Audi Australia is gearing up for the arrival of its sportier electric SUV.
Along with the existing e-tron SUV, the range will grow to include the more powerful e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback early in 2022.
Update April 22: This story originally ran a few months back but we’ve pulled it forward to coincide with arrival of e-tron S shipments, add some local imagery, and to update the price list.
Unlike the existing e-tron and Sportback with their dual-motor powertrains, the S has three motors good for a total of 370kW and a whopping 973Nm– up 70kW and 309Nm on what you get in the most powerful members of the regular e-tron range.
e-tron S
The 0-100km/h sprint takes 4.5 seconds, and flat out you’ll be doing 210km/h. That performance doesn’t come cheap, though.
Where the regular e-tron Sportback range tops out at $159,900 before on-road costs, you’ll pay at least $168,400 before on-roads for the e-tron S, and at least $175,400 before on-roads for the Sportback.
e-tron S Sportback
Pricing
- 2022 Audi e-tron 50 quattro: $139,900
- 2022 Audi e-tron 55 quattro: $148,900
- 2022 Audi e-tron S: $168,400
- 2022 Audi e-tron Sportback 50 quattro: $150,900
- 2022 Audi e-tron Sportback 55 quattro: $159,900
- 2022 Audi e-tron S Sportback $175,400
All prices exclude on-road costs.
Engines
Three separate powertrains are available in the e-tron range.
e-tron 50 quattro models have a dual-motor powertrain producing 230kW of power and 540Nm of torque, good for a claimed 6.8-second sprint to 100km/h. It’s mated with a 71kWh battery pack.
e-tron 55 quattro models pack 300kW of power and 664Nm of torque from their dual-motor powertrains, dropping the 100km/h sprint time to just 5.7 seconds. A 95kWh battery is standard.
Finally, e-tron S models have the same battery pack as the e-tron 55 range, but have a tri-motor powertrain good for 370kW and 973Nm. The 100km/s sprint takes a claimed 4.5 seconds.
e-tron 55 quattro Sportback
Range
Claimed battery range for the e-tron range on the tougher WLTP test cycle is below:
- e-tron 50 quattro models: 336km
- e-tron 55 quattro models: 436km
- e-tron S: 413km
- e-tron S Sportback: 418km
When the battery goes flat, it can be charged using an 11kW home charger, or at up to 150kW using DC public infrastructure (80 per cent charge in 30 mins, full charge in 45 mins on a suitable charger).
The e-tron includes six years of free charging on the ChargeFox network of DC public fast chargers dotted around Australia.
The battery itself is a liquid-cooled lithium-ion unit with 27 modules in the e-tron 50 quattro and 36 modules in the 55 quattro and e-tron S. Each module is individually cooled, and Audi says faulty or worn modules can be individually replaced.
The battery pack is backed by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty.
e-tron 50 quattro
Dimensions
The e-tron quattro measures 4901mm long, 1935mm wide and 1632mm tall, with a 2928mm wheelbase. The Sportback has a lower roofline, dropping your peak height to 1618mm.
The 50 quattro weighs 2445kg, the larger battery in the 55 quattro bumps that up to 2555kg. The e-tron S is heavier again at 2695kg.
Boot space in the e-tron with the rear seats in place measures 660L in the wagon and 615L in the Sportback. There’s also 60L in a front boot.
Servicing and Warranty
Although the battery is backed by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty, Audi hasn’t followed Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Genesis, Volvo and others in offering a five-year warranty. Instead, it’s stuck with a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Audi offers six years of free servicing, and six years of roadside assist along with its six-year ChargeFox public charging deal.
Safety
The e-tron quattro has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing carried out by Euro NCAP in July 2019.
Although the Sportback hasn’t been tested individually, it’s likely the coupe roofline hasn’t negatively impacted its crash performance.
The e-tron scored 91 per cent for adult occupant protection, 88 per cent for child occupant protection, 71 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 78 per cent for safety assist.
A full suite of active safety features is standard. This includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking (forward and reverse)
- Lane-keep assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Adaptive cruise control
- Surround-view camera
- Parking sensors
There’s also the option of camera-based rear-view mirrors in place of conventional units.
e-tron 50 quattro
Standard Equipment
Standard equipment in the e-tron and e-tron Sportback includes:
- Milano leather seats
- Electrically-adjusted front seats
- Heated front seats
- Dual-zone climate control with remote pre-conditioning
- Electric boot lid
- 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument binnacle
- 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 8.6-inch touchscreen binnacle below infotainment
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- Wireless phone charging
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Adaptive air suspension
- Dual charge ports
- 11kW home charger
- Six-year Chargefox subscription
- Automatic headlights and windscreen wipers
- Keyless entry and start
- LED headlights and tail lights
- Auto-dimming interior mirrors
The e-tron Sportback gains:
- S Line exterior package
- Sports front seats
- 21-inch alloy wheels
A number of option packages are available, starting with the Premium plus package. It costs $9700 on the e-tron, and $6700 on the e-tron Sportback. It brings:
- 21-inch alloy wheels
- Matrix LED headlights
- Virtual exterior mirrors
- Privacy glass
- Head-up display
- 705W 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system
- Electric steering column adjustment
- Four-zone climate control
- Colour-adjustable ambient lighting
Also available on the e-tron is the $2950 Premium interior package, with:
- Sport front seats
- Valcona leather trim
- Leather upper dashboard, centre console, door armrests
Additional standard equipment on the e-tron S includes:
- Four-zone climate control
- Colour-adjustable ambient lighting
- Diamond-stitched front seats
- 705W 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system
MORE: Everything Audi e-tron
