Audi has opted to introduce an entry-level version of its latest electric SUV to Britain. As expected, the e-tron Sportback lands with in the same 402hp 55 quattro model trim as its established sibling and a £79,900 starting price - but contrary to previous statements, the manufacturer will also offer the lower-powered 308hp 50 quattro version here. Conversely, the three-motor e-tron S, Audi's first go at a performance-minded derivative – which was announced last month with 503hp – will not launch now till later in the year.
As with Audi’s combustion-powered models, the e-tron Sportback is only differentiated from the regular SUV version by its swooping roofline. The car is based on the same MLB Evo platform, with the Sportback 55 quattro using two asynchronous electric motors and a 95kWh battery to produce 414 lb ft of torque, with a claimed 241-mile range. The 50 will follow in autumn with a 71kWh battery – and a cheaper, yet to be confirmed, starting price.
The e-tron Sportback claims a 50:50 weight distribution – albeit with plus-2.5-tonne kerbweight - and a predictably low centre of gravity. EV delivery being what it is, the 55 can sprint from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds in its most potent Boost Mode. With air suspension and Audi’s clever anti-roll tech as standard, we’re not exactly expecting it to roll about around in the corners, either. Those 21-inch wheels ought to help with that.
Of course, that’s all familiar stuff because it’s true for the regular e-tron, with the Sportback here mostly to cater for different tastes in design. Opting for it over the normal SUV bodyshape obviously sacrifices boot space, although with a 2,928mm wheelbase, the five-seater still has 615 litres of capacity, and up to 1,665 litres of room with those back seats down. There’s tonnes of tech inside, too, with Audi’s MIB 3 cabin architecture delivering two central screens and a digital instrument cluster. As you’d expect.
All that notwithstanding, it’s the e-tron S we’re most intrigued with because Audi has seen fit to install an additional motor on the rear axle, and is therefore capable of moving power side to side. The manufacturer is promising a far more adjustable handling dynamic as a result, to the extent of it making 'controlled drifts' a real possibility. That capability might be somewhat redundant in a family-sized, planet-heavy SUV - but with the Porsche Taycan now setting the internal bar for VW Group EV handling, it'll be interesting to see how Audi's first attempt has panned out.
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