6 seconds, about 0.7 seconds slower than the quattro.
Fast Charging, Faster Model Coming
All Q6 e-tron variants ride on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, which is shared with the Porsche Macan EV. PPE boasts 800-volt charging with the ability to split the pack into two 400-volt batteries. A 270 kW max charge speed enables a 10-80% charge in just 21 minutes, which is impressive given the battery size.
Related
Audi Is Already Testing A Hotter RS Q6 e-tron
We may see a hotter version of Audi’s newest electric SUV sooner than we thought.
In addition to the rapid charging, Audi is currently prepping a faster model called the RS Q6 e-tron. This model should produce over 600 hp and hit 60 mph in around 3.1 seconds. We expect to hear more about the RS Q6 later this year.
