What's the difference?
From a few paces back, the Q6 e-tron is easy to mistake for just another Audi.
After all, Audi, perhaps above all its contemporaries, has established such a consistent look and feel for its entire range.
But this is no regular Audi. The brand tells us the Q6 e-tron is the most significant new vehicle it has launched in a decade.
Underneath its familiar visage, Audi is so excited about the Q6 e-tron because it brings with it a ground-up new-vehicle platform, which brings with it some forward leaps when it comes to technology.
But does being new actually make the Q6 e-tron a good car? We went to its Australian media launch to find out.
Long before Tesla EVs, there were electric golf buggies.
From the first half of last century, they began quietly ferrying birdie and eagle enthusiasts around their favourite courses.
For many, these have been their first (and only) experience of electric vehicles (EVs) at work.
Now, the blue-collared Blue Oval mob has this – the all-new E-Transit Custom.
Designed to take on other electric mid-sized vans such as the LDV eDeliver7, Peugeot E-Expert and the Mercedes-Benz Vito Electric, it is the brand’s second – and more affordable – foray into van electrification.
Does the E-Transit Custom score above par? Let’s dive straight in!
The Q6 e-tron knocks the luxury SUV formula out of the park, regardless of the fact it’s an electric vehicle. It has a slick, sporty feel, a high level of standard equipment for a premium car and at least on paper it’s a solid EV with plenty of driving range.
But here’s the thing: To me, the Q6 e-tron feels exactly how you would expect it to. It’s the same Audi formula, just upgraded for the electric age and in an era where rivals both old and new are using this once-in-a generation opportunity to truly innovate, there’s something a little disappointing about that.
Wow. This is state-of-the-art EV van engineering – complete with sporty handling and an excellent ride – yet it maintains all the usual Transit attributes.
The Tesla of electric vans? Maybe.
The only thing remains is pricing and how the E-Transit Custom behaves and drives on Australian roads… and we’ll have the answer to those by the end of this year.
But as it stands, Ford's European mid-sized van is keeping the innovative spirit of the original alive.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.