Audi’s E-Tron Quattro Concept Is A 311 Mile Tesla Model X Fighter
By Paulo Acoba
Audi took to the Frankfurt Motor Show to showcase its SUV EV offering with its Audi E-Tron Quattro Concept.
It seems like everyone is gunning for the California kid from Palo Alto, Elon Musk, as Audi has introduced its all new E-Tron Quattro concept that’s got the ears perked of many people over at Tesla. Earlier yesterday (Sept. 14, 2015) Audi along with a lot of other EV cars from Volkswagen’s offerings introduced an EV SUV with a proposed 311 miles of range and 429 HP. As this is just a concept, it’s not going to actually be made, but according to Audi, “Audi will present an all-electric, luxury-class sport SUV in early 2018. The Audi e-tron quattro concept provides a concrete foretaste of this” That’s a good 3 years away from now mind you all while Tesla’s Model X is dropping this year!
Total output from this E-Tron Quattro comes in at 429 HP and 590 lb-ft of torque all thanks to three electric motors, one mounted up front and two mounted in the rear. Thanks to some clever torque vectoring, the E-Tron Quattro can supply power to each motor as needed to provide for maximum dynamics and stability. And with such chassis technologies as adaptive air suspension, dynamic all wheel steering, and Audi’s legendary Quattro handling, it looks like Audi is playing the sports card in order to differentiate itself from say…Tesla.
With 310 miles of range, that trumps the Tesla Model X’s figures by a good 70 miles, but keep in mind that the Tesla Model X will probably surpass its own range offering many times over from now. With a drag Cd of .25 all supplemented by active aerodynamics, this SUV cuts the wind quite well.
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The styling is attractive and typically Audi. Upfront, there’s a slated grill different from anything in Audi’s lineup. We imagine that the grill closes up during highway driving to improve aerodynamics. The profile of the E-Tron Quattro is very sleek and low to the ground probably thanks to the adaptive air suspension. We don’t imagine anyone will be taking these torque monsters off-road. Quite a shame as the possibilities are endless for electric off-roading. The rear is clinical and functional with a large flat sloped up bumper and light bar running the entire length of the trunk.
By 2019, who knows where the technology for batteries and the state of electric cars and ICE’s will be. It’s a bold move by Audi, but they’d better brush up on their homework if they think they can sneak a fast one by Tesla and his cracking team of engineers in Silicon Valley.