Audi has announced that a second version of the e-tron, which serves as an entry-level range model, has been confirmed for series production.
The e-tron 50 quattro will join the existing e-tron 55 quattro model, and will feature a 71kWh battery and two electric motors. The new model will offer a range of up to 186 miles (299km) on the WLTP test cycle, and will include 120kW charging capability, facilitating recharging to 80% capacity in around 30 minutes at fast-charging stations.
The car will be built at the carbon-neutral Audi Brussels plant and, like it’s forerunners, will feature e-quattro all-wheel drive delivered by an electric motor mounted on each axle – in this application, these generate a combined total of 230kW (313ps) and 540Nm of torque, and will power the electric SUV from 0-100km/h in 7.0 seconds on the way to an electronically governed top speed of 118mph (190km/h). Only the rear electric motor is active in most driving situations, while the front electric motor is activated predictively when needed.
The battery unit of the Audi e-tron 50 quattro comprises 324 prismatic cells combined in 27 modules. These store up to 71kWh of energy, which is delivered via a newly calibrated drivetrain and a high-voltage system featuring additional optimizations for the new application.
Like the more powerful version of the electric SUV, the Audi e-tron 50 quattro also recuperates energy via its two electric motors, with priority given to the rear motor, during more than 90% of all deceleration actions. The newly developed wheel brake system with electrohydraulic actuation is activated only when the force of deceleration exceeds 0.3g.
