The striking Audi e-tron Sportback Concept

Audi joins in the segment of electric luxury cars with the e-tron Sportback concept unveiled at the 2017 Shanghai Motor Show (April 21-28) and expected on the market in 2019. This model follows the tracks of the purely electric Audi e-tron SUV, which will hit the streets in 2018. Its direct rival is the Jaguar I-Pace, the electric SUV to be released in the second half of 2018.

The e-tron Sportback is the sporty version of the electric Audi Q6 and uses the same platform and powertrain composed of a 95 kwH lithium-ion battery allowing a range of up to 500 km! It is powered by 3 electric motors: one for the front wheels and the other two for each rear wheel. All three motors gain back the energy when braking or during coasting.

As far as performance goes, the Audi e-tron Sportback delivers a maximum output of 503 hp and reaches the 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds with a regulated top-speed of 210 km/h.

Audi’s second EV car has a futuristic design which makes it look like a “Coupe 4 Seat SUV” with  23 inch alloy wheels. It features a revolutionary lighting technology composed of digitally controlled matrix LED units which ensure both day and night an excellent lighting. Inside the car, 4 individual seats, a digital instrument cluster, touch-sensitive screens in the centre console provide a deep sense of luxurious technology. Small cameras replace the rear-view mirrors and their images are shown in the doors.

In the coming years, we should see a full range of electric models from Audi, strongly engaged in the electric future according to Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG who declares “We will have three electric cars on offer by 2020, and by 2025 one-third of our model range will be battery-powered.”