Three-motor Audi e-tron S electric SUV to deliver 370kW

The drapes have come off the Audi e-tron S and Audi e-tron Sportback S, which were shown drifting in lightly camouflaged prototype form back in March , ahead of first European deliveries starting later this month.

The Audi e-tron S twins will be the first battery-powered cars in the world driven by not one or two but three electric motors.

Two of those motors drive the rear axle while the third one rotates those front wheels, providing for all-wheel drive.

More motors equal much more power, with Audi claiming the e-tron S produces 320kW and 808Nm in normal conditions. A mightier-still 370kW and a herculean 973Nm is available in sport mode — that’s 70kW and 309Nm more than the standard Audi e-tron in ‘overboost’ mode.

Off the mark, thanks to its all-wheel drive traction, Audi claims the e-tron S is capable of hitting 100km/h in less than 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 209km/h.

Powered by a large 95kWh battery (up from the regular e-tron's 70kWh), the German car-maker claims the e-tron S can cover 359km between charges, while the more aerodynamic e-tron S Sportback can stretch that figure out to almost 364km.

As well as bringing more performance, the new e-tron S models are also more agile, in part due to that twin-motor rear-axle that can now apply torque directly to each wheel.

This has enabled engineers to give the e-tron S a rear-wheel drive bias and, allowing the pure-electric Audi to engage in controlled drifts in 'Dynamic' mode.

Heralding the extra performance of the Audi e-tron S models are 21-inch alloy wheels as standard, with the option of even larger 22-inch rims.Engineers have also retuned the e-tron's air suspension to improve handling and steering responses while reducing body roll. The fast S versions ride up to 76mm lower.

Exterior styling cues unique to the e-tron S include a revised front bumper that features more pronounced triangular air-intakes.

At the rear, a new diffuser has been introduced while wider wheel-arches and new red 'S' badging all contribute to upping the visual presence.

Inside, there are new Nappa leather sport seats as standard, combined with lots of brushed aluminium. A carbon-fibre dash is an option.

There's no word yet on pricing, but in the UK the Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback start from £87,000 ($A157,000) and £88,700 ($A160,000).

Meanwhile in Australia, deliveries of the regular e-tron are set to commence this September, with pricing set to kick off at $137,700 for the 230kW 50 quattro model, stretching to $157,000 for the 265kW Sportback 55 quatttro.