GENEVA: Audi has unveiled the prototype for its first all-electric model at the Geneva Motor Show. The electric SUV ‘e-tron’ combines the space and comfort of a typical luxury car with a range suitable for everyday use as well as long journeys.
Until the start of series production, almost 250 development vehicles will complete testing under extreme conditions worldwide, the company said in a statement.
Unveiled with a camouflaged exterior, the Audi e-tron prototype offers a preview of a premium SUV with space for five people along with plenty of luggage space, similar to that of a typical luxury class model with the four rings.
The company says that the production version of the e-tron prototype can fill up on electricity at fast-charging stations with up to 150 kW charging capacity. In just under 30 minutes, the SUV is then ready for the next leg of the long-distance journey.
“Audi sets an important milestone for the company’s future with its first purely electrically powered model,” Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, said at the unveiling of the prototype.
Audi is going to carry its popular quattro four-wheel drive system with the new electric powertrain and aims to launch the production version of the Audi e-tron in the European market by the end of 2018.
“In 2020 we will have three all-electric vehicles in our product range, with a four-door Gran Turismo – the production version of the Audi e-tron Sportback concept – and a model in the compact segment joining the sporty SUV. We will be launching more than 20 electric cars and plug-in hybrids by 2025 – spread across all segments and concepts,” the Audi CEO explains.
The company plans to test the production version of the e-tron under extreme conditions before its launch at the end of the year. The sporty SUV will complete test drives on four continents, in all climate zones ranging from below -20 to above +50 degrees Celsius. In total, just under 250 Audi e-tron prototypes are used in the tests to cover more than five million kilometres and 85,000 hours on the road.