Audi Jamaica launched its latest entry into the electric premium compact sport utility vehicle segment — the Q6 e-tron — on Saturday, February 1, at the AC Innovation Centre, New Kingston.

“When we launched the e-tron in October 2022, just over two years ago, we had an awesome response. Since that time, we’ve sold over 30 units in Jamaica, which for us is amazing because that was our target. We ideally wanted to sell one a month, so with just under 30 months to have sold over 30 units. Now we have quite the similar interest in this new Q6 e-tron, because of all the technology, the price point, and everything that this new design language is,” Damien Kerr, general manager, Oxford Road, told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.

The smaller Q6 e-tron joins the larger sportier Q8 e-tron Sportback and the RS e-tron GT sports sedan as the brand’s all-electric offerings.

“The Q6 sits below the Q8, but it is above the Q5,” he said.

The Q6 e-tron is available in two drivetrains — a two-wheel drive model, with a single rear-mounted electric motor; and a Quattro all-wheel drive version, which places an electric motor on both front and rear axles.

As the first vehicle on the Premium Platform Electric, the Q6 e-tron boasts a host of technical upgrades setting the tone for future Audi models to come. The new platform offers a 30 per cent more efficient drivetrain than the previous EV architecture granting the Q6 the longest range quoted for an Audi EV product, over 625 kilometres of range.

Its 100kWh battery is 30 per cent more energy-dense than previous batteries and is built on an 800-volt architecture. However, the Q6 is able to do bank charging, sending power to the battery pack in parallel at 400 volts each for rapid charging. AC charging takes place at a maximum of 11kW, and it can DC fast-charge at up to 270kW. From 10 per cent to 80 per cent takes up to 21 minutes, with 10 minutes of charge able to deliver 255 kilometres of range. The vehicle can also recover up to 220kW from its regenerative braking system.

The new electric motors are 30 per cent smaller and 20 per cent lighter and are of two types — asynchronous on the front if so equipped, and permanent-magnet synchronous on the rear. Horsepower figures being at 326bhp for the single-motor Q6 e-tron. The Q6 e-tron Quattro has a combined 387bhp. Zero mph to 60mph occurs under 5.5 seconds and top speed is limited to 210 km/h.

The exterior of the Q6 e-tron features an evolution of Audi’s electric vehicle design language, with the single frame grille inverted and closed. It also comes with a world-first, active digital light signatures. Using their second-generation OLED (organic light-emitting diode) lighting technology, the front and rear lights of the Q6 e-tron have a wide range of functions that communicate vehicle status plus the ability to change and customise their appearance and utility by the driver via the infotainment or the vehicle app.

Inside, the Q6 e-tron bears the style and technology that Audi calls the Digital Stage, wrapping the occupants in digitalisation using a fully networked interior. Audi MMI and Audi Virtual Cockpit have combined into the Audi panoramic display, a curved OLED design that houses the 11.9-inch instrument cluster, and a 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen. Now standard is a 10.9-inch touchscreen for passengers, while an augmented reality head-up display is a further option. Audi’s voice assistant now understands over 800 voice commands spoken in natural language and has a self-learning system.

Kerr also took the opportunity at the launch to announce Channa Walker as the new Audi Jamaica sales manager.

“Channa, who has been with us for just over two years, has loads of experience in the automotive business. In sales, she’s proven herself as a top sales executive and performer. She’s extremely mature and understands the business. She has that Audi DNA,” he said.

For 2025 Audi has announced a significant change in their naming strategy. All even-numbered vehicles will be EVs, and models with internal combustion engines using odd numbers. For this year, the Q5 Sportback, and A5 sedan — formerly the A4 are expected to launch.