Audi has announced its first production all-electric vehicle, the E-Tron midsize SUV. While we've seen the "E-Tron" moniker for Audi's prior plug-in hybrid offerings, not to mention a whole bunch of concepts, this full-fledged EV promises to give the Tesla Model X and Jaguar I-Pace, to say nothing of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQC and Porsche Taycan, a run for their money. Now playing: Watch this: The 2019 Audi E-Tron electric SUV is here The E-Tron is powered by a pair of electric motors, though Audi's preliminary press information does not confirm any exact power output. Instead, the company says the E-Tron will be able to accelerate to 60 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds, which is respectably quick for a midsize SUV, and will hit a top speed of 124 mph. A 95-kilowatt-hour battery stores the go-go juice, and Audi's initial press release does not confirm overall driving range. Considering the competition can go anywhere from 240 to 295 miles on a charge, Audi should be aiming for the top end of that spectrum. We should have official confirmation following the E-Tron's public debut in San Francisco this week. Exact charging times are also unknown, Audi's official information simply saying the E-Tron "debuts a DC fast charging capability of up to 150 kW available at select high-speed public charging stations," and that "this capability can deliver up to an 80-percent charge in only approximately 30 minutes." The E-Tron's 9.6-kW AC Level 2 charger, meanwhile, will be able to "deliver a fresh charge overnight." Regardless of charging method, drivers can expect a big boost from regenerative braking. Audi estimates 90 percent of braking energy will be recuperated, keeping drivers out on the road longer. Audi Should you find yourself with a bit of range anxiety, the standard navigation system in Audi's excellent MMI infotainment will show a suggested route with charging points, taking both the battery's charge and traffic conditions into account. Audi's Virtual Cockpit infotainment tech is standard on the E-Tron. This system is one of our favorites, thanks to its high-resolution display and ability to bring navigation maps front and center. Like the new A6 and A7, the E-Tron gets a pair of screens in the center console. The larger upper screen measures 10 inches and is used for most functions including phone, media, navigation and E-Tron settings. The lower 8.6-inch screen is used for HVAC settings and text input. By incorporating these two screens with Virtual Cockpit, nearly all conventional switches have been eliminated. Like the A8, US-spec E-Trons will not get the Level 3 semi-automated capability of Traffic Jam Pilot. Instead, a less robust adaptive cruise control system will be optional. This tech can keep the E-Tron centered in the lane and at a set distance behind a lead car, but it requires hands on the wheel at all times. The system can adjust its speed, taking into account local speed limits and upcoming turns in the road. What really stands out, however, is its ability to function in a Comfort or Sport style, depending on the selected drive mode. Measuring 16 feet long, the E-Tron promises to strike a commanding pose on the road once it comes to market in 2019. Though a grille isn't functionally needed for an EV, Audi chose to keep at least a facsimile of an octagonal-shaped opening, done up in platinum gray to signify its EV status. Lighting plays an important role in the overall design of the E-Tron. In front, the LED headlights are accented by four horizontal bars for a unique daytime running light signature. Out back, a horizontal lightstrip runs the full width of the car, reminiscent of the new A7 and A8. Inside, expect to find plenty of premium materials. A panoramic sunroof is standard, as is four-zone air conditioning. Available multi-contoured massaging seats should keep passengers calm and comfy while commuting. Behind the rear seats, Audi says the E-Tron boasts 28.5 cubic feet of space, more than the Jaguar I-Pace. Fold those rear seats down and that expands to 57 cubes. Sounds good, but the E-Tron dwarfed by the 88 cubic feet available in the slightly longer Model X. Pricing starts at $74,800, not including $995 for destination. The entry-level Premium Plus trim comes with 20-inch wheels, a 360-degree camera, 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, heated and cooled 12-way adjustable front seats and a full leatherette interior package. The higher-grade Prestige trim starts at $81,800 and adds a head-up display, driver assistance package, massaging front seats, a Valcona leather interior and dual-pane acoustic front and side windows. If you want to feel super-special, a limited First Edition trim starts at $86,700 and adds 21-inch wheels, a unique Daytona Gray paint job, orange exterior trim, black Valcona leather interior with wood inlays. Only 999 First Edition units will come to the United States. The 2019 Audi E-Tron will hit our shores during the second quarter of 2019. You can reserve yours now with a refundable deposit of $1,000. Regenerative brakes: Check out our first experience with the E-Tron's heavy-duty brake regeneration system -- on Pikes Peak! Battery tech: We take a closer look at the batteries beneath Audi's E-Tron. Side mirror cameras: Take a closer look at Audi's trick mirror tech, and learn why the US won't get it just yet.<doc-sep>After the e-tron electric SUV and the Sportsback, Audi plans to release a previously announced electric Sport e-tron GT in 2020. Now we’ve learned that it will be based on the Porsche Taycan all-electric performance sedan. The German automaker previously released the concept image above and said this about the vehicle: “The four-door prototype Audi e-tron GT concept interprets sportiness in a new, progressive way. With its fascinating design and a purely electric drive, it leads our Audi Sport performance brand confidently into the future. The sporty four-seater will be manufactured at Böllinger Höfe near Neckarsulm as of 2020. It proves that high performance and electromobility do not have to be mutually exclusive.” Now at the launch of the Audi e-tron this week, the automaker announced that they will use the Porsche Taycan powertrain for the vehicle. As we previously reported, Porsche and Audi greenlighted a cooperation on a shared architecture for electric and autonomous vehicles. That said, the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) that they are developing is not expected to be ready until 2020 or 2021. Therefore, it has nothing to do with them working together on the Audi Sport e-tron GT. Instead, Audi will benefit from Porsche’s work on the electric powertrain that they developed for the Taycan, formerly known as the Mission E. Based on what Porsche released about the concept vehicle, it is equipped with a powertrain that can generate a combined power output of over 600 hp (440 kW) between two electric motors. As for the battery pack, they are aiming for it to enable “over 500 kilometers” (310 miles) of range on a single charge. Of course, it is also expected to be the first 800-volt battery system that will enable up to 350 kW charging in a production passenger car. Now it sounds like Audi will be able to use the same powertrain with a different design. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast.<doc-sep>
The 2019 Audi E-Tron is a big deal; it’s Audi’s first fully electric vehicle, and the first of many. But while it was developed as an electric vehicle from the ground up, it unsurprisingly draws from the Volkswagen Audi Group stable—and some more unlikely places. The E-Tron is the first vehicle to ride on the new Audi C-BEV platform. Looking at the chassis, it is obvious that it was designed as a battery electric vehicle from the start as the middle of the body uses the battery as a part of the structure but things become much more familiar once we move to the suspension. The front suspension consists of their common five-link setup which is found on vehicles such as the Audi Q5 and Porsche Macan, with two links up top and three below the axle. Based on the pictures that we have so far, the suspension links and axles look to be located in almost the same exact spots. The the front track width of the E-Tron is also an exact match for that of the Macan and comes in at 65.2 inches. Moving past the suspension, we see that the brakes are also very familiar. The brake pedal is a standard Audi part used on everything from the A4 to the Q5. The brake caliper is a six-piston Brembo unit which is found on certain variants of the Q5 and Q7 and the brake rotor is a two-piece pinned design that is found on a few other Audi vehicles as well as the Ford Mustang GT350. This design is currently only built by SHW and it employs an aluminum hat that is pinned to an iron disc in order to save weight. The E-Tron employs a 15.7 inch variant of the rotor which is a match in size for the one used on the Audi S6 and about a quarter inch bigger than the variant used on the GT350. Thus, the E-Tron should have no trouble coming to a quick stop especially since it gets to combine these massive discs and calipers with regenerative braking. The steering ratio for the E-Tron, is listed as 15.9:1 which deviated from the 15.8:1 ratio on most of Audi’s SUVs, but makes it a match for the ratio used in passenger cars such as the A4 and A5. That way, it should offer a more car-like steering experience. Shared parts are no surprise here, or at other car companies. They are a benefit to the Volkswagen Group from the manufacturing front as they will allow them to save some money due to the commonality with vehicles that they already have in production. There are likely a bunch more parts that were pulled from other VAG vehicles and I’ll be tracking them down as more details surface. I also haven’t been able to find a good picture of the rear suspension, so I am unable to tell exactly which car it pulls those parts from or how they modified the rear subframe for the electric motor. But based on what has been revealed so far, the driving experience for the E-Tron looks promising as the specs lead to something that should drive like a slightly heavier Macan with instant torque.