Electric cars have been all the rage over the past few years with the likes of Tesla leading the pack. Many automobile giants have caught up recently, debuting its own iteration of how an electric car should be like, and Audi is the latest to do so. The Audi e-tron Quattro SUV is the German automakers first big push for sustainability with its first all-electric model.
Electric SUVs are few and far between and Audi is hoping to create a new market for it with the Audi e-tron Quattro. This comes off the back of its first-ever reveal back in 2015 at the Frankfurt Motor Show as a concept. What’s great about the Audi e-tron Quattro is that it remains almost the same as its concept with many styling cues taking shape from the former.
The signature Audi Singleframe grille also comes into play, covering an active shutter system behind it. It will open or close, depending on whether the car requires more cooling or not. The Audi e-tron Quattro also carries two charging ports on either side of the car, which bear the e-tron name.
Another big feature that comes into play with the Audi e-tron Quattro is its virtual exterior mirrors, which link cameras to OLED display in the cabin within. The displays are touchscreen active, which allows the driver to pan the cameras around while illuminated light bars act as both an indicator during a lane switch and as an alert for the car’s blind spot monitor.
Under the hood, the Audi e-tron Quattro is powered by a 95 kWh battery, which also comes with its own cooling system to ensure its optimal temperature maintained. There are also two electric motors at play on both the front and back axle. The front axle drive unit houses the motor, a single-speed gearbox, and its power electronics with a rated 168hp (125 kW).
Meanwhile, the rear axle outputs 188hp (140 kW) and when paired with the front, has a total output of 355 hp (265 kW). The Audi e-tron Quattro is also capable of hitting 0 – 100 kph in 6.6 seconds. There is also an optional boost mode, which temporarily increases the total output to 402hp (300 kW). This drops the timing down to just 5.7 seconds, which is commendable for an all-electric SUV.
In the cabin, the Audi e-tron Quattro is driver-centric, ensuring you get the best experience possible. Audi’s innovative MMI touch-sensitive infotainment system is also present, alongside a dual touchscreen setup. The uppermost touchscreen provides all relevant information and functions while the bottom half controls the climate. It also doubles as a toolkit for handwriting if needed.
A thumb-activated gear selector is a primary choice for the Audi e-tron Quattro, which also acts as a wrist rest when using the touchscreen. Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System can be found within the vehicle, ensuring the car comes with 3D surround sound. It will also be the first Audi vehicle to come with Amazon Alexa built-in.
Pricing for the Audi e-tron Quattro in the US market starts off at US$74,800 for its base model. There is also a mid-range option with its “Prestige” model, which reaches to US$81,800. Lastly is the limited-to-999-units “Edition One” e-tron model, which comes up to US$86,700.
Wi-Liam Teh
Senior Writer
Wi-Liam is a geek at heart with a penchant for tattoos. Never without a drink in hand (preferably whisky, gin, or Guinness), he is also a writer by day and a keyboard warrior by night. On his day off, he masquerades as a streetwear and sneakerhead enthusiast while his bank account says otherwise.
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