New Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron Dakar: bonkers off-road EV spotted testing
September 24, 2024 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
The new Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron is coming soon, and there’s a jacked-up special-edition version on the way as well.
- New Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback Dakar spotted testing
- Special edition SUV gets rugged styling
- Based on the production Q6 Sportback e-tron
- Shares parts with the standard electric SUV
- Dakar is unlikely to go on sale…
- …But the Q6 Sportback e-tron will next year
This curious-looking thing is your first look at the new Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron – the swoopy coupe version of the brand’s recently-revealed electric car. However, this particular prototype is something a bit different.
It may be wearing the Q6 Sportback’s body, but this jacked-up SUV appears to be a special-edition version which could be Audi’s answer to the Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato.
New Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron Dakar design
We’ve known for some time that a Sportback version of Audi’s Q6 e-tron SUV was in the works, and now it’s broken cover – sort of.
You see this is a new limited-edition model wearing the Q6 Sportback’s body, potentially something built to celebrate this year’s win for Audi at the gruelling Dakar Rally – an almost 5,000-mile race across some of the most challenging terrain on earth.
That would explain the raised ride height and chunky tyres fitted to this car, as well as the massively flared wheel arches. The standard Q6 Sportback e-tron won’t look quite this rugged, however it will have the same sloping roofline.
The basic front end design is clearly very similar to the standard Q6, with sleek LED daytime running lights and the main beams hidden in the lower bumper. You also have a similar full-width light bar at the rear.
New Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron Dakar motors and batteries
There’s no official word from Audi about what’s powering this limited-edition off-roader, however you can expect it to use the same collection of parts as the standard Q6 e-tron, and the same goes for the production version of the Q6 Sportback e-tron.
This means it’ll likely have a 100kWh battery with close to 400 miles of range, as well as a choice of single or dual-motor setups with up to 388hp. An SQ6 Sportback e-tron with 490hp is almost a certainty as well.
Can I buy the new Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron Dakar?
Sadly, it’s unlikely. The Dakar special edition could be just a one-off, however models like this have proven popular over the past few years – just look at the Porsche 911 Dakar – so Audi may build this in very limited numbers.
However, you will be able to buy the standard Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron, and it’s expected to go on sale early next year. There’s no word on pricing yet, however it’ll almost certainly fetch a premium over the standard car’s £60,000 price tag.
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