Audi has entered the electric vehicle game in Pakistan with the slogan “Electric has gone Audi” and displayed the e-tron Quattro SUV at Audi Pakistan’s Karachi showroom.
Audi’s foray in the world of electrified cars begins with the e-tron, a full-size luxury SUV that goes against the likes of Jaguar I-Pace, Mercedes EQC, and Tesla Model X.
First electric production of Audi, the e-tron is interested purely by battery power, foregoing combustion entirely it is powered by two electric motors, one at each axle: the two combine to deliver a maximum of 402HP and 561Nm of torque, as a result, the e-tron completes the 0-100km/h sprint in a sprightly 6.6s. These motors are kept juiced by a 95.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that gives the e-tron a WLTP rated range of 417km.
As for charging, the e-tron can make use of 150.0-kW DC fast-chargers that allow it to regain roughly 80km in 10 minutes and about 260km in 30 minutes. Those using a more conventional 240-volt outlet will be able to fully charge the e-tron in about nine hours.
The e-tron’s most impressive technology is its electrified systems, but the five-seat crossover also has a cutting-edge and practical cabin. Its dashboard is packed with multiple high-resolution screens that include Audi’s digital gauge cluster called Virtual Cockpit and two flush-mounted touchscreens in the center.
A head-up display and massaging front seats further round out the e-tron’s sophisticated interior. The lack of a traditional driveshaft or transmission benefits the cavernous cabin and cargo area, which measures 29 cubic feet behind the back row and 57 with the seatbacks folded flat.
As you might expect from a car of such prestige, the e-tron comes loaded with the latest technology and features: The e-tron’s infotainment system features dual touchscreens, with a 10.1-inch display on top and an 8.8-inch unit below it; Apple Carplay and Android Auto are optional, as is the Bang and Olufsen audio system. It also sports a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless charging.
With a myriad of safety and driver assistance technologies, Audi e-tron earned a five-star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and it was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IHSA). It is available with semi-autonomous driving aids such as adaptive cruise control, self-parking assist, forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, and lane-departure warning.
The e-tron Quattro is priced around the 1.55 Crore mark, certainly out of reach for many but expected of a tech tour-de-force Audi SUV.