Audi’s e-tron Sportback Concept set to launch in 2019!

As I already said in one of my previous posts, Shanghai Auto Show is very interesting, and very versatile. To back that up we bring you a post about Audi’s second member of their all-electric vehicle family. What we are talking about here is the Audi e-tron Sportback Concept. The e-tron is basically a four-door grand tourer, a “coupe-style” liftback slated for production in 2019.

This is the second member of Audi’s EV lineup, and it is supposed to follow the 2018 intro of the first dedicated electric model—an SUV variant of the original Audi e-tron Quattro Concept which we saw first two years ago in Frankfurt. This mix of electric power, innovative styling cues, powerful and capable powertrain as well as loads of advanced tech can be all found in the new e-tron Sportback Concept which is supposed to ensure a 300+ miles per-charge range on the European NEDC cycle. Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG, Rupert Stadler commented the e-on Sportback Concept as “an important milepost for Audi along the road to electric mobility.”

The setup of the e-tron Quattro Concept will be transferred to the Sportback Concept, meaning a three motor setup that the German company plans to use in all of its future EV models. In the Sportback Concept, we have a single front-mounted and dual-rear units that combined offer an impressive output of 429 HP, which can be brought up to 496 HP in boost mode, as well as 590 lb-ft of torque. This amount of power is enough to allow sprint from 0-60 MPH in just 4.5 seconds, and it can hit the, electronically limited though, 130.5 MPH.

What feeds the electric motors and makes them tick is the liquid-cooled 95 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that is placed underneath the floor and right between the axles, in order to optimize weight distribution. The recharge is possible over the AC or high output 150 kW DC system (recharges up to 250 miles of range in about 30 mins), but Audi also developed the tech for wireless inductive charging capability for the vehicle.

To keep the Audi’s tradition, the Sportback Concept is built from a lightweight alloy and high-strength steel chassis and to preserve the driving comfort Audi slapped on adaptive air suspension that varies ride height by up to 2.5 inches to reduce drag at speeds. On top of that, we have Drive Select which uses a sophisticated Intelligent Drive management system that combines direct driver input and real-time navigation.

The exterior of the Sportback is supposed to reflect a bold new angle on the company’s design language which is seen on its prominent front end. Since this one doesn’t have the need for conventional air intake, company designers thought of a way to give the latest version of Audi’s single-frame grille a more visual role that is surrounded in black and framed by a Audi’s latest Digital Matrix lighting units that consists of hundreds of LEDs that offer numerous “animated movements and signatures.”

When you take a look at the side of the e-tron Sportback Concept, you will see hints of the A7 on steroids, but with its sweeping roofline and aggressive body lines as well as prominently flared fenders hosting show-spec 23-inch wheel/tire package, it kinda has something unique and unseen so far as well. Its back end is very well integrated into the rest of its body especially with those interesting LED lamp signature and a very functional lower diffuser.

Inside the Sportback Concept will boast with a lot of space and a 19.4 cu-ft cargo bay that can easily be expanded to 51.2 cu-ft with the rear seats folded. Since there are some outside design cues that it shares with the e-tron Quattro Concept, the interior will not be that different especially with the latest in Audi’s Virtual Cockpit instrumentation. But it will also offer us something unique, and that comes in the form of an additional dash display in front of the passenger seat which will show a number of different things like navigation data, weather information and outside temperature. Don’t think that Audi forgot about rear seat passenger comfort. No, they will enjoy a similar level of easy access to infotainment and climate controls which will be achievable over individual touch displays in the door shoulders. Classy isn’t it?! Nice one Audi, we can’t wait to see it live!