The Audi manufacturer announced last week during a press conference that its full-electric Audi e-Tron Sportback model would show up sometime in 2019. Earlier this year, the brand revealed the purported e-Tron Sportback in a concept form at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show.
Its production and assembly would take place at Audi’s Brussels factory in Belgium. The new e-Tron Sportback is a sleek coupe-SUV that is slated to spearhead the automaker’s intents for fully-electric car supremacy.
Audi e-Tron Sportback – Exterior and Interior Details
The upcoming Audi e-Tron Sportback is an extended, 4-door car with a plunging roofline and big bonnet. This e-Tron will ride higher compared to any other Sportback model from Audi. For that reason, it becomes more all-road than Q as far as ground clearance and ride height are concerned.
At the rear end, we did notice a slightly stout bottom which displays a single rear-light beam and refined e-Tron badging beneath. The Audi e-Tron Sportback is a valid interpretation of the A7, although it comprises the SUV DNA. It will become much higher and also more dynamic.
Audi will illuminate its four rings for the first time on a car. Both the rear and front Audi logos will use LEDs for illumination. The one at the front glows bright white, whereas the rear one has a variety of functions. The rear Audi logo glows red when driving, white when it’s idle, and bright red when the brake pedal is pressed. It also shines even brighter white when reversing.
The front headlights feature projected LEDs that transmit light forward. Beneath the main headlights, you will find rows of introverted LEDs that are organized in a cube-like shape. These are used to demonstrate such things as the charging progress, battery level, and when the vehicle is idling.
Interior Features
The interior of the Audi e-Tron Sportback gets festooned with many futuristic wizardries. This 4-seater Audi version highlights a conventional steering wheel, drive selector on the center console and infotainment system. Like its exterior, the cockpit conveys all splashes of technological genius.
The cabin revolves around futuristic elements, performance, and unparalleled lightness. It houses the black panel architecture with touchscreen displays that are interactive to some extent. The driver selector is located exactly where your wrist would rest, implying that the lower touchscreen controls are within reach.
We also found that Audi has elected to opt for the electroluminescent paint on the seats and specific door panels. It is this paint that makes these surfaces glow and provide the necessary interior lighting. Hence, it eliminates the need for things like wires, bulbs, and LEDs.
Audi e-Tron Sportback – Engine and Transmission
The Audi e-Tron Sportback features a 429-hp electric engine with 2 motors on the rear side and one motor up front, alongside a 95-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. This battery pack is borrowed from Samsung SDI and LG Chem. According to what Audi claims, the entire system provides up to 310 miles-of-range on a single charge.
You are also provided with an optional 30-minute quick charge that replenishes the battery pack for a range of up to 200 miles. The new e-Tron Sportback accelerates from 0-62 mph in just under 4.5 seconds.
MSRP and Release Date
The company is planning to keep things under wraps until the time is ripe. For now, we have no details concerning the Audi e-Tron Sportback pricing and release date.
We only imagine that this electrically assisted car will show up at dealerships sometime in 2019. Stay tuned for updates.
