Audi has just taken the cover off the all-new Q6L e-tron at the Beijing Auto Show 2024, where L stands for "long-distance," the automaker says. It is just a metaphor, as the letter is actually a reference to the extended wheelbase of the model, which, indeed, makes it more comfortable for long drives.
China is the largest market for the German automakers, even bigger than their own. So rolling out models specifically designed for the Chinese customers does make sense. So here is another one bearing Audi’s four-ring badge.
Building L versions of their models for ages, just like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Audi has now come up with an extended-wheelbase version of another model, the Q6 e-tron with its SQ6 e-tron variant. The all-new Q6L e-tron sports a wheelbase, which is 4.1 inches (105 millimeters) longer than that of the standard Q6.
The car is now 192.2 inches (4,884 millimeters long), 77.3 inches (1,965 millimeters) wide, and 66.4 inches (1,687 millimeters) tall, sporting a wheelbase of 116.3 inches (2,955 millimeters).
This translates to more space for the passengers that sit in the rear seats, but also room to fit a larger battery pack for a better range compared to that of the version designed for the global market, which has to recharge after 388 miles (624 kilometers).
Photo: Audi
The China-made Q6L e-tron will be able to travel as far as 435 miles (700 kilometers) before it needs to be pluggedin again. The model is equipped with a newly developed lithium-ion battery which integrates 12 modules and 192 prismatic cells with a total capacity of 107 kWh, which is 7 kWh more than the one equipping the Q6 e-tron elsewhere.
The model sports an 800-volt technology and a maximum charging capacity of 270 kW as standard. The battery can charge enough for 260 kilometers of range in just ten minutes at an appropriate charging station.
However, it is not just the space and range that have been enhanced for Chinese customers. Audi embarked on a new design concept that makes this version instantly recognizable.
There is a new broader front end finished in gloss black, with the Audi logo being illuminated for the first time. The LED headlights feature active digital light signature.
Photo: Audi
At the back, Audi came up with the second-generation digital OLED taillights, integrating six OLED panels with 360 segments that generate a new image every ten milliseconds.
Customers will be able to choose either a rear-wheel drive version with 342 horsepower (347 metric horsepower) or a quattro all-wheel drive example with 463 horsepower (469 metric horsepower).
The Audi Q6L e-tron is available in new, exclusive colors such as Lilac Grey, the shade of the model on display at the Beijing Auto Show.
A first for Audi, the door handles are integrated into the door surface. A proximity sensor on the underside of the handles unlatches the lock when necessary. The model rides on aerodynamically optimized 21-inch wheels.
The Audi Q6L will be the first model based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) to roll off the production line of the new factory in Changchun. Production will commence in late 2024.
The first customers will have their Q6L e-tron examples delivered in 2025. More volume models will follow starting next year, with an extended-wheelbase version of the Audi A6 e-tron being part of the plan.
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