Audi Australia has quietly added the e-tron Sportback to its website, confirming not only its planned released for the Australian market but also numerous specifications, but the car company continues to keep its lips sealed on more details of the upcoming launch of its flagship electric vehicle, the e-tron 55 quattro.
The addition of the e-tron Sportback to the Audi Australia website confirms the low profile electric vehicle will be (as with the e-tron SUV) offered in two variants, the 50 quattro and 55 quattro.
The 50 quattro will offer a smaller 71kWh battery than its larger 55 quattro stablemate’s 95kWh pack. The 64kWh usable capacity from this pack will give it a driving range of more than 300km according to Audi Australia’s website, while dual motors on the front and rear axle will deliver up to 230kW combined power and 540Nm maximum torque, and acceleration from 1-100km/hr in 6.8 seconds.
The 55 quattro sportback will be offered in two drivetrain options, with up to 446km driving range from its 86kWh usable capacity. Performance-wose, it will have a maximum output of 300kW from its motors, with delivering from 0-100km/hr in just 5.7 seconds in boost mode and 664Nm maximum torque.
It’s another signal that the premium German auto maker is making preparations for its entry into the limited but rapidly growing Australian electric car market.
While some auto makers have confirmed with The Driven that the Covid-19 pandemic will be causing delays for some upcoming electric models, Audi has been making surer and surer steps towards a planned late 2020 launch for the e-tron.
While Audi has so far not responded to enquiries on solid dates for the launch of the e-tron and e-tron Sportback in Australia, prior to the introduction of measures on a global scale to restrict the spread of the noval Coronavirus, it did confirm a mid-2020 release date via its Audi Magazine for the e-tron, saying its “e-sibling” would be “following soon after”.
Following months have seen the arrival of 6 e-tron evaluation models at Port Kembla, and the installation of DC fast chargers at its major Sydney-based Audi dealership.
Yesterday, vehicle safety body ANCAP revealed that Audi has also received a five-star safety rating for the e-tron.
Pricing and more specifications for the e-tron or the e-tron Sportback in Australia are expected closer to deach models’ launch.
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Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.