October 2018
Audi e-tron revealed
Full sized all electric EV SUV first shown in Europe at Paris Motor Show, available in the UK from early 2019 at an RRP of £70,805 and competing directly against the Jaguar i-Pace.
Front and rear electric motors with a system output of up to 300 kW and 664Nm of torque, 5.7 second 0-60, top speed of 124mph and a range of 248 miles in WLTP tests.
Standing 4,901 millimetres long, 1,935 millimetres wide and 1,616 millimetres high, the Audi e-tron offers the space and comfort of one of the brand’s typical full-size models. With a wheelbase of 2,928 millimetres, it has ample space for five occupants, and its total luggage capacity of 660 litres ensures that it can also comfortably accommodate their luggage.
Comprehensive range of charging options for home and on the move, and by the latest in-car communication, entertainment and assistance technologies, the Audi e-tron is perfectly placed to make the transition to fully electric driving as seamless as possible for devotees of the four rings.
A new quattro generation – the electric all-wheel drive – provides for superlative traction and handling on any terrain and in any weather conditions. It continuously and fully variably regulates the ideal distribution of drive between the two axles – within a fraction of a second. In most cases, the electric SUV mainly uses its rear electric motor in order to achieve the highest efficiency. If the driver demands more power than it can supply, the electric all-wheel drive redistributes torque as required to the front axle. This also happens predictively even before slip occurs in icy conditions or when cornering fast, or if the car understeers or oversteers.
With Audi drive select, the driver can vary the characteristics of the Audi e-tron between seven profiles depending on the driving situation, road conditions or personal preferences. The system also influences the standard air suspension with adaptive dampers. The pneumatic springs adjust individually to the road conditions depending on the speed and the driver’s preferences, varying the ride height by as much as 76 millimetres. At higher, motorway-appropriate speeds on longer journeys the e-tron is therefore able to adopt a lower stance in the interest of aerodynamics, and consequently of range.
Innovative recuperation system is responsible for up to 30 per cent of the range. The electric SUV can recover energy in two ways: by means of coasting recuperation when the driver releases the accelerator, or by means of braking recuperation when the brake pedal is depressed. In both cases, the electric motors function as a generator and convert the kinetic energy of the Audi e-tron into electric energy. At up to 0.3 g of deceleration, the electric SUV recuperates solely via the electric motors. This is the case well over 90 percent of the time. The wheel brakes are involved only when the driver decelerates by more than 0.3 g using the brake pedal. They respond extremely quickly, thanks to a new electrohydraulic actuation concept. Audi is the first manufacturer worldwide to use this concept in a series production vehicle with electric drive. When braking from 62mph, for example, the Audi e-tron can recuperate electric power with a maximum of 300 Nm (221.3 lb-ft) and 220 kW. That corresponds to more than 70 percent of its operating energy input. No other series production model can achieve such a value.
Depending on the driving situation, the electrohydraulically integrated brake control system decides whether the SUV will use the electric motor, the wheel brake or a combination of the two acting on each axle individually for recuperation. The transition between electric and hydraulic braking is smooth and homogeneous, so the driver does not even notice it. Brake forces remain constant.
February 2020
Audi e-tron 50 Quattro priced from £59,900
A new entry-level Audi e-tron is now available to order, available in three new trim levels: Technik, Sport and S Line.
Power comes from two electric motors providing 313PS and 540Nm of torque. Officially, it'll cover 190 miles on a charge and can rapid charged up to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.
Entry-level Technik models feature 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps and contrast finish bumpers, and inside offer heated and electrically adjustable front seats upholstered in Twin leather, MMI Navigation Plus and the Audi Smartphone and Audi Music interfaces, among many other fixtures.
Sport models add 20-inch five-arm contrast grey alloy wheels, and inside gain features such as sport seats upholstered in Valcona leather, additional Audi Music Interface access for rear passengers and Audi Phonebox wireless charging.
In line with other Audi models, S line versions are marked out by more dynamic S line styling and feature sport suspension – in this case a specially tuned version of the adaptive air set-up that is standard for all e-tron models. The e-tron 50 S line also adds larger 21-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, privacy glass and Matrix LED headlamps with front and rear dynamic indicators. Inside, an extended leather pack, matt brushed aluminium inlays and a three-spoke S line steering wheel are among the features that further elevate the cabin ambiance.
At the top of the rankings in equipment terms, the Launch Edition model is identifiable by way of its black styling elements taking in the Singleframe, window trim strips and front and rear bumper, by its exclusive 21-inch alloy wheels from Audi Sport and, probably most strikingly, by its virtual door mirrors, which replace the conventional door mirrors and use cameras to project images of the e-tron’s surroundings onto OLED displays in the cabin.
Inside, a full-length panoramic sunroof and powered steering wheel adjustment expand the list of comforts, while a variety of upgrades heighten the air of technological sophistication. These include a step up from the standard Audi virtual cockpit to the virtual cockpit plus, bringing additional ‘e-tron’ and ‘sport’ layouts for even more comprehensive driver information, plus additional driver assistance systems that form part of the standard Tour Pack. This pack bundles together everything from adaptive cruise assist and lane departure warning to the predictive efficiency assistant promoting the most charge-conscious driving style.
Several supplementary systems also complement the pack, including Audi side assist blind spot monitoring, cross traffic assist, a 360-degree camera and even an exit warning system, which visually alerts occupants to the presence of oncoming cyclists and other potential hazards when opening the vehicle doors.
The Launch Edition also incorporates a comfort remote preconditioning system, which is a higher functioning version of the remote preconditioning system fitted as standard elsewhere in the range. Where that enables the driver to use the myAudi app to remotely activate the primary heating and ventilation system so that it reaches the temperature that was programmed when the vehicle was last driven, the more advanced version also permits remote adjustment of the desired temperature and can also control seat heating and ventilation, steering wheel heating (if fitted) and window heating.
A 7kW home wall box charger is currently available at no extra cost to all e-tron and e-tron Sportback customers. In the e-tron 50, a full charge of a depleted battery using one of these wall boxes can be completed in around 10.5 hours.
In order to achieve the highest efficiency, only the rear electric motor is active in most driving situations, but the two driven axles can operate as an ‘e-quattro’ all-wheel-drive system, helping to shore up the e-tron 50 in all road conditions and to propel it smoothly as well as silently to 62mph in seven seconds on the way to a top speed of 118mph.
The front electric motor is activated predictively when needed, and the regulation of the electric all-wheel drive is extremely fast, highly connected and very precise. In combination with modern suspension components including air suspension and the e-tron’s low centre of gravity, it provides excellent dynamics and stability.
The lower gross weight of the e-tron 50 quattro also contributes to efficiency, as does the advanced thermal management system with its standard thermal pump. This system regulates the temperature of the interior as well as the battery and cools the electric motors, the power electronics and the charger. In this way it ensures that the high-voltage components enjoy a long service life and enables fast charging with direct current (DC).
Like the more powerful version of the electric SUV, the Audi e-tron 50 quattro also recuperates energy via its two electric motors, with priority given to the rear motor, during more than 90 percent of all deceleration actions. This means that the energy from practically all normal braking manoeuvres is recovered and fed back into the battery. The newly developed wheel brake system with electrohydraulic actuation is activated only when the force of deceleration exceeds 0.3 g. This results in short braking distances in all situations.
Audi e-tron 50 quattro UK OTR Pricing – February 2020:
Audi e-tron 50 quattro Technik £59,900
Audi e-tron 50 quattro Sport £62,600
Audi e-tron 50 quattro S line £66,700
Audi e-tron 50 quattro Launch Edition £72,700
July 2020
Audi reveals e-tron S
New e-tron S uses a three-motor setup to produce a combined output of 370kW and 973Nm of torque. It's combined with a 95kWh battery to provide a range of up to 223 miles. Prices start from £87,000 with orders opening in summer.
July 2020
Audi e-tron range streamlined
The e-tron is available in 50 quattro form with a WLTP-certified range of up to 195 miles, or with a larger battery as the 55 quattro capable of travelling for up to 247 miles between charges. Each of these options can now be combined with a choice of five trim lines – Technik, Sport, S line and the new additions Black Edition and Vorsprung.
All include features such as alloy wheels of at least 20 inches in diameter, adaptive air suspension, LED lighting, the Audi Virtual Cockpit and the touch-screen MMI Touch system with its dual monitors. The MMI system can be controlled either by a fingertip or via voice control, and has been further enhanced for this latest generation model through the integration of the considerably more powerful, third generation MIB 3 modular infotainment platform. It can now access speech recognition software in the cloud during its formulation of responses to spoken commands for even more accurate comprehension and feedback.
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Wonderfully classy inside, roomier than most (not all) rivals, very civilised on the road with an 248 mile range.
A Jaguar I-Pace is better to drive, a Tesla Model X is more practical, touchscreen system could be better.
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