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The unusual novelty is currently announced as a concept car, but the fact that the Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron with wheel reduction gears was spotted on road tests suggests that the electric coupe-like crossover with increased cross-country ability may become serial. This is reported by Avtosvit.
Wheel reducers, which allow the formation of a so-called portal bridge without a centrally protruding main transmission dome, radically improve the geometric cross-country ability of the vehicle, but their installation requires almost complete modification of the suspension, unless the wheel reducers are initially provided for in the design at the vehicle development stage.
Today, there are only a few production models with wheel reduction gears – the Mercedes-AMG G 63 4×4² and the Ineos Grenadier, but tuning studios are ready to install portal axles on almost any car – for example, on the Bentley Bentayga.
Photos of the Audi Q6 e-tron offroad concept were published on social networks without any technical details - perhaps the German company will reveal them later. For now, we can only state that the concept is based on the coupe-like Audi crossover Q6 Sportback e-tron, which debuted in October last year. The standard all-wheel drive version of this crossover has two electric motors, which together produce 387 hp, on the sports version SQ6 e-tron the peak power is increased to 517 hp.
It is not yet known which version formed the basis of the concept, especially since its front end has been significantly redesigned: giant LED spotlights have been added under the main headlights, and a beam with towing “ears” has been placed between them. The wheel arches have been greatly widened, the sidewalls have received new embossed linings, and an expeditionary trunk has been installed on the roof. The bottom of the electric crossover is flat from the factory due to its design features.
