The New Audi e-tron

With its combination of electric drive and a comfortable, sophisticated interior, the Audi e-tron creates a new sense of mobility. Whether parking, in the city or on long journeys, the Audi e-tron makes life easier for its driver in many situations. The full-size SUV combines sportiness and everyday practicality. Its two electric motors together with electric all-wheel drive provide for awesome performance and agile handling. The large high-voltage battery is the foundation for a sufficient range. In combination with a comprehensive range of charging options for home and on the move, you can enjoy fully electric driving without having to compromise.

Powerful dynamic with electric drive

Two electric motors drive the Audi e-tron powerfully. They quickly accelerate the electric SUV from zero to 100 km/h. The start-off performance is comparable to that of a sports car. The new electric all-wheel drive system provide for optimal traction and handling in all driving situations. Thus, the Audi e-tron is not only pracitcal for everyday use, but also very manoeuvrable and agile when driving off-road. The quattro drive can be switched on as required – the results are a situation-specific torque distribution, flexible control of the axle moments and fun to drive on any terrain.

Outstanding traction

In the Audi e-tron, the brand with the four rings introduces a new quattro generation as standard: electric all-wheel drive. It continuously and fully variably regulates the ideal distribution of drive torques between the two axles – within a fraction of a second. In most cases, the Audi e-tron mainly uses its rear electric motor in order to achieve the highest efficiency – the torque is generally distributed with a rear-axle bias. If the driver demands more power than the rear electric motor 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.

Sporty character

A key factor for the sporty character and outstanding transverse dynamics is the low and central position at which the drive components are installed. The high-voltage battery system is optimally matched to the dimensions of the Audi e-tron and is located between the axles in the form of a flat, broad block beneath the passenger compartment. That makes the Audi e-tron’s center of gravity similar to that of a sedan. Axle load distribution is perfectly balanced at almost 50:50.

Long-distance range

The long-distance range is due primarily to the innovative recuperation system, which is responsible for up to 30 percent of the range. In well over 90 percent of the time, the electric SUV recuperates solely via the electric motors. In combination with a new electrohydraulic actuation concept, that Audi uses as the first car manufacturer worldwide in a series production vehicle with electric drive, the electric SUV systematically exploits its maximum recuperation potential.

Smart energy recovery

In addition to manually adjusting the recuperation level with the steering wheel paddles, you can also select automatic mode in the MMI. The predictive efficiency assist then regulates the deceleration as needed and predictively, for example in relation to the route or vehicles in front. You can adapt the deceleration effect by selecting the desired recuperation level via the shift paddles. It remains active until you operate the accelerator pedal again.

Intelligent solutions for home and on the move: the charging concepts

Audi offers various solutions for charging at home. The standard mobile charging system can be used with either a 230 volt household outlet or a 400 volt three-phase outlet. The optional “connect” charging system doubles the charging power to as much as 22 kW. Combined with a home energy management system, it offers intelligent functions such as charging when electricity is less expensive or with solar electricity if the home is equipped with a photovoltaic system. You can control all charging processes as well as pre-heating/pre-cooling via your smartphone with the myAudi app.

Traction test

The new electric all-wheel drive system combined with cutting-edge suspension solutions provide for optimal traction and handling in all driving situations and any weather.

Temperature test

The thermal management system also ensures that the battery is kept within its optimal efficiency range of 25 to 35° Celsius in all situations, from a cold start in winter to fast highway driving on hot summer days.

Battery test

The cell modules in the Audi e-tron can reproducibly discharge and charge electricity over a broad temperature and charge status window. Their cell chemistry makes them able to withstand higher thermal loads and less reactive than round cells, so that even if severely damaged the risk of fire is minimal.

Fast charging

There is generally no need to stop at charging stations during everyday driving. On long trips, such as when going on vacation, customers can use fast charging stations to charge with direct current (DC) at up to 150 kW – a first for series-production automobiles. This means that the Audi e-tron is all set for the next long-distance stretch of a journey in approximately half an hour. The electric SUV can also be recharged with alternating current (AC) at up to 11 kW; recharging with 22 kW is available as an option.

Full control in the Audi virtual cockpit

With the Audi virtual cockpit, you have the most important data at a glance and can display e-tron-specific services: for example, the current battery level, the remaining range and driving time as well as the distance travelled. In the Audi MMI, you can program a timer for charging the e-tron battery and an individual charging target at any time.

Light-flooded interior with first-class air quality

In addition to its spaciousness, the standard of comfort and convenience of the Audi e-tron is what you would expect from a typical full-size model of the brand. The panoramic glass sunroof keeps the interior even lighter and intensifies the impression of airiness and space. As an alternative to the standard two-zone automatic air conditioning, Audi also offers four-zone automatic air conditioning and the air quality package. The latter maintains first-class air quality by means of an ionizer and aromatization, the intensity of which can be adjusted over several levels. The air quality sensor also detects harmful gases and activates recirculated air mode as necessary.

Comfortable interior and storage for every journey

The interior is not only light-flooded, the space is also generous. With its long wheelbase, the Audi e-tron has ample space for five occupants along with their bags. Interior length, head room in front and rear as well as knee room in the second seat row are top-class in the full-size SUV segment. Luggage capacity is 660 liters, equipping the electric SUV for major tours. The practical storage compartment beneath the front hatch accounts for 60 liters thereof. This accommodates the vehicle tool kit and mobile charger cable.

Details make the difference

With the Audi e-tron, Audi Design has translated the brand’s fundamental design language for the electric age, both inside and out. New, stylistically defining details, such as the special daytime running light signature, the electric charging flap, the lack of exhaust pipes, and stitching on the seats reminiscent of an electric circuit board, transmit a clear signal that the Audi e-tron is fully electric. A design highlight of the Audi e-tron are its optional virtual side mirrors.

High-end option: virtual exterior mirrors

For the first time in a volume-production car, virtual exterior mirrors are available as an option in the Audi e-tron. They not only provide a new technology experience, but also many practical benefits in terms of comfort and safety. Integrated into the hexagonal end of their flat supports is a small camera, whose images are digitally processed and displayed on high-contrast, 1200 x 800-pixel OLED displays in the transition between the instrument panel and the door.

The 7-inch displays, whose brightness adjusts automatically, are equipped with proximity sensors. If the driver moves their finger toward the surface, symbols are activated with which the driver can move the image. A switching function allows the driver to also adjust the virtual passenger-side mirror.

Performance, intelligence and lightness

Design and technology are fused into one: A generous arc, the wraparound, envelops the cascading instrument panel with pronounced horizontal lines as far round as the sculptural door trims. It harmoniously integrates the hood above the Audi virtual cockpit, whose sleek display stands visually free in space, as well as the displays of the optional virtual exterior mirrors. The navigation system makes intelligent destination suggestions based on previous routes – so every appointment becomes a success.

Relaxed driving with intelligent assistants

Numerous assist systems make the drive even more relaxing, including the standard efficiency assist. With predictive tips in the Audi virtual cockpit and automatic recuperation, it helps you to drive economically. In combination with the adaptive cruise assist, the efficiency assist can also brake and accelerate the electric SUV predictively. Backing the assist systems is the central driver assistance controller, which continuously computes an exact model of the environment.

Exclusive off-road look

There are twelve colors to choose from for the Audi e-tron, including the exclusive option of Antigua blue. The e-tron logo on the electric charging flap and optionally the brake calipers stand out in the high-voltage signal color orange. The wheel arch trims and sills are in a contrasting color, to emphasize the off-road look.

Electrification visualized: the front

Typically for one of the brand’s SUV models, the Audi e-tron bears the octagonal-design Singleframe grille with vertical struts. Its corpus is largely enclosed and presented in platinum gray – identifying it as a fully electric model. At the lower edge of the Matrix LED headlights, four horizontal struts create the e-tron-specific signature in the daytime running lights. For the first time this is integrated directly into the headlights – another exclusive design feature for the all-electric drive system. Light is used as a core design feature.

Muscular body: the side view

The wrap-around shoulder line is an important design element in the side view. It extends from the headlights, along the flanks, to the rear lights, giving the Audi e-tron a low visual center of gravity. The roof stretches low across the muscular body, which displays clear SUV attributes with its brawny D-pillars and the underbody protection. The quattro blisters over the wheels hint at the electric all-wheel drive. The sill area is boldly contoured and visualizes with the black inserts on the door trim the location of the battery and thus the energy center of the Audi e-tron.

Source: audi.co.za