Aussie pricing revealed for Audi e-tron

Audi Australia has announced local pricing and specifications for its first EV, the Audi e-tron, which managing director Paul Sansom says will usher in “a new era of mobility” for the prestige brand Down Under.

The ongoing Audi e-tron model range will comprise four variants, with two ‘First Edition’ variants also available initially.

Pricing starts from $137,700 for the Audi e-tron 50 quattro – as little as $200 less than the most affordable Mercedes-Benz EQC. Trimmed to the same level but offering longer range and improved performance, the Audi e-tron 55 quattro is pegged at $146,700.

Standard features for those two variants include 20-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry/start, powered tailgate with gesture control, heated/fold-in electric mirrors and LED headlights. Inside, both cars come with Virtual Cockpit, Milano leather upholstery, two-zone climate control and electrically-adjustable heated front seats with position memory for the driver’s.

The MMI infotainment system incorporates a 12.3-inch screen, ‘Audi connect plus’ telematics services, Apple CarPlay (wireless), Android Auto and the 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, featuring DAB+ digital radio.

Among the host of driver-assist and active safety functions standard across the range are 360-degree monitoring, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking (pedestrian/cyclist detection up to 85km/h), rear AEB, rear cross-traffic alert, front intersection cross assist, exit warning, auto-activating headlights/wipers and Turn Assist.

Pricing for the Sportback variants kicks off at $148,700 for the Audi e-tron Sportback 50 quattro, rising to $157,700 for the e-tron Sportback 55 quattro. Added features fitted as standard to these variants include 21-inch alloy wheels, a head-up display and sports front seats trimmed in Valcona leather.

The First Edition models are based on the high-output/longer range e-tron 55 variants. Limited to an allocation of just 70 vehicles for Australia, the First Edition is priced from $159,600, rising to $169,950 for the Audi e-tron Sportback 55 quattro.

In addition to the standard e-tron 55 quattro, these First Edition models are appointed with a different design of 21-inch alloy wheel, orange brake calipers, a black styling package, all the features of the Premium Plus Package (see below), puddle lights, S-Line interior fixtures and leather trim for the upper dashboard, centre console and door armrests.

The S-Line pack consists of Valcona leather with embossed ‘S’ legend, illuminated front and rear aluminium door sill panels, black cloth headlining, multi-function steering wheel bound in leather and floor mats with contrast stitching.

Audi is offering local e-tron buyers the option of virtual exterior mirrors – small cameras in housings that are more aerodynamic than conventional mirrors. Inside the cabin, the virtual mirrors display OLED touch-adjustable screens above the door handles. Three views are displayed, depending on the vehicle’s speed: kerb view, intersection view and motorway view.

The price for this option is $3500, or buyers may elect to order the virtual mirrors as part of an optional Premium Plus Package for $9700 (e-tron 50) or $6700 (e-tron 55).

Other items included in this pack for the Audi e-tron are 21-inch alloys, Matrix LED headlights, privacy glass, head-up display (already standard for the e-tron 55), 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio, electric steering column adjustment, four-zone climate control and a colour interior lighting package.

All of the e-tron variants are all-wheel drive models, powered by an electric motor for each axle. By default the e-tron drives through the rear motor only, until the driver demands extra performance and traction.

Braking energy can be recovered from just the rear wheels, in a straight line, or from all four wheels when the vehicle is cornering. Drivers can elect to recover braking energy manually, using the vehicle’s shift paddles.

The Audi e-tron 50 quattro (and its low-roofed Sportback equivalent) run a 71kWh battery and two electric motors for combined power and torque of 230kW and 540Nm. Audi claims the lower-powered models will knock over the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.8 seconds and travel up to 347km in accordance with WLTP between full charges.

With power supplied by a 95kWh battery, the electric motors of the Audi e-tron 55 quattro and Sportback can generate 300kW and 664Nm for a 5.7-second 0-100km/h time. The range for these variants is 446km from full battery to depleted.

Audi has gone to considerable lengths to make the e-tron a game changer in the market. A special thermal management system promises buyers the opportunity to recharge even the 95kWh battery from five per cent to full capacity in 45 minutes at an ultra-fast public charger capable of supplying power at the maximum 150kW rate for the e-tron.

The company provides an eight-year warranty for the battery, which covers outright failure of the separate battery modules as well as gradual degradation. Each module (27 for the e-tron 50 quattro and 36 for the e-tron 55 quattro) can be replaced separately, at significantly lower cost than replacing the whole pack.

Audi supplies the e-tron with a compact AC charger which can provide up to 11kW of power for battery replenishment at home, provided the household garage has been upgraded for the power increase.

The installation work is carried out by Jet Charge, and Audi has also entered into an agreement with public EV charging service supplier Chargefox for six years of renewable power from public stations, subject only to a fair use policy.

An active grille shutter opens and closes louvres for improved aerodynamic efficiency at speed or to enhance airflow to cool the battery at lower speeds. A flat underbody contributes to the e-tron’s drag coefficient of just 0.27Cd.

The Audi e-tron is available to order now via a select number of Audi dealers, with ordering online scheduled to commence on June 19. Audi Australia plans to begin delivering the e-tron to local customers in September.

How much does the 2020 Audi e-tron cost?
50 quattro 230kW – $137,700
55 quattro 265kW – $146,700
Sportback 50 quattro 230kW – $148,700
Sportback 55 quattro 265kW – $157,700
55 quattro First Edition 265kW – $159,600
Sportback 55 quattro First Edition 265kW – $169,950
* Prices exclude on-road costs