Audi RSQ6 name trademarked for performance electric SUV

Audi has filed to trademark the RSQ6 nameplate worldwide, hinting its upcoming mid-size SUV will gain a range-topping, Audi Sport-developed performance variant.

While this isn't the first RSQ6 trademark filed by Audi – following a similar filing in Germany in February 2019 – it's the first time the nameplate has been protected globally, strongly indicating the German car maker has advanced plans to roll the name out into showrooms.

Crucially, in the two years since the first trademark was filed, we've learnt Audi is working on a new dedicated, mid-size electric SUV known as the Q6 E-Tron – making the RSQ6 nameplate a perfect fit for a high-performance variant.

Twinned with the second-generation Porsche Macan, the new Audi Q6 E-Tron (spied below) is slated for a global reveal in late 2022, riding on a new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) battery-electric chassis being developed by the two manufacturers.

It's rumoured the new Macan line-up will be topped by a high-performance Turbo variant – its slot within the range opened by the petrol-powered Turbo's axing earlier this year – powered by dual electric motors developing upwards of 500kW, for a sub-three-second 0-100km/h time.

Audi's position in the Volkswagen Group hierarchy means the RSQ6 E-Tron would fall slightly short of its twin's performance – as seen in today's Audi RS E-Tron GT electric sedan, which develops 440kW in normal mode and 475kW on 'overboost', compared to the Porsche Taycan Turbo's 460kW and 500kW figures respectively.

Audi has trialled a range of high-performance, dual-motor drivetrains on the PPE platform in concept form, from the 350kW/800Nm of April's A6 E-Tron concept, to the 530kW/960Nm of September's Grandsphere show car.

Expect a sharper chassis, larger brakes and more aggressive styling to back up the RSQ6's increased power, as per all Audi Sport-fettled models.

With the standard 2023 Audi Q6 E-Tron slated for launch in late 2022, expect the RS version to go on sale either at launch (as per the E-Tron GT), or up to 18 months later (as per Audi's combustion-engined RS vehicles).