Audi Q6 E-Tron 2026 News

Audi has slashed the price on one of its EVs in Australia, in a win for buyers. The Audi Q6 e-tron electric mid-size SUV now starts from $89,900 (before on-road costs) - $10,000 reduction on the previous model.That means the base version is now eligible for the full FBT exemption until April 1 next year, when it reduces to just a 25 per cent FBT exemption. It also skirts under the Luxury Car Tax threshold.The SQ6 e-tron performance SUV has seen an even steeper price drop of more than $20,000, with it now starting from $129,900, compared to $151,400. Coupe variants are available from $134,900, down from $156,400, which is a $21,500 reduction as well. Updated pricing sees the 2027 Q6 e-tron priced from the same as the BMW iX3 ($89,900) and substantially cheaper than the Porsche Macan ($129,800). A sport edition variant of the currently 2026 model Q6 e-tron is available from $95,900 (drive-away) on cars ordered until October 2026. The sport edition variant is available from now until October 2026, with deliveries on the new Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron beginning in 2027. The Audi Q6 e-tron comes with a single electric motor, producing up to 215kW and 450Nm to the rear wheels.It’s equipped with an 83kWh battery, offering a driving range of up to 485km, according to WLTP standards. The SQ6 e-tron adds another electric motor and all-wheel drive, boosting performance to 380kW and 855Nm, meaning the car can sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds. The car uses a bigger 100kWh battery to offer a driving range of 586km (WLTP). Both variants are capable of DC charging at more than 200kW, with a 10-80 per cent charge taking roughly 20 minutes. The Q6 can charge at 225kW, while the SQ6 can charge at 270kW.Both variants get an 11.9-inch digital driver display and 14.5-inch curved central touchscreen, along with a 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen as standard.All variants ride on 20-inch alloy wheels as standard, but the SQ6 e-tron shows off 21-inch examples. The car is fitted with sports seats wrapped in leather-appointed upholstery, with the front ones electrically adjustable and heated. It comes as standard with a 10-speaker audio system that is upgraded to a 16-speaker unit in the SQ6 e-tron that also adds a head-up display. The Q6 e-tron features a black exterior styling package as standard that sees front and rear bumpers painted in black. All variants are covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre manufacturers warranty, as well as a 12-year warranty against corrosion perforation.  

Audi has introduced a series of updates for model year 2026 (MY26) to the A5 and S5 liftback and wagon, as well as the Q5 and Q6 e-tron SUVs.All models now receive physical scroll wheels on the steering wheel with haptic feedback. These replace the touch-sensitive sliders.Additionally there’s a new-generation multimedia software with new digital instrument cluster views and enhanced functionality thanks to an app store, upgraded USBs, as well as the capability to connect to headsets and game controllers via bluetooth.On the safety front, all MY26 Audi A5, S5, Q5 and Q6 e-tron variants receive a new long-range radar, as well as the inclusion of active lane-keep assist and a lane-change assist. Audi claims this has been optimised for Australian conditions.Audi S5 variants also receive a new ‘dynamic plus’ drive mode that allows for controlled oversteering by altering the stability control, torque distribution, brake torque vectoring, and the engine and transmission calibration.The S5 also receives a factory-fitted dashcam, as well as enhanced parking features including trained parking, a reverse assistant, kerb protection and a car wash mode.The 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen is now added via the optional Premium package for the A5 e-hybrid. It was previously a standalone optional extra.Before on-road costs pricing for the 2026 Audi A5/S5 line-up is as follows:A5 Sedan e-hybrid quattro 270kW S line: $89,900A5 Sedan TFSI 150kW S line: $81,127A5 Avant e-hybrid quattro 270kW S line: $92,818A5 Sedan TFSI quattro 200kW S line: $89,827A5 Avant TFSI quattro 200kW S line: $92,827S5 Sedan: $116,827S5 Avant: $119,827After an initial batch of MY25 Q5 e-hybrid plug-in hybrid (PHEV) examples arriving in Australia, supply of the updated MY26 examples are now fully on tap.The Q5 is still available in TFSI 150kW, TDI 150kW quattro, TFSI 200kW quattro, e-hybrid 270kW, as well as the flagship SQ5 variants. Both SUV and Sportback ‘coupe’ SUV body styles remain on offer.Beyond the new multimedia and active safety updates, the optional 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen has been moved from the Tech Pro to the Premium package.Additionally, the Tech Pro package gains additional parking functions like trained parking, a reverse assistant, kerb protection and a car wash mode.A dashcam now comes standard on SQ5 variants.Before on-road costs pricing for the 2026 Audi Q5/SQ5 line-up is as follows:Q5 SUV TFSI 150kW: $83,627Q5 Sportback TFSI 150kW: $87,127Q5 SUV TDI 150kW quattro: $89,727Q5 SUV TDI 150kW quattro sport: $96,227Q5 SUV e-hybrid 270kW: $98,018Q5 SUV TFSI 200kW quattro sport: $98,027Q5 Sportback TDI 150kW quattro sport: $99,727Q5 Sportback TFSI 200kW quattro sport: $101,527SQ5 SUV sport: $110,027SQ5 Sportback sport: $113,527SQ5 SUV: $126,027SQ5 Sportback: $129,527For MY26 Audi has discontinued the mid-spec Q6 e-tron Performance trim, leaving only the entry-level Q6 e-tron and flagship SQ6 e-tron variants. Both are offered in SUV and Sportback ‘coupe’ SUV body styles.Range is claimed to have been "optimised" for all variants, plus there’s "optimised" regenerative braking, the addition of one-pedal driving, as well as additional charging information.The entry-level Q6 e-tron trims now get frequency selective comfort suspension as standard. This car previously had passive dampers.A dashcam comes as standard on all variants, plus there are additional modes for the augmented reality head-up display.Before on-road costs pricing for the 2026 Audi Q6 e-tron/SQ6 e-tron line-up is as follows:Q6 e-tron SUV: $101,017Q6 e-tron Sportback: $101,017SQ6 e-tron SUV: $152,517.81SQ6 e-tron Sportback: $157,517

Facing intense competition from emerging Chinese brands, the impact of US tariffs and increased manufacturing costs in Europe, the Volkswagen Group’s current financial trauma is well documented with a minimum cut of 50,000 jobs (likely 100,000) by 2030 and closure of four production plants in Germany already flagged.And now, as part of its Future Plan presentation, the Group’s executive board has said, “The (group) model lineup will be gradually concentrated on the most attractive market segments and streamlined by up to 50 percent; offering complexity will be reduced by up to 75 percent.”Which means key models currently sold by brands including Audi, Cupra, Skoda, Porsche and VW are set for early discontinuation, the latest by 2030, with the number of available options slashed by three quarters and annual production capacity dropping from 10 to nine million vehicles.Question is, which models are headed for the chop first and German publication Bild believes it has the inside scoop with a "concrete list” of 10 cars headed for extinction.Here’s the Bild VW Group product hit list.Audi: The Q5 Sportback and Q6 e-tron Sportback are unlikely to be replaced. And interestingly, even though the Porsche Taycan is marked for extinction (see below) its Audi e-tron GT twin under the skin isn’t.Cupra: The list marks the Cupra Raval (which hasn't even launched in Australia yet) as headed for the exit after a single generation.Porsche: In unsurprising news the underperforming Taycan is set to retire after the current model reaches the end of the road and the internal-combustion (ICE) Cayenne Coupe is gawn.Sadly for sports car devotees Bild’s mail is that even though Porsche’s ‘strategic realignment’ from late last year pointed to internal combustion power for flagship versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman, that plan is kaput with the roadster and coupe again lining up as EV only.Skoda: The Bild report puts the Skoda Fabia small car on the chopping block, although there’s no mention of its closely-related Seat Ibiza and VW Polo siblings.Volkswagen: The Jetta compact sedan, now primarily sold in North America, and the Taos crossover-style SUV, currently offered in global markets including North America, South America and Russia (and marketed as the Tharu in China) look unlikely to make a next-gen iteration.No mention of Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini or Seat although Bentley has already shelved its plan to go pure-electric by 2035 and Lambo’s put production of its first EV firmly on the back burner.Bild estimates VW Group savings of up to €6.5 billion (~$10.7 billion) by 2031 by finishing up these 10 cars but even that’s far from a 50 per cent reduction in the across-the-board model count.Stay tuned for more VW Group model obituaries surely coming soon.

Why Audi says its sales model will keep it ahead of new rivals

Audi has added its 'Sportback' coupe bodystyle to its Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron electric SUV line-up, which the brand says offers more than just sleeker looks.