Tesla Motors’ upcoming Model X could soon be competing with Audi’s electric car, the Q6 E-Tron, which is expected to debut by 2018, according to Clean Technica. As per the report, the Q6 could come in gasoline and diesel engines as well as plug-in hybrid variants.
Tesla enjoys first-mover advantage
Tesla’s Model X is set to hit the market this year, as compared to Q6, which has been rumored to be going into production in the next three years. Tesla is most likely to have the first-mover advantage in the market. Moreover, three years is a long time in the rapidly-changing and fledgling EV industry, a fact that could potentially hamper the success of the Q6 E-Tron.
The Tesla Model X will feature a heavier profile than the Model S and will offer a range of just 200 miles per charge, while the all-electric version of the Q6 E-Tron will supposedly be able to traverse 310 miles on a single charge. This could give the Q6 the upper hand over the Model X, as Gas2 notes that in the realm of electric cars, range is as significant to sales as “cubic inches were back when great thumping V-8 engines ruled the road.”
Nothing sure as of now
In addition, it is predicted that the Tesla Model X will be able to dominate the EV market with its incredible acceleration and much-anticipated tech/infotainment system. Moreover, the Model X will feature falcon-winged doors, free supercharging and, supposedly, the driving experience of a sports car. Tesla is known to have an extensive network of charging stations that enables drivers to charge their cars for free. Audi, on the other hand, is not likely to provide any such facilities, though the automaker has been claimed to be working on wireless-charging technology that would completely alleviate the need to plug in electric cars to recharge them. This would be an important development and could immensely benefit the EV industry.
Though the Audi Q6 E-Tron could compete with the Model X in price and other features, it is difficult to claim anything at the moment, as only limited information is available about both of the cars. The arrival of the Q6 was recently confirmed in the annual meeting of Audi. Nonetheless, it seems quite clear that while Tesla strives to begin production of its Model X, other automakers in the world are making continuous efforts to come up with their own versions of electric cars.
