Audi has finally unveiled the e-tron SUV. The German marque says the e-tron
SUV is its first “fully electric production model”, perhaps forgetting about the
unsuccessful Audi R8 e-tron. Nevertheless, the e-tron SUV is certainly the
marque’s first mass-production EV and acts as a direct rival to the
Mercedes-Benz EQC and Tesla Model X.
Powering the Audi e-tron SUV are two asynchronous
motors that work alongside a generous 95 kWh battery pack. Audi hasn’t released
horsepower and torque figures but says the SUV accelerates from 0-96
km/h in 5.5 seconds and continues through to a 200 km/h top speed.
The vehicle’s electric motors are about much more
than performance, however. Audi has developed an innovative recuperation system
for them which allows the electric motors to recover energy when the driver
releases the accelerator and when the brake pedal is depressed. On average,
this recuperation system is responsible for as much as 30 per cent of the
e-tron’s range depending on the driving conditions.
Speaking of range, Audi’s press material curiously
fails to mention how far the e-tron SUV can travel on a single charge.
According to reports, it is roughly 402 km.
Audi has introduced electric all-wheel drive on the
vehicle. This new system allows for optimal traction in all conditions and can
redistribute torque between the axles without a fraction of a second. What’s
more, the e-tron SUV also makes use of advanced torque vectoring as well as an
innovative traction control system that regulates wheel slip by the
millisecond.
Seven different driving modes are on offer, ranging
from comfortable through to efficient and distinctively sporty. Depending on
road speed and how the vehicle is being driven, the suspension system can
adjust the vehicle’s ride height by up to 76 mm. On long journeys,
the ride height will drop to improve air flow, for example.
In an industry first, the e-tron’s 95 kWh battery
pack supports DC fast charging of up to 150 kW at selection high-speed public
charging stations. This allows the battery to be topped up to 80 per cent
capacity in just 30 minutes. Owners in the United States will benefit from the
VW Group’s Electrify America network of charging stations which will include
nearly 500 locations across the country by July 2019.
All up, the vehicle measures 4900
mm, 1930 mm, and 1666 mm. Audi says the
e-tron can comfortably seat five adults in a spacious cabin loaded with tech.
As we discovered in the lead-up to the vehicle’s premiere, one of its standout
features are the available Virtual Mirrors. This system consists of small
cameras in place of the traditional mirrors which send live images to small
displays in the vehicle’s door panels.
Buyers in the United States will have three versions
to choose from. The entry-level model, dubbed Premium Plus, starts at US$ 74,800.
Next in the range is the Prestige from US$ 81,800, complete with additional
features like a heads-up display, Driver Assistance package, rear window
sunshades, Valcona Leather, and memory settings for the front passenger seat.
Topping out the range is the Audi e-tron SUV First
Edition. Starting at US$ 86,700, it includes the same features as the Premium Plus
and Prestige but adds bespoke 21-inch wheels, Dynamic orange paint brake
calipers, wooden inlays throughout the cabin, Night Vision Assistant, and more.
Just 999 units of the First Edition will be sold in the United States.
