THE Audi e-tron Sportback it's the sportiest-lined variant of the e-tron we've ever seen — an SUV coupé, according to the brand — but unlike other Sportbacks, the e-tron Sportback reveals more differences than those related to its design.
These affect its electrical performance, especially regarding autonomy. The e-tron Sportback announces 446 km of autonomy against the 417 km of the regular e-tron (WLTP).
Interestingly, one of the factors for superior autonomy is precisely due to its design. The new profile, with an arched roofline and 13 mm less in height, guarantees a lower coefficient of aerodynamic drag. The Cx drops from 0.27 on the e-tron to 0.25 on the e-tron Sportback, which in itself allows it to gain up to 10 km of autonomy.
The differences do not stop there. The Audi e-tron Sportback achieves a superior use of battery power — from 88% to 91% —, guaranteeing up to 10 km more.
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The two water pumps that are part of the battery's thermal management system were also replaced by just one, larger, reducing costs and weight, and contributing up to an extra 2 km of autonomy.
The e-tron Sportback can also decouple the front axle, gaining up to 10 km. Audi also optimized the braking system, placing stronger springs, those that act on the pads, canceling out the friction when these are not required, allowing for up to 3 km to be gained.
More differences and news
The new design also brought some compromises in terms of available space, with the height for the rear occupants being reduced by 2 cm.
The luggage compartment capacity was also reduced to 555 l (the e-tron has 600 l), a figure that is nonetheless quite generous. Like the e-tron, the new Audi e-tron Sportback maintains storage space at the front with 60 l of capacity.
Another of the Audi e-tron Sportback's novelties refers to its lighting, introducing the digital Matrix LED system, a world first, which allows, compared to the existing Matrix LED system, to be even more precise in the creation of shadow areas so that other drivers are not chained.
In the future (in mid-2020), the new lighting system will even be able to generate “welcome” or “farewell” animations that can be projected on the floor or on a wall.
Otherwise, all the same
In terms of other technical characteristics, the Audi e-tron Sportback imitates the already known e-tron. The battery maintains the 95 kWh of capacity, the power of the pair of electric motors is 360 hp in D mode, but with peaks of 408 hp in S or Boost mode, for eight seconds; and the performance is identical to the e-tron 55 quattro at all — 5.7s from 0 to 100 km/h.
In addition to the 55 quattro version described, it is also available in the more affordable 50 quattro version, where power is reduced to 313 hp and autonomy to 347 km.
The batteries can be charged up to a maximum power of 150 kW in the e-tron Sportback 55 quattro, and 120 kW in the 50 quattro. With alternating current, the maximum charging power is 11 kW, which can be 22 kW with an optional charger, available in summer 2020.
When arrives?
The new Audi e-tron Sportback does not have a price or launch date for Portugal yet, but in Germany orders open later this month, with prices starting at 71,350 euros, and deliveries scheduled for the spring of next year.