In 2019, Audi and Porsche announced that they had jointly developed a dedicated platform for future electric models. Although the Volkswagen Group which they are in also had dedicated EV platforms, these were no suitable for larger models.
The platform is known as Premium Platform Electric (PPE) and while Porsche has not revealed the model it will use it for, Audi has completed development of its model which it will call the Q6 e-tron.
The new model, to be launched before the end of 2023, is expected to ‘redefine the industry’s benchmarks’ in terms of performance, range, and charging.
First Ingolstadt-made electric model
It will also be the first fully electric model to be produced at the Ingolstadt factory which is also the first Audi factory to have its own battery assembly facility.
At present, e-tron models are produced at an Audi factory in Belgium as well as at a Volkswagen factory in Germany and an affiliated facility (FAW-Volkswagen) in China.
By the end of the decade, Audi plans to make electric models at all its global production sites.
Scalable technology platform
PPE is scalable to accommodate a wide range of models in the mid-size and luxury segments. The battery size and wheelbase of PPE-based models is also scalable.
This enables both SUV and CUV models with high floors to be possible, as well as flat-floor models such as the Sportback or Avant, which are part of the core segment of Audi’s range.
Audi’s headquarters in Ingolstadt will also be the first Audi AG production site with its own battery assembly facility.
Innovation in lighting technologies again
While full details of the Q6 e-tron are not being released yet, the carmaker is elaborating on its new lighting technologies.
Audi is gradually developing the technology into intelligent displays that can communicate with other road users by displaying information via the exterior lights.
The new communication light, as it is known, has an active digital light signature and will be a world first when the Q6 e-tron is launched.
Audi declares that this innovation will permanently change automotive light design and car-to-X communication.
The second-generation of digital OLED technology shapes the look of new Audi models and increases their range of functions many times over. This, in turn, improves road safety, as demonstrated by the communication light in the digital OLED rear lights.
With a total of eight optional digital light signatures in the redesigned daytime running lights in the Matrix LED headlights and digital OLED rear lights 2.0, customers can design the look of their Q6 e-tron like never before.
It will also be possible to buy digital light signatures after purchasing the car (likely by online purchase and activation).
Second generation OLED lights
A software module in one of the Q6 e-tron’s domain computers makes such light signature possible. In the case of the second-generation digital OLED rear lights, the six 360-segment OLED panels generate a new image every 10 milliseconds using a specially developed algorithm.
This algorithm lets the active digital light signature demonstrate the car’s vibrancy and ability to interact personally by making the Q6 e-tron’s ‘brain activity’ visible through constant movement.
The active digital light signature at the front is created via the interaction of the algorithm with 12 dimmable segments, while at the rear, all the digital OLED segments are used. The individual light segments interact so that the light signature’s overall image does not vary in luminous intensity.
Next-generation DRLs
The front of the q6 e-tron is also innovative with the next generation of digital daytime running lights. The light modules are now visually separate, creating greater design clarity.
The designers have designed the individual LEDs – 70 in total – in this new evolution of digital daytime running lights as transparent 3D objects.
The front section of the digital daytime running lights features a precise prismatic structure, while a metalized 3D trim surrounds them to draw the focus to the car’s digital ‘eyes’.
“Digital OLEDs are more efficient, lighter, and more homogeneous than traditional lighting systems,” said Stephan Berlitz, Head of Lighting Development. “Audi recognized the potential of using OLED technology in rear lights early on and has since continued to systematically advance their development and digitalization as the only car manufacturer to do so.”
Visit www.audi.com.my to know more about Audi e-tron models in Malaysia.
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