e-tron S Sportback arrives in New Zealand

With the arrival of the e-tron S Sportback, customers who enjoy amplified performance from their SUV now have the option of an SUV with an incredible, fully electric drivetrain. And the e-tron S Sportback certainly delivers on the performance side of that equation providing 370 kW of power and a massive 973 Nm of torque, From standstill it takes just 4.5 seconds to accelerate to 100km/h and in S gear mode will deliver full boost performance for eight seconds.

“This continues Audi’s ambition of offering a family of electric cars that offer the driving performance and enjoyment, stunning design, and useability that its customers love. It complements the recently launched e-tron GT, and the original e-tron SUV and Sportback that first arrived in New Zealand in 2019.” Says Audi New Zealand’s General Manager, Dean Sheed.

Electric all-wheel drive is now enhanced with electric torque vectoring: Each of the rear electric motors sends the drive torques directly to the respective wheel via a single-speed transmission; there is no more mechanical differential. Need-based regulation takes just milliseconds and can manage very high drive torques. The suspension has S-specific tuning. The Audi drive select system offers seven driving profiles. For example, it accesses the adaptive air suspension sport – the air suspension with regulated damping can vary the level of the body by up to 76 millimetres depending on the driving situation and settings.

Flow-optimised wheel arch extensions also make a considerable contribution to resolving the conflict between outstanding aerodynamics and a sporty look. The innovative technology was developed by Audi and is now patented. A second major element in the aerodynamics concept is the controllable cooling-air inlet with ducts to cool the front wheel brakes. It remains closed as often as possible so that the airstream flows over the hood with almost no turbulence. As part of efficient thermal management, each etron is equipped with a heat pump as standard. It draws heat energy from the waste heat of the drive components, thereby increasing the range by up to ten percent.

The sophisticated recuperation concept also contributes to the vehicle’s efficiency. Drivers can select between three recuperation levels, the highest of which allows them to experience a noticeable one-pedal feeling. When braking, the electric motors decelerate alone up to the area of 0.3 g, i.e. in most everyday situations. The hydraulic wheel brakes only come into play beyond that level. However, the electric motors remain active and can convert up to 270 kW of peak performance when braking from a speed of 100 km/h.

Like all full-size class models from Audi, the Audi e-tron S Sportback is equipped with the digital MMI touch response control system with the two large central displays. On the third display, the Audi virtual cockpit, the driver can select a special e-tron screen that moves the electric drive to centre stage. An optional head-up display complements the displays. The MMI navigation plus control and infotainment system is included as standard. Behind its many functions is the third-generation modular infotainment toolkit (MIB 3), which completes all tasks with a high processing power. It cooperates with the communication box, which connects the car with the environment and the passengers’ smartphones.

The Audi e-tron S Sportback, which was developed in Audi’s carbon-neutral Brussels plant and is available at New Zealand Audi dealerships nationwide with a MRP of $189,900. Additional information about the Audi e-tron S Sportback is available at www.audi.co.nz