• Audi releases the all-electric Audi e-tron 50 to sit alongside the Audi e-tron 55
• Two electric motors with total power of 230 kW and 540 Nm of torque
• Lithium-ion battery offers over 300km* range
• Arriving in New Zealand in March 2020, priced from $134,900.

We like the Audi e-tron, after going to the launch. Shortly, we’ll have a full review on the car. In big news for Audi, the e-tron has also made it onto the top ten list for Car Of The Year.

Hot on the heels of that news, Audi has relased a slightly cheaper version of the car, coming in at $134, 990. The next-cheapest version (the 55) comes in at $148,500.

The 100% electric model has two electric motors with an output
of 230 kW and 540 Nm of torque. With a gross energy content of 71 kWh, the battery provides a range of over 300 kilometres in the WLTP cycle.

Just like the model launched on the market earlier this year, the entry-level version also has an electric motor at the front and rear axles. With a combined total of 230 kW and 540 Nm of torque, they accelerate the electric SUV from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.0 seconds.

In order to achieve the highest efficiency, only the rear electric motor is active in most driving situations, while the front electric motor is activated predictively when needed.

“We are looking forward to adding the Audi e-tron 50 to the e-tron family. Like the e-tron 55 it’s infused with Audi’s legendary quattro DNA, delivering exhilarating performance and style.” said Audi New Zealand General Manager, Dean Sheed. “The Audi e-tron 50 with quattro technology
can conquer any terrain, leaving minimal footprint” he added.

The battery unit of the Audi e-tron 50 quattro comprises 324 prismatic cells combined in 27 modules. These store up to 71 kWh of energy – enough for a range of more than 300 kilometres in the WLTP cycle. The high efficiency can be attributed to the newly calibrated drivetrain and various optimisations to the high-voltage system. The lower gross weight, which also reduces running resistance, contributes to this as does the thermal management system with its standard thermal pump. This system regulates the temperature of the interior as well as the battery and cools the electric motors, the power electronics and the charger.

The Audi e-tron 50 quattro can be charged at public charging across the country with fast-charging available up to 120 kW at high-power charging station. This means that the electric SUV is all set for the next long-distance stretch of a journey in approximately 30 minutes. Audi also offers various charging options for at home or on the go. The vehicle’s mobile charging system can be used with a 230-volt household outlet or the recommended, 32-amp industrial plug via Audi’s home charging installation process.

Alternatively, the battery can be supplied with alternating current (AC) at a charging capacity up to 11 kW, which will take approximately seven hours.
Like the more powerful version of the electric SUV, the Audi e-tron 50 quattro also recuperates energy via its two electric motors, preferably the rear one, during more than 90 percent of all deceleration actions. This means that the energy from practically all normal braking manoeuvres
is recovered and fed back into the battery. The newly developed wheel brake system with electrohydraulic actuation is activated only above a deceleration of more than 0.3 g. According to Audi, this results in short braking distances in all situations. The standard efficiency assistant also helps the driver to adopt an economical driving style through automatic recuperation and predictive information in the Audi virtual cockpit. The system uses radar sensors, camera images, navigation data, and Carto-X information to detect the traffic environment and the route. In combination with the adaptive cruise assist, the efficiency assistant can also brake and accelerate the electric SUV predictively.

“The level of local customer interest for the Audi e-tron 55 has been outstanding, with our 2019 allocation already sold through” said Audi New Zealand, General Manager, Dean Sheed “We expect interest for the e-tron 50 model to follow in its big brothers’ footsteps” he added.

The Audi e-tron 50 quattro, which is being developed in the carbon-neutral plant in Brussels, can now be ordered in New Zealand, priced from $134,900, inclusive of a comprehensive 5-year / 150,000km manufacturer’s warranty, 3-year full motoring plan, plus 8-year/160,000km battery warranty all with transferability at the point of resale. This not only provides customers with absolute confidence in their Audi e-tron, but also peace of mind.

Additional information about the Audi e-tron 50 quattro is available at www.audi.co.nz/e-tron

Previous article2019 HSV Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 | Car Review
Next article2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Elite 2.2 diesel | Car Review
Fred Alvrez
How on earth to start this? I've been car/bike/truck crazy since I was a teen. Like John, I had the obligatory Countach poster on the wall. I guess I'm more officially into classic and muscle cars than anything else - I currently have a '65 Sunbeam Tiger that left the factory the same day as I left the hospital as a newborn with my mother. How could I not buy that car? In 2016 my wife and I drove across the USA in a brand-new Dodge Challenger, and then shipped it home. You can read more on www.usa2nz.co.nz. We did this again in 2019 in a 1990 Chev Corvette - you can read about that trip on DriveLife. I'm a driving instructor and an Observer for the Institute of Advanced Motorists - trying to do my bit to make our roads safer.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

 

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.