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Audi Q6 e-tron quattro hero

Today, Audi is unveiling the Q6 e-tron, a next-gen electric vehicle based on the new PPE platform co-developed by Audi and Porsche.

It is going to compete in the highly popular midsize SUV segment, and when it comes to specs and design, I think the German brand has a winner. But pricing is not available yet.

Disclosure: Audi paid for my flights to and from Munich, and my hotel stay so that I could get a “sneak preview” of the Q6 e-tron. The company had no say in our reporting, nor did it ask to.

Last week, Audi brought a bunch of auto journalists and myself to Munich to get briefed on the PPE platform, a new EV platform co-developed by Audi in Porsche, and get a first look at the German brand’s first vehicle built on it: the Q6 etron.

Electrek already checked out the Porsche Macan EV, the other PPE-based vehicle coming to market this year, but we are excited to see Audi’s own take on it.

While several legacy automakers are pulling back on their electrification plans, I made sure to poke around last week and gauge the German company’s own level of commitment to its electrification effort. I was pleased to hear that Audi is still committed to stopping launching new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2027 and going all-electric by 2033.

The launch of the Q6 e-tron makes this much more realistic as it not only comes based on a next-gen EV platform bringing a lot of improvements compared to Audi’s other EV platforms, but it also completes its SUV EV lineup with the Q4 e-tron and Q8 e-tron.

Audi Q6 e-tron’s new PPE platform tech

My main complaint about Audi’s electric vehicles was their efficiency. There were a few reasons for that. The automaker was, and still is to a lesser degree, fairly conservative with a big buffer on its battery packs.

Of course, Audi also makes premium SUVs packed with features, which makes it quite a challenge to achieve a high level of efficiency.

But with the PPE, Audi is benefiting from a much more efficient electric powertrain that helps make the Q6 e-tron much more efficient than previous generations.

At the battery level, PPE includes improvements at every stage, from the cells to the pack:

Audi is now using much more energy-dense CATL NMC cells in a prismatic form factor. It also increased the size of its modules with 15 cells per module and 12 modules per pack.

At the pack level, Audi’s PPE pack is more efficient in design with a new thermal management system.

For the Q6, the battery pack has a total capacity of 100 kWh and a useful capacity of 94.9 kWh:

The European market will get a version with the two middle modules removed for a total capacity of 83 kWh, but like with its other electric SUVs, Audi doesn’t believe that it’s worth bringing vehicles with shorter ranges to market in the US.

At the drive unit level, Audi has also made some major improvements with the PPE platform both on the power and torque density and with efficiency:

This was achieved through a bunch of improvements to advanced cooling and lubrification systems, amongst other things.

With the Q6, Audi is using an asynchronous motor on the front axel and a permanent magnet motor on the rear.

Audi has also improved battery preconditioning,w which now has an even greater impact on charge time:

The automaker already had a great charging curve, but it now says that the new battery pre-conditioning can shave off 18 minutes of charging in cold temperatures.

Speaking of cold temperatures, the Q6 is equipped with a new heat pump integrated with the powertrain thermal management system:

Heat pumps are a great way to minimize the impact of climate control on range. They are generally seen as particularly useful in colder climates, but Audi has shared some interesting data about their impact.

The automaker claims that the new heat pump in the Q6 e-tron can increase the range by 30 km (~19 miles) between -10°C to 20°C (14°F to 68°F):

Beyond all these efficiency and performance improvements, the PPE also brings scalability and cost improvements.

Audi Q6 e-tron Design

The Q6 is a midsize SUV coming to complete the electrification of Audi’s SUV lineup. It sits between the smaller Q4 and bigger Q8, while being the electric counterpart to the popular Q5.

The brand is doing something where the even numbers are electric and odd numbers ICE.

The Audi Q6 e‑tron has a length of 4,771 millimeters (15.6 ft), a width of 1,993 millimeters (6.5 ft) and a height of 1,648 millimeters (5.4 ft) – making it just a smidge bigger than the popular Tesla Model Y.

The vehicle has an extremely long wheelbase with short overhands and a high front-end – giving it an aggressive-looking stance despite some mostly soft lines on the sides.

It has a well-executed fake grille.

From the back, you can see the more classic Audi look:

You have 10 different wheel design options for the Q6 from 19″ to 21″.

The back also features the new second-generation digital Audi OLED lights. There are some really cool things Audi can do with those, but unfortunately, some of the functionalities, specifically everything with motion, won’t be available in the US due to regulations.

You will still be able to configure some static ‘light signatures’, which is pretty cool.

The front trunk or frunk is nothing huge, but it’s big enough to hold a small piece of luggage or your mobile charger.

It holds 64 liters (2.2 cu ft) of storage space.

The trunk is much more spacious at 526 liters (18.5 cu ft) of storage space with the backseat up. If you fold them down, the storage space increases to up to 1,529 liters (53.9 cu ft).

Moving to the interior, you will find a variety of interesting materials. I was particularly impressed by the version that I saw at the sneak preview, which had some cool cloth and mesh materials, but we were unfortunately told that some wouldn’t make it to the North American version of the car.

Nonetheless, the interior is solid with a large back seat that can comfortably seat people much taller than 6 ft.

You have a center console that folds in the middle and two USB C plugs underneath the rear climate controls.

But the cockpit is where the fun is at. The star of the show is a new curve display that actually consists of two screens: an instrument cluster in front of the driver and a touchscreen at the center of the dash:

There’s also an optional passenger display that has a privacy mode limiting the field of view so that the content is not visible to the driver. It enables the passenger to safely play videos on the screen while the car is moving.

As if that’s not enough, there’s also an optional heads-up display for the driver. It’s one of the best I’ve seen so far. It’s bright and covers a very large area that interacts with its environment, like integrating navigation.

Now, all of these screens are powered by new software built on the Android Automotive operating system. It’s smoother, allows easier and more in-depth software updates, and allows better and faster integration of third-party apps.

This should be a big step up in user experience inside the vehicle.

Audi Q6 e-tron Specs

During the sneak preview, we mainly saw the European versions of the Q6 and their specs, but Audi America has released some official specs and estimates.

For example, the North American market is actually getting more powerful motors on the Q6 e-tron.

Here’s what Audi is releasing so far in terms of specs for the US market:


Q6 e-tron quattro		 SQ6 e-tron
Horsepower 315 kW (422 hp) nominal- 340 kW (456 hp) launch control 360 kW (483 hp) nominal – 380 kW (510 hp) launch control
0-60 mph Acceleration Est. 5.0 secs. with launch control Est. 4.2 secs. with launch control
Top Speed 210 km/h (130 mph) 230 km/h (143 mph)
Range The standard Q6 60 e-tron quattro achieves over 300 miles of range on the EPA test cycle based on preliminary manufacturer estimates. To be announced later this year.
Charging DC Fast Charging: 270 kW HPC @ 800 volts, capable of 10-80% SOC in 21 mins.AC Charging: 9.6kW (240V/40A) DC Fast Charging: 270 kW HPC @ 800 volts, capable of 10-80% SOC in 21 mins.AC Charging: 9.6kW (240V/40A)
Lighting Due to U.S. regulations, certain lighting functionalities are not available. More information will follow later this year. Due to U.S. regulations, certain lighting functionalities are not available. More information will follow later this year.

When it comes to the range, Audi is only confirming “over 300 miles) on the EPA test cycle, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets much more than that as it is getting 625 km (388 miles) on the WLTP standard.

Audi has always had a strong charging curve in its electric vehicles, and the Q6 e-tron with the PPE platform is no exception.

It’s capable of charging at 270 kW on a 800-volt system and 135 kW on bank charging on 400-volt.

But the really impressive thing is how the powertrain is able to keep the high charge rate at a high state of charge. Here’s the full charge curve:

The Q6 e-tron also has a strong 220 kW regenerative braking, and to our enjoyment, Audi is bringing a true one-pedal driving experience to the Q6 e-tron. You can choose between 4 different levels of regen braking with the top one allowing for one-pedal driving and a complete stop.

The electric SUV also comes with adaptive cruise control powered by a front camera, radar, and ultrasonic radars.

Exact pricing and availability have not been released just yet, but it is coming to Europe in the next few months and in North America toward the end of the year.

As for pricing, Audi has limited its communication to “between the Q4 and Q8,” which starts at $50,995 and $73,700, respectively.

No NACS for the Audi Q6 e-tron

This is a real bummer, but it’s not too bad, considering it might be the only real objective downside to this new entry from the German brand. Everything else is either great or subjective.

You also can’t really blame Audi, as it is more of a timing issue than anything. The automaker has announced plans to adopt NACS in North America, but the Q6 is coming a bit too soon for integration, which will come to new vehicles coming in 2025.

Owners are going to have to use an adapter to access the Supercharger network.

On the bright side, the Q6 e-tron has a great charging curve and also two charge ports. The DC-capable driver-side charge port is well located for the Supercharger network, and the passenger charge port is great for street charging.

Electrek’s Take

If you can’t tell yet, I really like this SUV. I only drove it for a few minutes, and it was a nice fully-loaded SQ6 with air suspension, so my driving impressions aren’t worth that much, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Audi is selling about 75,000 Q5 SUVs a year in the US now, and it expects the Q6 to take over that market as it transitions entirely to EVs over the next 10 years.

That’s a big and scary transition for a legacy automaker, but I think the Q6 e-tron should give them confidence going into it. Based on everything I’ve seen so far, it is highly competitive on the higher end of this segment. Emphasis on higher end. This is very much a premium and highly customizable vehicle.

The PPE platform looks like a solid base on which Audi built an interesting design packed with high-tech features, from the lighting to the HUD to the Android-based OS.

Obviously, Model Y comparisons are going to come since it’s now the world’s best-selling vehicle, and it also competes in the midsize SUV segment. During its own sneak preview in Germany last week, Audi itself identified the Model Y as a competitor.

That said, I don’t expect it to compete price-wise, especially in the US, since Audi doesn’t have access to the tax credit as it doesn’t have a US factory. If it does compete with the Model Y, it will mainly shave some demand off the top from customers looking for a more premium experience.

The Q6 e-tron will likely start at closer to ~$60,000, and you will be able to add options probably close to $80,000.

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Tenways AGO T mid-drive e-bike at $2,399 low, DJI Power 2000 station hits new $999 low, EcoFlow 48-hour flash sale, tools, more

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3 hours ago

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July 15, 2025

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Tenways AGO T mid-drive e-bike at ,399 low, DJI Power 2000 station hits new 9 low, EcoFlow 48-hour flash sale, tools, more

Today’s Green Deals are headlined by the low price on Tenways’ AGO T Premium Mid-Drive Urban e-bike that comes with a free front carrier ($50 value) for $2,399, among other models seeing discounts during this sale. We also spotted DJI’s recently released Power 2000 Portable Power Station hitting a new $999 low, as well as EcoFlow’s latest four 48-hour flash sale offers that include two power stations, a WAVE 3 bundle, and a DELTA Pro 3 expansion battery at up to 53% off starting from $1,199. From there, we have Greenworks’ 40V 20-inch Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer kit at its $114 low alongside the Worx Aerocart 8-in-1 Yard Cart down at $169.50. Plus, there’s all the hangover Prime Day savings in our Prime Day Green Deals hub at the bottom of the page, as well as yesterday’s EcoFlow phase 3 Prime Day Sale, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Tenways AGO T mid-drive e-bike with a 62-mile range and $50 in free gear at $2,399 low in latest sale

Tenways has launched a new Summer Sale that is taking up to $600 off its e-bike lineup while also offering an additional $300 savings when buying two models together. Among the offers this time, we’re seeing the lowest price to date continuing on the AGO T Premium Mid-Drive Urban e-bike for $2,399 shipped while also getting a free front carrier valued at $50. Normally, this higher-end model would cost you $2,699 at full price, which we saw brought down to the $2,399 low for the first time during the brand’s July 4th Sale. Now you’re getting another chance at that $300 markdown here while the savings last, dropping the costs back to the best price we have tracked. As always, there is an extra $150 savings available for medical providers, first responders, military personnel, and teachers with verification through ID.me on any of the e-bikes’ landing pages.

Aside from Tenways’ new CARGO ONE e-bike that recently released, the AGO T Urban e-bike is the highest-end of the brand’s models, cruising into view with a Bafang M420 mid-drive motor coupled with a 504Wh battery to provide up to 62 miles of pedal-assisted travel at up to 20 MPH top speeds. It shouldn’t be surprising that this premium model also comes with a superior torque sensor to support its PAS capabilities, with the settings controlled via the TFT LCD color display screen.

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There’s plenty of high-quality features you’ll be getting here too, like a hydraulic front lockout fork, the hydraulic disc brakes, puncture-resistant tires with fenders over each, a Gates CDX carbon belt drive, an Enviolo stepless shifting hub, an integrated rear cargo rack, integrated front and rear lighting, a suspension seat post, and more. There are even connectivity options through its companion app, the standout of which is the ability to cast directions from your phone onto the bike’s display for more seamless navigation.

If you want to check out the full lineup of e-bike deals that we’re seeing in this current sale, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

DJI Power 2000 Portable power station

Score DJI’s latest Power 2000 2,048Wh LiFePO4 station with $900 savings at a new $999 low

By way of its official Amazon storefront, DJI is giving folks a lower-than-ever price on its new Power 2000 Portable Power Station at $999 shipped, after using the promo code DJIPOWER2000 at checkout. This model was just released at the top of the month, with it waiting no time before dropping from its original $1,899 price tag to $1,299, which held out all of last week until falling to $1,099, with the promo code taking things even further. You’re looking at a combined 47% markdown that gives you $900 off its tag, landing it at a new all-time low price. You can also alternatively pick up its Power 1000 predecessor at $549 shipped right now, after redeeming the on-page coupon.

If you want to learn more about this all-new backup power solution, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

EcoFlow DELTA Pro power station

EcoFlow flash sale takes up to 53% off two power station offers, a WAVE 3 bundle, and an extra battery starting from $1,199

As part of its ongoing Phase 3 Prime Day Sale, EcoFlow has launched the next 48-hour flash sale through July 16, with four units getting up to 53% discounts to some of the best prices we have tracked. Among the two power station deals, you’ll find the brand’s DELTA Pro Portable Power Station with a free protective bag at $1,749 shipped, with the extra savings unfortunately not applicable here. Priced at $3,699 in full, we regularly see it down between $1,799 and $1,999, especially at Amazon, where it’s currently sitting $50 higher in price. While we have seen it go as low as $1,694 in the past, you’re still looking at a larger-than-normal 53% markdown off the going rate, giving you $1,950 in savings and landing it $55 above the all-time low. Head below for more on this unit and the others we’re seeing included in this flash sale.

If you want to learn more about this power station or the other units included in this flash sale, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

Greenworks 40V 20-inch Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer

Cover hedge jobs with this Greenworks 40V 20-inch pole trimmer at $114 low

Amazon is offering the Greenworks 40V 20-inch Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer for $113.99 shipped. Coming down from its usual $170 pricing, where the brand’s direct website currently has it listed, we only saw discounts in 2025 dropping costs to $140 until this past week, when Prime Day brought it lower than ever to the rate that is continuing into this week. You’re looking at a $56 markdown to the best price we have tracked and giving you the chance to save big while Prime Day benefits linger.

To learn more about this lawn care solution’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

Worx Aerocart 8-in-1 yard cart

Tackle yard work with 8-in-1 versatility using Worx’s transforming Aerocart at $169.50

Amazon is offering the Worx Aerocart 8-in-1 Yard Cart at $169.50 shipped, which comes in $0.50 under the current Best Buy Deals of the Day pricing. Usually going for $200 to $230 at full price, we’ve mainly seen it in 2025 keeping near $173, with it more recently keeping down between $169 and $170 at the lowest. While it’s fallen lower in the past, those rates haven’t reappeared this year at all, with today’s deal being a solid $60.50 markdown at the second-best price of the year – just $0.50 above the annual low.

If you want to learn more about this handy yard cart, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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Range Rover’s first EV looks the part, but with a few surprises

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4 hours ago

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July 15, 2025

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Range Rover's first EV looks the part, but with a few surprises

Range-Rover-first-EV

Range Rover’s first electric SUV will finally arrive later this year. Ahead of its official launch, early reviews show the upcoming EV stays true to the Range Rover heritage, but there are a few things you should know.

Range Rover will launch its first EV later this year

Since launching its first vehicle 55 years ago, the Range Rover brand has become an iconic symbol of off-road capabilities, elegant design, and luxurious interiors.

With its first all-electric SUV due out later this year, Range Rover promises it will “refine and craft the epitome” of the luxury brand.

Although Range Rover is currently putting the electric SUV through “the most intensive testing” any of its vehicles has endured, Autocar got their hands on a prototype for an early review.

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The Range Rover Electric may look like the iconic SUV we’ve grown to love, but with an electric powertrain, it offers even more.

“A Range Rover more calm and assured, almost regardless of circumstance, than any in its 55-year lineage. Electrification yields a lot, but sacrifices little,” Matt Sanders, Autocar’s chief car tester, said after driving the prototype.

Range-Rover-first-EV
Range Rover Electric testing in Sweden (Source: JLR)

Based on the MLA platform, the electric SUV features JLR’s new in-house powertrain. The dual-motor setup packs a combined 542 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque.

The EV draws power from a massive 118 kWh battery, which is expected to deliver around 300 miles of real-world range. Sanders said he had about 160 miles of range remaining at half charge during the review.

Range-Rover-first-EV
Range Rover Electric SUV prototype testing (Source: JLR)

However, even JLR’s engineers admit that due to the SUV’s (not so) aerodynamic profile, 300 miles may be optimistic during longer-range highway driving. The engineers highlighted that the vehicle’s 800V architecture offers some of the fastest DC charging speeds on the market.

The electric SUV can also tow over 7,700 lbs (2.5 tons). Although this is less than the current Range Rover’s 3.5-ton towing capacity, it’s still on par with other luxury SUVs, such as the Mercedes G-Class.

Range-Rover-first-EV
Range Rover Electric prototype (Source: JLR)

To add more power, more motors, and bigger batteries would be required, according to Simon Fairbrother, Range Rover’s Chief Program Engineer.

Inside, the cabin is nearly identical to that of the current Range Rover SUV, featuring a plethora of digital screens and physical buttons in front of the driver. If anything, the only thing that could be changed is that the “Range Rover Electric deserves bigger heating and ventilation controls than other derivatives,” Sanders wrote.

Range-Rover-first-EV
Range Rover Electric prototype testing (Source: JLR)

JLR’s new in-house thermal management system (ThermAssist) is about 40% more efficient than the system of the Jaguar I-Pace, its first all-electric vehicle.

Range Rover’s first E will be offered in standard and long wheelbase variants. The extended wheelbase model will be about the same size as the outgoing Range Rover SUV, but it’s expected to still include enough second-row space to take it into “Bentley or Rolls-Royce territory for sheer lounging space.”

Range-Rover-first-logo-EV
JLR reveals new Range Rover logo (Source: JLR)

Since Autocar only drove the vehicle at speeds under 20 mph, we’ll have to wait to hear more about on- and off-road performance.

Sanders did mention that “the Range Rover Electric can simply ease itself up, down, over and around everything before it inspires incredible confidence in its capabilities” while driving through forest racks.

We will learn the prices closer to launch, but JLR is reportedly aiming for a price around the same as the V8 Autobiography, at just under £150,000 ($200,000).

Range Rover’s first EV has already secured over 61,000 clients on the waitlist ahead of its upcoming debut. JLR also revealed the luxury brand’s first logo, which we could see debut on the new electric SUV.

Source: Autocar

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Circle stock drops after House blocks key procedural vote on stablecoin legislation

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5 hours ago

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July 15, 2025

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Circle stock drops after House blocks key procedural vote on stablecoin legislation

Circle Internet Group Initial Public Offering at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City, U.S., June 5, 2025.

NYSE

Circle shares slid on Tuesday after the U.S. House of Representatives failed to clear a key procedural hurdle that would have teed up votes on long-awaited crypto-related bills.

The move dealt a major setback to the digital asset industry, which had framed this week as a turning point for regulatory clarity in Washington, D.C.

Circle, the stablecoin issuer that’s soared in value since its public market debut last month, fell about 5% after the vote. Crypto exchange Coinbase and bitcoin miner MARA Holdings both slipped about 2%.

Even after Tuesday’s drop, Circle shares are still up more than sixfold from their IPO price. The company is the issuer of USDC, the second-largest dollar-pegged stablecoin, with about 24% of the global market. Circle didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The legislation, including the GENIUS Act, would mark the first time the U.S. sets federal rules for stablecoins, a $260 billion corner of the crypto market that underpins most digital asset trading. The bill establishes full-reserve requirements, mandates monthly audits, and creates a path for private companies to issue regulated digital dollars under the blessing of the U.S. government.

The GENIUS Act passed the Senate last month, a milestone for both the crypto industry and for President Donald Trump, who has pushed to align his administration with digital asset innovation. It also marked a win for the industry, which spent more than $245 million in the 2024 cycle to help elect what’s now seen as the most pro-crypto Congress in U.S. history.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the market for U.S. stablecoins could grow eightfold to more than $2 trillion in the coming years if this bill is enacted. White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks had predicted it could unlock “trillions” of dollars in demand for U.S. Treasury notes virtually overnight.

The vote came just hours after Fairshake, the crypto industry’s most powerful PAC, disclosed $141 million in cash on hand as it fights for regulatory victories and backs pro-crypto candidates heading into the 2026 midterms. The committee didn’t provide a comment for this story.

House leadership is tentatively planning a second vote as early as Tuesday evening, though it’s unclear whether the rule or bill text will be modified to satisfy holdouts.

WATCH: Stablecoin showdown moves to the House after Senate clears crypto’s landmark bill

Stablecoin showdown moves to the House after Senate clears crypto’s landmark bill

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