Skip to main content

Audi previews its 2018 all-electric sport crossover with the e-tron quattro concept

Audi has unveiled its e-tron quattro concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show as a preview of a planned production all-electric crossover.

“Audi will present an all-electric, luxury-class sport SUV in early 2018,” said Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, member of the Audi board of management for technical development during the premiere. “The Audi e-tron quattro concept provides a concrete foretaste of this. It combines driving pleasure with great range, an expressive design and excellent comfort.”

When the production version hits the market in 2018, it will likely borrow some or all of the concept’s electric drivetrain components, including the three-motor setup – one driving the front axle and two powering the rear. The combination develops 430 horsepower under normal driving conditions, but that can be boosted to just under 500 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque for a short time. At full power, the e-tron quattro concept rockets to 60 mph in 4.6-seconds and on to its electronically-limited top speed of 130 mph.

The lithium-ion battery integrated into the floor of the passenger compartment offers a range of over 500 km (311 miles). Charging of the system can be accomplished via either DC or AC electrical systems. To fully charge the concept with a DC current, you’ll need just 50 minutes. Audi also equipped its concept with “Audi Wireless Charging” for remote induction charging.

Visually, the e-tron quattro concept builds on Audi’s present design language with sharp creases, a large grille, and coupe-like silhouette. The slippery design leads to a minimal drag coefficient of 0.25, “a new best for the SUV segment.

Inside, Audi has advanced it virtual cockpit which debuted in 2014. To the left and right below the full digital instrument panel are two touch displays. The driver controls the lights and the systems for piloted driving with the left display. The larger display on the right is for media and navigation management.

Still a couple years off, it will be interesting to see what convenience and technology features make it to production, and expect to see the tri-motor drivetrain in more Audi models in the coming years.

Miles Branman
Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…
Audi’s electric 2022 RS E-Tron GT is a concept that escaped the drawing board
2022 Audi E-Tron GT

Audi traveled to the 2018 edition of the Los Angeles auto show to introduce a head-turning concept called E-Tron GT. Shortly after the unveiling, we learned that the sedan would reach production without major changes, and the company kept its promise. Unveiled online, the electric 2022 E-Tron GT is just as striking as the concept.

On a secondary level, it brings full electrification to the Audi Sport range for the first time. It's proudly positioned as one of the division's flagship models, and it blazes the path that future sports cars will follow in the coming years.
Wait, that's a production car?

Read more
Audi E-Tron vs. Jaguar I-Pace
jaguar i pace

If you’re in the market for an electric luxury SUV but don’t want a Tesla, you don't have many options to choose from -- at least not yet. The Jaguar I-Pace and the Audi E-Tron are currently your only other options in North America, though the Mercedes-Benz EQC will finally hit the market in early 2021. But, if you can’t wait that long, the I-Pace and the E-Tron are both competent electric vehicles (EVs). Keep reading to decide which one is right for you. 
Tech features
Jaguar I-Pace

Jaguar didn’t hold back and loaded the I-Pace with lots of standard and optional tech. All trims come with an upper 10-inch touchscreen, a lower 5.5-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an 11-speaker Meridian audio system, a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, six USB ports, and a vehicle smartphone app. Optional tech features include a head-up display, a watch key (activity key), and an upgraded 15-speaker Meridian audio system. 
Audi E-Tron

Read more
This week in EV tech: Audi exemplifies auto industry’s EV holding pattern
Close-up of 2025 Audi SQ5 grille, headlight, and badge.

The road to the future runs through the present, and it’s not a straight line. This week, we’re focusing on how Audi is negotiating the twists and turns on the way to an electrified future. EVs are here to stay at Audi, but a gasoline crossover SUV is still the automaker’s bestselling model, and it’s not ready to risk those sales just yet. That’s why the 2025 Audi Q5 received a top-to-bottom overhaul for this model year, bringing its tech features and styling up to date without altering the what has proven to be a very popular package. By maintaining parallel lineups of electric and internal-combustion cars, Audi hopes to give customers more choices. But that doesn’t completely level the playing field. The new Q5 may have yesterday’s powertrain, but Audi isn’t holding back on tech. It features the same electrical architecture, operating system, and three-screen dashboard display as the latest Audi EVs, like the Q6 e-tron. So aside from a little engine noise, there’s little difference in what you can see and interact with from the driver’s seat. It’s not just the infotainment systems. The Q5 and Q6 e-tron are close in size, with similar space for passengers across their two rows of seats. The Q6 e-tron has a bit more cargo space, but not as much as you’d think given the lack of a bulky engine, transmission, and driveshafts. The two SUVs also have similar styling but, having now driven both, we can say that the Q5 is the more pleasant of the two.

More than a difference of powertrain tech

Read more