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Audi e-tron, the first fully electric SUV from the German manufacturer is officially there in the metal.
The company removed the five-passenger, all-wheel-drive e-tron covers on Monday night in San Francisco. It marks the latest evolution of the Audi brand and the luxury electric SUV market.
Two electric motors feed the e-tron. A 95 kWh battery gives the e-tron what Audi claims to be "well over 400 kilometers". That would equate to more than 248 miles of autonomy on a full charge, based on European tests.
According to Audi President Scott Keogh, Audi says the figures for the US market are unresolved, but anecdotal data obtained from a few trips to the United States in an e-tron prototype produced at distances of up to about 300 kilometers.
The tests included a 175-mile journey on a full battery charge from the Craneway Pavilion where the Audi event took place in San Francisco to South Lake Tahoe – a hike that starts at sea level and ends at an altitude 7,000 feet.
According to Keogh, who spoke at the first protest Monday night, the e-tron went to South Lake Tahoe, "with a battery estimated at 12 miles." Some background calculations put this distance at about 187 miles of range.
"A very respectable feat, considering this 7,000-foot climb," said Keogh. He said the Audi engineers let the e-tron fully charge before starting their return journey.
"And then, turned turnover, blasting, two technical wizards at the helm, the e-tron made the 175-mile journey to that specific location – but this time he arrived with 94 miles of flying time. Autonomy remaining, "Keogh said, coming out at a range of about 269 miles.
The e-tron battery can be charged up to 80% of its capacity in about 30 minutes using 150 kWh DC fast chargers available to the public.
The range is on par with the closest competitor of the e-tron, the Tesla Model X, which promises a range of 295 miles on a full charge.
The Jaguar I-Pace electric crossover offers a range of 220 miles.
As with all electric vehicles, the battery range is partially assisted by regenerative braking. When the driver lifts his foot off the accelerator pedal, the energy that could have slowed down the vehicle charges the battery.
According to Audi, the e-tron can recover energy from most braking applications – 90% according to Audi estimates. The automaker states that a third of the e-tron's battery range will come from regeneration.
In all likelihood, the e-tron is instantly recognizable as a modern four-wheeled Audi: sturdy, muscular and well proportioned. Almost all of its functions are controlled via two interior touch screens. It's also the first new Audi to be equipped with Amazon Alexa's built-in.
The e-tron starts at $ 74,800, before the federal tax credits. A "Prestige" mid-range model goes to $ 81,800. A small number of selected buyers will be able to opt for an e-tron "Edition One" limited to $ 86,700. Pre-orders are already in progress. First deliveries are expected to land in the second quarter of 2019.
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