The automotive landscape often presents a delightful challenge for consumers, balancing desires for striking aesthetics, exhilarating performance, everyday practicality, environmental consciousness, and sophisticated luxury. Audi, with its latest offering, aims to harmonize these competing priorities. Introduced on a Tuesday evening, the E-Tron Sportback emerges as a compelling contender, presenting a more elegantly sloped interpretation of its established E-Tron SUV. This new model artfully merges the robust capability of an SUV with the sleek silhouette of a four-door coupe, all while embracing the forward-thinking ethos of electric mobility.
The most striking visual departure is the E-Tron Sportback’s alluring new roofline, complemented by a series of subtle yet impactful cosmetic enhancements. These changes collectively position the Sportback as the sportier, more stylish variant within the E-Tron family. Despite a visual impression of a lower profile when viewed up close, Audi confirms that the Sportback shares the same fundamental height as the standard E-Tron SUV. This perception is attributed to the gracefully contoured roofline, which, at its apex, is marginally lower than its SUV counterpart.
Performance and Powertrain
Under the hood, or rather, within the chassis, the E-Tron Sportback delivers impressive electric power. In its boost mode, it unleashes up to 402 horsepower (300 kW). Under normal operation, it produces a steady 355 horsepower and 414 pound-feet of torque, enabling acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in a brisk 6.6 seconds. Engaging boost mode shaves this time down to a rapid 5.7 seconds.
The electric vehicle’s energy is supplied by a robust 95 kWh battery, identical to that found in other E-Tron models, with a net capacity of 86.5 kWh. This battery pack comprises 27 modules, each containing 12 prismatic cells. Crucially, the battery serves a dual purpose as a significant structural component of the vehicle’s body, contributing to its overall rigidity and crashworthiness. It is engineered to be exceptionally robust and impact-resistant, with an integrated cooling system situated beneath the cell compartment.
Charging and Range
For charging, the E-Tron Sportback is equipped to handle DC fast charging at up to 150 kW via the CCS standard. This allows for a remarkable recovery of up to 80% of its battery capacity in under half an hour. According to WLTP testing cycles, Audi projects the Sportback to achieve a driving range of up to 277 miles.
Echoing the capabilities of the E-Tron SUV, the Sportback features an advanced regenerative braking system. This system can generate up to 0.3g of deceleration simply by lifting off the accelerator pedal and can recapture up to 220 kW of energy during braking. The braking system operates on a “brake-by-wire” principle, enhancing responsiveness and efficiency, with a hydraulic and mechanical connection serving as a failsafe.
Innovative Lighting Technology
A groundbreaking feature of the E-Tron Sportback is its adoption of digital matrix LED headlamps, a first for any production vehicle. Available on the top-tier models, these advanced headlamps project light in extremely fine “pixels,” with each acting as a miniature projector. Utilising micromirrors, these projectors can adjust their aim up to 5,000 times per second. This sophisticated lighting system not only functions as conventional headlights but can also actively highlight pedestrians detected by the vehicle’s sensors or create an illuminating “carpet of light” to assist the driver during lane changes. It is worth noting that, similar to the virtual mirrors found on the E-Tron SUV, these digital headlights are not yet approved for use in the U.S. market.
Design and Interior Space
The distinct roofline of the Sportback fundamentally alters its visual stance compared to the standard E-Tron SUV. Wheel and tire options range from 19 inches to a substantial 22 inches. The vehicle is equipped with an adaptive air suspension system that can elevate the ride height by up to 3 inches when required.
Assessing whether the Sportback achieves its intended balance depends significantly on user experience within the cabin. The interior mirrors the plush and technologically advanced environment of the E-Tron SUV, featuring a prominent 12.1-inch upper touchscreen and a lower 8.6-inch display, both with haptic feedback. Interior space remains largely comparable, with thoughtfully carved-out sections in the headliner designed to accommodate taller passengers. However, there is an undeniable reduction in rear headroom compared to the SUV. The actual seat height and floor positioning remain unchanged.
The Audi E-Tron Sportback is slated for its arrival at U.S. dealerships in the spring of 2020.