The Mercedes EQC may have already stolen the spotlight, but Audi will soon be unveiling its first ever pure electric vehicle, thee-tron SUV. Previewed by the e-tron quattro concept SUV in 2015, the automaker will be lifting the wraps off the production model at an event that will be streamed online called ‘The Charge’ in San Francisco on September 17 at 11:30 pm EST. We'll also be on hand to report on the car, directly from the live reveal event.
The e-tron was originally going to be revealed in Brussels last month but the arrest of Audi’s CEO delayed it, allowing Mercedes to get a head start in the EV race.
Ahead of its world debut, Audi has released a new teaser image of the e-tron, giving us a sneak peak of the production model for the first time. Shown under a sheet, we get a look at the SUV’s sleek shape and distinctive LED headlights.
So far, Audi has confirmed the production e-tron will feature a 95 kWh battery pack powering two motors that produce a combined output of 355 horsepower 414 lb-ft of torque. Peak performance can be achieved for up to 60 seconds, enabling the e-tron to accelerate to an electronically limited top speed 124.3 mph several times without losing power. A boost mode increases the output up to 402 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque but is only available for eight seconds. 0-62 mph takes less than six seconds.
As for the range, Audi claims the e-tron will last for more than 248.5 miles on a single charge based on the WLTP test cycle. That may not sound particularly impressive, but Audi is hoping the SUV’s advanced energy recuperation system will give it the edge over its competitors along with its innovative camera mirrors, which will be offered for the first time on a production vehicle.
Earlier this month, Audi announced that production of the e-tron is underway at the company’s plant in Brussels, Belgium. It’s been a long time coming but Tesla is finally about to receive some stiff competition from its German rivals, as BMW is also preparing to launch the iX3.
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