Overview
AUDI Australia director Paul Sansom says the model’s freshly minted e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback battery-electric autos (BEVs) characterize a step change within the notion of e-mobility for the Audi model; and, for as soon as, that is perhaps extra than simply lip service.
Throughout its 24-hour tenure in our check fleet, the Audi e-tron S proved a succesful and well-sorted family-sized SUV (which we anticipated), but additionally a wholly convincing BEV – one with so few compromises that even die-hard inner combustion engine (ICE) devotees could lastly see it as a sensible choice to conventionally-powered fashions. Properly, perhaps…
However whenever you actually dig down into it, the e-tron S is a convincing SUV.
Certain, it’s constructed on a platform that additionally helps ICE drivelines slightly than its personal bespoke EV platform, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel as compromised as some autos which have adopted the same components. And maybe that accounts for the e-tron S being such an efficient “bridging mannequin” between ICE and electrical propulsion – it’s participating, but very acquainted.
It’s additionally bloody fast. The e-tron S’ tri-motor and all-wheel-drive boogie fest delivers its 370kW and 973Nm instantaneously, which can see the luxurious family-sized SUV rocket from zero to 100km/h in simply 4.5 seconds and go on to a v-max of 210km/h. But, it’s nonetheless totally habitable and utterly sensible in day-to-day driving eventualities with a well-metered throttle and an, er, sincere real-world driving vary; however extra on that in a minute.
First, let’s take a look at the e-tron S in just a little extra element.
Supplied regionally in S guise, the two-variant vary (SUV $168,400 and Sportback $175,400, earlier than on-road prices) provides a strongly contoured physique, widened wheel arches (+46mm) and aggressively styled bumpers, which, at first look recommend the mannequin is concentrated on velocity and velocity alone. However open a door – or the handsfree powered tailgate – and the e-tron S reveals a wholly sensible inside that, to our eyes at the very least, locations it someplace in the identical bodily realm as Audi’s Q8 giant SUV (4902/2928/1976/1629mm size, wheelbase, width and peak in opposition to the latter’s 4986/2995/1995/1705mm).
Customary tools consists of Audi’s in depth suite of safety- and driver-assistance applied sciences, 21-inch alloy wheels, all-multilink adaptive air suspension, a panoramic glass sunroof, rear privateness glass, four-zone local weather management, heated entrance seats with electrical adjustment and driver’s aspect reminiscence operate, colored LED cabin lighting, Valcona leather-based upholstery, a heated steering wheel and 360-degree digicam system. Matrix LED headlights can be found optionally (as a part of the $9600 Sensory Bundle), as are Audi’s digital mirrors with OLED shows ($3500).
The infotainment options are in depth too, with Audi’s digital cockpit digital instrument panel, Audi join plus, wi-fi telephone charging, Audi smartphone interface (with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity), a 10-inch contact and haptic infotainment display screen and eight.6-inch contact and haptic vehicle-control display screen included.
The e-tron S duo additionally include a Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system with 16 audio system, a subwoofer, 15-channel amplifier and a complete system output of 705W.
Car charging is by way of a 7.5kW AC home-charging equipment or 150kW DC fast-charging. Audi says the latter provides 80 per cent cost in simply half-hour, or 100 per cent cost in 45 minutes. The house-charging setup can prime up the battery pack in round 13 hours.
