Audi readies for arrival of e-tron electric SUV in Australia

European premium car maker Audi is readying for the arrival of the e-tron electric SUV in Australia, installing DC electric vehicle fast chargers in at least one of its major dealerships in Sydney.

The Coronavirus pandemic is taking its toll on the global auto market at large, and the fallout for Australia is that at least some electric vehicle models – such as the Polestar 2 – will face launch delays for the local market.

But not for the Audi e-tron, if the installation of the high-powered chargers at Audi Centre Sydney as captured by an electric vehicle enthusiast are anything to go by.

The images, shared by Twitter account @Electricfuture5, show a slick 150kW DC unit branded with the e-tron logo, with CCS plug type.

Made by Swiss automation and electrical giant ABB, it is one of only a few such chargers currently installed in Australia. The first of this type was installed at Euroa, Victoria at one of the first ultra-rapid charging sites to be opened in Australia by ultra-rapid charging network provider Chargefox.

The 150kW chargers such as this ABB unit can add around 120km of driving range to an electric vehicle in just 10 minutes.

The e-tron is Audi’s first all-electric model and will be the third 100% electric mid-size SUV to enter the local market, following the Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes-Benz EQC.

Slightly smaller than the Audi Q7 and bigger than the Q5, it is billed as an electric Q5 at 4901mm long overall, 1935mm wide, and 1616mm tall.

With a 95kWh battery and dual electric motors, the 55 quattro e-tron offers 436km driving range based on the European WLTP rating, delivering a peak power of 265kW (300kW on boost mode), and maximum torque of 664Nm.

It has been available in Pacific neighbour New Zealand since September, 2019, and had registered 109 sales by the end of March.

Audi have been contacted for comment but have not yet responded to enquiries, however the official launch of the “55 quattro” model in the third quarter of 2020 was recently confirmed to Performance Drive when first examples of the electric vehicle arrived in Australia.

As Performance Drive reported, 6 e-tron models arrived at Port Kembla in early March from Brussels, Belgium, aboard the cargo carrier Höegh Antwerp, ready for evaluation on Australian roads.

Along with the flagship 55 quattro model, it is understood that an entry-level 50 quattro will also be offered with a 71kWh battery and up to 300km driving range.

In 2019 Audi also revealed a sportback version with 446km driving range thanks to its lower and more aerodynamic profile in November 2019, that will first be offered in Europe. According to Go Auto, this sportier electric vehicle may also be slated for Australia.

Pricing for the e-tron in Australia has not yet been announced, and more details are expected closer to a Q3 2020 launch.