Refined Electric Evolution

Posted on by Derek Price
Cargazing
By Derek Price

Audi’s latest addition to its growing electric vehicle lineup, the 2025 Q6 e-tron, strikes a careful balance between innovation and familiarity.

After spending a week with this new offering, it’s clear that Audi is targeting buyers who want the benefits of electric driving without the sometimes polarizing styling that accompanies many EVs.

The Q6 e-tron Quattro starts at $65,800 and delivers 456 horsepower from its dual electric motors, with an EPA-estimated range of 307 miles. Our test vehicle, finished in Plasma Blue metallic paint ($595) and equipped with the Prestige package ($6,800), warm weather package ($1,300) and 20-inch wheel package ($1,000), brought the total to $76,790 including destination.

At first glance, the Q6 e-tron could easily be mistaken for one of Audi’s gasoline-powered SUVs. Unlike competitors that telegraph their electric powertrains through futuristic or deliberately unconventional styling, Audi has created a vehicle that maintains the brand’s familiar design language.

The 2025 Q6 e-tron maintains Audi’s familiar design language while incorporating subtle electric vehicle elements, allowing it to blend seamlessly with the brand’s gasoline lineup.

The result is an attractive, if somewhat conservative, luxury SUV that won’t draw unwanted attention to its electric underpinnings.

Where the Q6 truly shines is in the thoughtful details that enhance the ownership experience.

The interior ambient lighting is both beautiful and functional, with dashboard lights that sync with turn signals to provide additional visual cues. Perhaps most impressive are the twin charging ports — one on each rear corner — featuring motorized doors and easy-disconnect buttons that make the charging process more convenient than most competitors.

Behind the wheel, the Q6 e-tron delivers the refined experience expected of an Audi. Acceleration is swift and smooth, with the Quattro all-wheel drive system providing confident handling in all conditions.

The cabin remains exceptionally quiet even at highway speeds, with only minimal wind and road noise penetrating the well-insulated interior.

The Q6 e-tron’s interior combines traditional Audi luxury with forward-thinking technology, including an impressive array of screens and customizable ambient lighting.

The technology package is comprehensive, though the array of screens may feel overwhelming to some drivers. The digital cockpit display, center touchscreen and passenger-side screen create a tech-forward appearance that’s impressive but requires some adjustment.

Like all electric vehicles, the Q6 e-tron does face the usual infrastructure challenges. While public DC fast chargers are becoming more common, their reliability and availability still lag behind traditional gas stations, making long-distance travel more complex.

However, for daily commuting and local driving, the 307-mile range is more than adequate for most uses.

Overall, the Q6 e-tron is neither revolutionary nor groundbreaking, but that’s precisely the point. By delivering an electric Audi that feels, drives and looks like an Audi first and an EV second, the Q6 e-tron makes going electric feel like a natural evolution rather than a radical departure.

For mainstream luxury buyers still hesitant about making the switch, this approach may prove to be exactly what the market needs.

At A Glance

WHAT WAS TESTED?

2025 Audi Q6 e-tron Quattro ($65,800). Options: Plasma Blue metallic paint ($595), prestige package ($6,800), warm weather package ($1,300), 20-inch wheel package ($1,000). Price as tested (including $1,295 destination charge): $76,790

BY THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 113.7 in.
Length: 187.8 in.
Width: 86.3 in.
Height: 66.6 in.
Power: Dual electric motors (456 hp)
Range: 307 miles
MPGe: 105 city, 93 highway

RATINGS

Style: 6
Performance: 8
Price: 5
Handling: 6
Ride: 7
Comfort: 7
Quality: 8
Overall: 7

WHY BUY IT?

The Q6 e-tron delivers electric performance with traditional luxury SUV comfort and styling, making it an excellent choice for buyers who want to go electric without making a dramatic statement.

Posted in Audi

Electric Escalade Expands

Posted on by Derek Price
Cargazing
By Derek Price

Cadillac is expanding its electric lineup with the 2026 Escalade IQL, an all-electric luxury SUV that builds upon the recently introduced Escalade IQ while offering more interior space and cargo capacity.

The Escalade IQL features a longer silhouette than its IQ sibling, providing enhanced third-row accommodations with over 4 inches of additional legroom — 36.7 inches vs. 32.3 inches — and an extra inch of headroom.

This extended design increases cargo capacity behind the third row and adds a front “eTrunk” with 12.2 cubic feet of storage under the hood.

The longer proportions represent Cadillac’s response to customer feedback requesting more space in the third row of its luxury SUVs, an area where competitors have sometimes offered more room.

The IQL claims a Cadillac-estimated 460 miles of range. When recharging, Cadillac states owners can gain approximately 116 miles of range in 10 minutes at a public DC Fast Charging station.

While the impressive range figures should accommodate most daily driving needs with plenty to spare, buyers who frequently take extended road trips may need to factor in charging stops.

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL features a longer silhouette than the standard Escalade IQ, with 24-inch wheels and distinctive front lighting.

However, for families who primarily use their vehicle around town and for occasional longer trips, the substantial range could make the IQL a practical choice.

Performance specifications indicate 750 horsepower and 785 lb-ft of torque when using the driver-selectable Velocity Max mode, enabling 0-60 mph acceleration in 4.7 seconds, according to Cadillac estimates. The SUV lists a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 pounds.

Inside, the IQL features a curved pillar-to-pillar 55-inch total diagonal display.

An available Executive Second Row package adds stowable tray tables, 12.6-inch personal screens, dual wireless charging pads, and massaging, heated and ventilated seats with 14-way power adjustment and headrest speakers.

The vehicle includes Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance technology on all trims with three years of OnStar Super Cruise service.

The Escalade IQL’s cabin includes a curved 55-inch display spanning the dashboard and an optional Executive Second Row package with personal screens and dedicated amenities.

For utility beyond transportation, the Escalade IQL includes vehicle-to-home (V2H) bidirectional charging capabilities, allowing energy transfer between the vehicle and a properly equipped home during power outages.

The Escalade IQL will be offered in four trims: Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury and Premium Sport.
MSRP starts at $132,695, positioning it at the premium end of the luxury SUV market.

Production is scheduled to begin in mid-2025 at General Motors’ Factory ZERO plant in Detroit, with sales planned globally including the U.S. and Canada.

The timing comes as the EV market continues to evolve, with luxury buyers showing particular interest in electric options that don’t compromise on size or amenities.

At A Glance

WHAT WAS ANNOUNCED?

2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL ($132,695). Production expected to begin mid-2025.

BY THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 136.2 in.
Length: 228.5 in.
Width: 94.1 in.
Height: 76.1 in.
Power: 750 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque
Wheels: 24-inch
Estimated range: 460 miles
MPGe: 90 city, 79 highway

PREDICTED RATINGS

Style: 9
Performance: 9
Price: 3
Handling: 5
Ride: 10
Comfort: 10
Quality: 8
Overall: 9

WHY BUY IT?

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL will offer increased passenger space and cargo capacity in an all-electric luxury SUV with substantial range for daily driving.

Posted in Cadillac

Electric Muscle Pioneer

Posted on by Derek Price
Cargazing
By Derek Price

Dodge has never been a brand for the faint of heart. From the Hellcat to the Demon, their recent gas-powered muscle cars have celebrated excess, noise and spectacle.

Now, with the Charger Daytona, Dodge is venturing boldly into electric territory while bringing along all the attitude that defined its combustion-powered predecessors.

The Charger Daytona represents something genuinely novel: the world’s first electric muscle car. And unlike many EVs that seem determined to highlight their environmental credentials through minimalist design and silent operation, the Charger proudly maintains its muscle car identity.

Visually, the Daytona R/T strikes a perfect balance between retro inspiration and forward-thinking design.

Its silhouette clearly references the brand’s heritage, but Dodge has cleverly incorporated elements only possible with an electric platform. The front R-Wing, a functional aerodynamic pass-through that allows air to flow through the nose of the car, creates a distinctive visual signature while enhancing downforce.

This marriage of past and future extends throughout the design, from the full-width LED light bars front and rear to the muscular body sculpting

Inside, the cabin focuses squarely on the driver with a cockpit-like layout. The heated flat-top/flat-bottom steering wheel, center console-mounted pistol-grip shifter and high-backed seats all reinforce the performance-oriented character.

The Dodge Charger Daytona R/T features the innovative R-Wing front design that allows air to pass through the nose of the car, combining retro muscle car styling with functional aerodynamic benefits.

But what truly sets the Charger Daytona apart from every other EV is the controversial Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust.

This system uses passive resonators to create a soundtrack that mimics a traditional high-performance V8. The result is remarkably convincing, especially in the higher-performance Scat Pack models where the volume rivals Dodge’s old supercharged Hellcat engines.

The R/T model I tested produced a slightly less intense but still deeply satisfying rumble that you can actually feel in your chest. It’s certainly artificial — there’s no actual exhaust, after all — but the system succeeds in maintaining a crucial part of the muscle car experience that other EVs abandon. The sound increases in intensity with acceleration, providing auditory feedback that most EVs lack entirely.

Performance is exactly what you’d expect from a Dodge wearing the Daytona badge.

The instant torque delivery results in violent acceleration when you mash the throttle, while the PowerShot button on the steering wheel unleashes an additional 40 horsepower for 10 seconds at a time.

This combination makes the Charger feel properly quick, though it can’t match the outrageous thrust of the outgoing Hellcat models.

With its driver-focused cockpit, flat-bottom steering wheel and customizable Attitude Adjustment ambient lighting system, the Charger’s interior provides a thoroughly modern interpretation of classic muscle car design cues.

The Charger’s 100.5 kWh battery pack gives an EPA-estimated range of 268 miles — adequate but not exceptional by current EV standards.

Of course, all EVs face the same practical limitations, and the Charger is no exception. While perfect for daily commuting or weekend fun, long road trips require planning around charging infrastructure.

For now, the Charger works best as either a local commuter or a second vehicle for enthusiasts.

At $70,970 as tested, the Charger Daytona R/T isn’t inexpensive. But considering the technology on board and the performance it delivers, it’s reasonably priced among high-performance EVs.

The higher-output Daytona Scat Pack, with its 670 horsepower, starts at $69,995.

Whether traditional Dodge enthusiasts will embrace this new direction remains an open question. The brand has certainly made a sincere effort to preserve the character and spirit of its muscle car heritage while adapting to an electrified future.

The Charger Daytona offers performance, theatrical presentation and unapologetic attitude—hallmarks of the brand regardless of what’s powering the wheels.

At A Glance

WHAT WAS TESTED?
2024 Dodge Charger Dayton R/T Plus ($57,995). Options: Premium paint ($795), R/T Stage 1 ($1,600), Plus Group ($4,995), blacktop package ($1,095), sun and sound package ($2,495). Price as tested (including $1,995 destination charge): $70,970

BY THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 121 in.
Length: 206.6 in.
Width: 79.8 in.
Height: 58.9 in.
Power: Dual 400-volt electric motors and 100.5 kWh battery (496 combined hp)
Range: 268 miles
MPGe: 90 city, 79 highway

RATINGS

Style: 9
Performance: 9
Price: 5
Handling: 7
Ride: 7
Comfort: 7
Quality: 7
Overall: 8

WHY BUY IT?

The Charger Daytona successfully translates muscle car attitude to an electric platform, combining head-turning retro-modern styling with exhilarating performance.

Posted in Dodge

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