Several hundred Irish people who have expressed interest in the new Audi e-tron electric SUV are getting previews of the car over this weekend at a special presentation in the National Film School in Dun Laoghaire,
writes Brian Byrne.
The car will be available to order from January at a list price of €101,750, exclusive of government grants. Many of those seeing the e-tron over the coming days have availed of Audi Ireland's online pre-registration facility where customers can leave a refundable €2,000 deposit to be one of the first to order this electric SUV ahead of delivery in April 2019.
What they'll be seeing is a very good-looking car that is absolutely familiar as an Audi both externally and in its interior, but with details and technologies that make it an advanced electric vehicle. Among the options offered are screens in the front doors instead of side mirrors.
A 95kWh high voltage battery built into the e-tron's floor provides provides power for the pair of electric motors, one on each axle. The combined output is in excess of 400hp, offering a sub-6s 0-100km/h, and the car has an advanced version of Audi's quattro AWD system. A 400km range is expected under the new WLTP regime, and 30pc of this comes from a very efficient energy recuperation system.
The e-tron in size fits between the Q5 and Q7 SUVs, which will make it attractive to existing owners of those models to move all-electric if they are so inclined.
All 11 Audi dealerships in Ireland are 'e-tron ready', and according to Thorsten Godulla, Managing Director, Audi Ireland, Irish customers have the opportunity to 'experience a piece of the future' in an historic time for Audi.
