The Audi Q6 e-tron off-road concept previews a rugged electric SUV based on the Q6 e-tron. Designed as a go-anywhere iteration of the standard Q6, the concept has been equipped with serious off-road gear, including a huge lift to the suspension, large all-terrain tyres, and a major visual update.

• Audi's unique off-road concept gets portal axles
• Massive ground clearance is aided with big all-terrain tyres
• Audi claims it can climb gradients of up to 45 degrees  

Audi Q6 e-tron offroad concept: what is it?

The Q6 e-tron off-road concept seems to be an evolution of the Audi Activesphere concept that was shown earlier in 2022. The concept seen here started its life as a standard SQ6 Sportback e-tron. The biggest technical highlight of this concept is that it uses four portal axles that were developed from scratch and are integrated into the wheel hub assemblies at the front and rear axles. 

Audi says the portal axles help increase the torque at the wheel by 50 percent, and the combined torque at all four wheels is a whopping 13,400Nm. On the power output front, it delivers 516hp, similar to the SQ6 e-tron, during boost mode. The drive is conducted with a gear set mounted on each wheel. It has a claimed top speed of 175kph and can climb gradients of up to 45 degrees. 

This axle design also elevates the axle's centerline, lifting the differential higher while simultaneously lowering the wheels in relation to the differential and axle tubes, thus also helping with additional ground clearance. The ride height has been raised by a substantial 160mm (6.3 inches), and its track has been widened by 250mm (9.8 inches). Similar portal axle setups have previously been seen on the Mercedes G-Class 4X4 squared, the Unimog and the Hummer H1. 

As for the design, the SUV gets widened fender flares, chunky body cladding, and a heavy-duty roof rack with LED light bars. The front bumper is unique to the concept as well - it gets a new faux grille area with tow hooks finished in silver and a large bracket housing multiple fog lamps at each corner.