Three hundred and seventy. That’s an awfully large number of kilowatts. A number that, until recently, was only found beneath the bonnet of the most potent of supercars from Italy’s exclusive stables.
Generally speaking, cars with that much power have two doors, two seats and an exhaust note that will disturb the entire neighbourhood.
But this car, Audi’s new E-Tron S, not only has that big mound of kilowatts, not to mention a gargantuan 973Nm of torque, but is also quite the crowd pleaser.
It has five seats to please the family, zero exhaust emissions to please the environmentalists, and a silent soundtrack which will delight neighbours.
It’s even smooth and quiet and luxurious enough for some passengers not to notice how thunderously fast it is.
In fact it breaks all kinds of preconceptions.
Audi has tinkered with electric and semi-electric models for almost a decade, but this E-Tron confirms that the German maker has finally reached the point of no return in joining the EV surge.
The E-Tron S is only the second all-electric Audi model to arrive in Australia after the initial E-Tron model landed late in 2021. The SUV-styled EV will be sold here with two levels of performance, as well as two body styles, featuring the traditional soft roader (think Audi Q5) and sleek Sportback style.
These two SUV-styled models will soon be joined by an even more exciting E-Tron, the E-Tron GT which will challenge its corporate cousin, the dazzling Porsche Taycan which is officially the world’s fastest electric car.
But until then, the car tested here, the $172,700 E-Tron S, is the performance benchmark.
It’s also the first electric model to wear Audi’s sporty “S” designation, joining the impressive line of performance-enhanced machines from the pint-sized S1 all the way up to the SQ8 sports SUV.
The numbers, at least, suggest this is a deserving wearer of the badge. Those 370kW (OK, the full dose is only available when in boost – ‘beast’ – mode), combined with almost unheard of 973Nm, help this urbane big wagon whisk effortlessly to the speed limit in an impressive 4.5 seconds.
That’s brisk by any measure, let alone for a car that can carry a family, the dog and a couple of bicycles or sets of golf clubs in the back.
But that lusty performance is not the prime attraction here. The “standard”, slightly less powerful E-Tron 55 runs the 0-100km/h blast about a second slower than the “S”.
Funny thing is, neither Audi necessarily feels as quick, or as explosive, as those numbers might suggest. It will thrill most families (excluding the Schumachers, perhaps) but it’s that torque, rather than the outright power, that characterises the E-Tron experience.
Instead of the standard one electric motor (as found on smaller EVs) or two motors (as found in most high-powered models), the E-Tron has three motors – one driving each of the rear wheels, with another powering the front axle.
As a result, it puts all that torque to the ground at once, delivering an instant kick in the pants to occupants and a face full of dust for competitors at the lights.
There will be no shortage of those as this car most certainly looks the business. As well as Mercedes-Benz’s electrified GLE model (called the EQE), the Audi is matched up against BMW’s brand new iX – a new-from-the-ground-up, purpose-built SUV – which could set new standards for this segment.
The E-Tron is not cheap but its hefty prices are somewhat explained by the length of the extras list, which includes 360-degree parking cameras, variable all-wheel-drive, adaptive air suspension, 21-inch alloys, Matrix LED headlights, Milano leather seats, a Bang and Olufsen audio system and Audi’s clever but familiar “virtual cockpit” digital instrument display.
Sweetening the deal is a promise by Audi to give E-Tron buyers a six-year subscription to the Chargefox network of public charging stations, which is akin to getting a free fuel card for six years.
The complete absence of engine noise, coupled with the familiar quietness and refinement inside the cockpit, makes the E-Tron a very posh, very refined way to get around. That verges on downright surreal when on smooth roads, where the car whistles along like some kind of sleek ghost, so peaceful is the cockpit.
The big batteries beneath the car’s floor, whose weight blunts its acceleration somewhat, contribute to the sturdy grip and the well-planted road manners.
The E-Tron S has about 440km of driving range, suitable for longish return journeys (up to about 200km each way means fewer worries about running out of spark before returning home).
There’s the choice of using a typical home wall socket which will take hours to replenish supplies, but a high-speed charger will deliver well over half a battery’s worth in about 30 minutes.
When the car senses it might be running a little low, it notifies the driver and, via the satellite navigation, immediately offers the chance to push an icon on the screen to be directed to the next charging station.
Either way, it’s a relatively fuss-free way to “fill up” and can become part of a weekly, or nightly routine.
After that, it’s all down to the numbers.
AUDI E-TRON S QUATTRO SPORTBACK
* HOW BIG? It’s basically the same size as Audi’s Q5 – and delivers the comfort and space expected from any premium full-sized SUV.
* HOW FAST? For a car not much under three tonnes, the E-Tron delivers blistering acceleration, reaching 100km/h in 4.5 seconds.
* HOW THIRSTY? It can travel more than 400km between charges, which would cover most families’ requirements.
* HOW MUCH? The less powerful, but similarly equipped E-Tron 55 kicks things off at $140,000. The E-Tron S, tested here, costs $175,400.
By Peter Atkinson in Brisbane
Get the latest news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
