Audi e-Tron Finally Debuts

After months of teasing and a steady stream of spy photos, we finally have seen the Audi e-Tron all-electric crossover in its full glory. It doesn’t look like some strange vehicle, other than the funky side mirrors, signaling that the German automaker believes shoppers want EVs that look mainstream. Your average person might just pass it off for another Audi crossover, not even realizing the thing never visits the gas pump.

While design is great, performance is what we all really want to know about. Audi uses two asynchronous electric motors for the e-Tron, which are connected to single-stage transmissions. A sophisticated recuperation system for both motors is supposed to supply up to 30 percent of the range, depending on conditions and driving style. Acceleration from 0-60 takes 5.5 seconds, which isn’t anything ludicrous but is still impressive. The crossover can hit 124 mph. You can even tow up to 4,000 pounds with the Audi e-Tron, of course if it’s properly equipped.

Most interesting is the battery, which has gel to help with even heat dissipation. You also can use a heat pump from the thermal management system to heat or cool the interior. Audi says the battery has been designed for “repeatable performance,” which presumably means driving hard won’t cause range to drop like a rock. Using a DC fast charger at 150 kW, 80 percent of the battery is replenished in about 30 minutes. Range is estimated at 250 miles, which is decent for now.

Also on the practical side of things, the e-Tron has seating for five. Behind those rear seats is 28.5 cubic feet of cargo space, which is decent. Fold the rear seats down and that expands to 57 cubic feet. We should see the e-Tron hit dealerships in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2019.