Audi has officially
opened the UK order books for the E-Tron SUV, the brand’s first
battery-electric vehicle set to rival cars like the Jaguar I-Pace, the Tesla
Model X and the upcoming Mercedes EQC. Customers can choose between two versions,
the base E-Tron and the E-Tron Launch Edition, priced from £ 71,490 and £ 82,240
respectively, excluding UK’s £ 3,500 government grant. That makes the new E-Tron
more expensive than the £ 58,995 Jaguar I-Pace but cheaper than the £ 91,650
Tesla Model X, which is available in the UK only in 100D and P100D guises.
The first electric
Audi features a 95kWh battery pack mounted under the passenger compartment that
feeds two electric motors, one on each axle. The combined output is 402 hp and 664 Nm of torque, and the driving range on a full charge
is up to 387 km according to the latest WLTP standards, while the
0-100 km/h acceleration takes a brisk 5.7 seconds.
Audi claims that
the new E-Tron SUV can charge its battery up to 80 percent of its capacity in
as little as 30 minutes when hooked up to a 150kW fast charger. There are two
charging ports onboard, one in each front wing, for more convenience.
The new Audi E-Tron
comes with an adaptive air suspension, 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights,
Audi Virtual Cockpit, Audi Parking System Plus with 360-degree display and
rear-view camera, Lane Departure Warning and MMI Navigation Plus as standard.
Launch Edition models add 21-inch wheels, the company’s intelligent Matrix LED headlights,
adaptive cruise control and cameras instead of the traditional door mirrors,
among other.
The Launch Edition
also features an exterior black styling pack that includes privacy glass and
black detailing on the front grille and window cappings. The interior is
dressed in Valcona leather and features a panoramic sunroof. The first customer
deliveries of the new Audi E-Tron in the UK are expected to begin this April.
