Audi has released an S version of the E-Tron and its sloping-backsided namesake, the E-Tron Sportback. As the letter suggests, it has more power so it’s quicker. It’s the first fully electric model to wear an Audi S badge, as well as being the first series production car to use three electric motors.
The trio of electric motors are placed two on the rear axle, one on the front, and together develop 370kW (496bhp) and a colossal 973Nm of torque, albeit that maximum is available only in eight-second boost periods, for a reason Audi doesn’t explain. The result is a 0-62mph sprint in just 4.5 seconds. Bearing in mind that the E-Tron is an enormous brick of an SUV.
The battery pack is rated at 95kWh, which means a claimed range of 223 miles for the E-Tron and 226 for the Sportback, the later presumably because of the marginally more slippery shape.
According to Audi the tri-motor setup is possible because of the modular chassis on which the E-Tron sits, built specifically for electric vehicles; the standard Audi E-Tron uses two electric motors, one front and one back. It develops 300kW and 664Nm, getting the car to 62mph from rest on 5.7 seconds.
In that context – the S versions of the E-Tron really are engineered differently and are significantly quicker – the price bump looks slightly more palatable. It’ll cost £87,000 for a fat-bottomed E-Tron, or £88,700 for the Sportback one. A standard E-Tron costs around £60,000.
Under normal driving circumstances the E-Tron S is only using the two motors on the rear axle, sending torque to each wheel through a single-speed transmission. It’s only when the car is in Sport mode or being driven enthusiastically that the front motor kicks in, with the power still rear biased (it’s possible to drift an E-Tron S, according to Audi) but the front motor providing useful additional traction at the front. As well as pace.
In the spirit of all Audi S models the E-Tron S has specifically tuned steering and suspension, adaptive in the latter case and height adjustable to the tune of 76mm, which might as well be a mile in context. The steering rack is progressive, meaning it weights up at speed but is quicker at lower velocity, giving a heightened feeling of sharpness. In addition, the E-Tron S has aerodynamic tweaks including wheel arches that enhance airflow.
In the cabin the basic architecture is unchanged, but sports seats are standard, as well as liberal applications of the S branding.
Keyword: Audi stokes up the electric E-Tron with very quick S model