At first glance, the e-tron S looks similar to the original e-tron SUV, however, look closer and you’ll find ‘S’ styling throughout. The front and rear bumpers feature pronounced contours and prominent inlets and the wheel arches are 23mm wider. The e-tron S also features silver detailing and aluminium mirror housings for a sporty aesthetic. Taking inspiration from the coupe for its body styling, the e-tron S Sportback adopts a sloping roofline for a slicker appearance. Its aerodynamic features allow for a drag coefficient of 0.26, whilst the e-tron S comes in at 0.28. 21” wheels are standard with the e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback, whilst 22” is optional. Six-piston calipers are painted in black as standard, featuring the ‘S’ logo, or you can opt for bright orange calipers with the e-tron insignia. Inside, the interior is finished in dark, sumptuous colours and materials including sport seats in fine nappa leather as standard. Flashes of brushed aluminium appear on the inserts, which can also be upgraded to carbon.
Features
Audi claims that the e-tron S is the first electric car in the world to have three motors: two on the rear axle and one at the front. For normal, day-to-day driving, only the rear motors are activated, sending torque to each wheel via single-speed transmission. For when you want more performance, the front electric motor also gets put to work. So what does this all mean? Sharp response and high precision. The e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback produce a peak power of 370kW (equivalent to around 500bhp) and 973Nm of torque which is available for 8-second boost periods. As a result, the electric SUV makes the 0-62mph sprint in just 4.5 seconds. The 95kWh battery has a range of up to 223 miles in the e-tron S, with the e-tron S Sportback coming in with an estimated range of 226 miles. Audi’s famous quattro all-wheel drive and intelligent drive control further enhances the e-tron S’ handling and agility, and the S-specific tuning of the adaptive air suspension can vary the height of the SUV by up to 76mm depending on the driving situation and which of the seven driving modes are in play. In Comfort mode, the e-tron S performs as a relaxing and practical family-friendly SUV, but shift it into Dynamic mode and the power and handling increases so much so that the e-tron S will drift.
Performance & Technology
As expected with Audi, the e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback both come with a suite of standard technology, including the MMI navigation plus and infotainment system, two large central displays and the Audi virtual cockpit with an electric-focused e-tron screen that can be selected by the driver. You can also throw in a head-up display, too. Handy charging tech includes the e-tron route planner, which displays the fastest route for individual journeys by taking into consideration a range of factors including available charging stops, and the directory of charging points is automatically updated every day.
Safety
The e-tron S has received a 5 star Euro NCAP safety training. Both the e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback have the option of Digital Matrix LED headlights, comprised of 1.3 million pixels for maximum brightness and a range of available functions. You can also opt for virtual exterior mirrors, which are replaced with cameras that relay your rear view onto the interior displays.
