Audi releases more e-tron details

By RELAXNEWS | 11 August 2018


INGOLSTADT: Ahead of a full reveal next month, Audi has released some firm details of its new e-tron electric SUV, including the crucial fact it will have a range on a single charge of more than 400km.

Though the e-tron won't be seen in its full glory without camouflage until September, we now know the electric SUV will have a maximum power output of 402bhp, that it will develop over 660Nm of torque and that its top speed will be an electronically limited 200kph.

However, the maximum ratings will only be available for up to eight seconds at a time, courtesy of a boost mode that unlocks the vehicle's full potential.

Under normal driving conditions the two electric motors of the e-tron will develop 350bhp and 563Nm of torque, which will be more than adequate for most buyers as it still gets the vehicle from 0 to 100kph in less than six seconds.

Audi claims that as much as 30 percent of the e-tron's total range is accounted for by energy recuperation, and that the overwhelming majority of recuperation is handled by the electric motors and not the brakes.

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A prototype of the Audi added credence to this claim with its recent performance at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. After completing the climb, the e-tron prototype then did the 31 km downhill drive and recovered enough energy in the process to cover almost the same distance again.

The recuperation system uses the e-tron's two electric motors and the electro-hydraulically integrated brake control system to contribute up to 30 percent of the vehicle's range.

It manages this by combining three different recuperation modes: manual coasting recuperation using the shift paddles, automatic coasting recuperation via the predictive efficiency assist, and brake recuperation with smooth transition between electric and hydraulic deceleration.

A dual-motor powertrain with a 95 kWh lithium ion battery capable of 150 kW DC fast charging powers the e-tron. This reported charging prowess would be a world-first, and 30 kW more than Tesla's Supercharger network can offer, allowing the e-tron to charge in as little as 30 minutes.

Audi's e-tron will be unveiled on Sept 17 in San Francisco (CarSifu editor Hong Boon How will be there to cover this exciting chapter in Audi history).

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