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The first all-electric Audi car, the e-tron, is ready to be plugged in.
The mid-size SUV of the German company was revealed in Richmond, California, only about 40 miles from Tesla's headquarters in Fremont, where the model X electric SUV is being manufactured.
And it's supposed to be totally … "normal".
That's the word Filip Brabec, Audi vice president of product management, used at a launch Monday in San Francisco.
"What was so important to us was that the transition from an internal combustion engine to an electric car is as transparent as possible," he said. "We did not want to create an avant-garde, offbeat and different car."
To show that his car is very normal, Audi has taken over a concert hall in front of the city hall, where were exposed prototypes of sports cars and racing cars. US has also shown its virtual mirrors – a feature that is not allowed on American models, only its European cars. A HoloLens exhibit allows you to "see" the car charging and regenerating braking energy, and a fast charging station from Electrify America has shone in green.
No mirrors here.
Image: sasha lekach / mashable
Bookings for the e-tron, which will be launched on the US market in mid-2019, began Monday night with a $ 1,000 refundable deposit. The base price for the electric SUV is $ 74,000. A "Prestige" version with head-up display, driving assistance functions, massage seats and other luxury accessories costs $ 81,800. A "First Edition" model (Audi producing only 999 units) will be available for $ 86,700.
An inside look at the e-tron.
The two electric motors of the car accelerate the e-tron from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds with a top speed of 124 mph. The batteries are located under the cockpit and each battery contains 95 kWh of energy. The range should be 250 miles – but it's only in Europe. An American range has not yet been determined. Braking can also regenerate battery power.
With a fast charge, the car can reach a load of 80% in about 30 minutes. Audi is working with Amazon Home Services to help homeowners install a home charging system, which will take the whole night to charge the vehicle.
Audi has also partnered with Electrify America, which plans to have 500 fast-charging sites in the US by July 2019, often outside outlets such as Walmart or Target.
Inside, Audi says its usual features will still be present, such as the virtual cockpit, wireless smartphone charger and touch controls.
Audi executives have promised a wide range of 20 electric and hybrid vehicles by 2025 – the e-tron is just the beginning. Ten will be fully electric. Its world premiere took place the same day that Volkswagen announced it would manufacture 27 electric vehicles by 2022.
Everyone becomes electric. Even though Audi claims that "electricity is part of Audi".
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