Audi e-tron design will be different from other SUVs in its portfolio as Marc Lichte, Head of Design, confirmed that it will add more separation between models
Audi India head Rahil Ansari confirmed that the company is going to launch its first electric SUV by 2020. He added that the new model will be a perfect example of SUV and electric vehicle. Globally Audi is planning to launch three EV models – e-tron, e-tron sportback and e-tron GT. Among them, e-tron is the model which is currently planned for India.
But Ansari is sceptical about the success of EV in India as the biggest challenge is charging infrastructure and facilitation of importing EVs. Currently the government is not offering subsidies for imported electric vehicles but this might change few years down the line with the increase in pollution.
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Audi officially revealed e-tron concept in 2015 and the e-tron quattro concept was revealed in 2017. The production version of e-tron is expected to be revealed later this year and the company has officially begun pre-order for production model in its home market. Audi teased production version of e-tron at this year’s Geneva Motor Show and it is based on modified MLB platform of Q5 and Q7.
The e-tron design will be different from other SUV’s in its portfolio as Marc Lichte Head of Design at Audi confirmed that it will add more separation between models. The single frame grill will be wider like the concept model with LED headlamps and sporty bumper.
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The side design of e-tron will be inline with rest of Audi SUV’s and the rear gets new LED tail lamps with sporty bumper. Audi hasn’t revealed interior details of e-tron SUV. But we can expect features from new A8 and A7 to be available in e-tron. Audi’s virtual cockpit will be available in e-tron and it will display all the details about battery, re-generative braking and consumption.
The e-tron will also be offered with level three autonomous driving technology. The concept version of e-tron comes with three electric motors and the combined output is 496 hp and 800 nm of torque. Audi is targeting 500 kms range with e-tron and it will be a direct rival for Tesla Model-X and Jaguar I-Pace.