Wayback Wednesday: E-Tron S Hits Us With 500HP Electric Ponies
German luxury carmaker Audi has just released some pretty exciting details around its E-Tron electric crossover. For one, it features a pretty aggressive design that does not in any way shape or form suggest this is the type of car you plug in. The company has also made some pretty bold decisions in regards to its motor and the result is a car that can hit nearly 500 horsepower.
Wait … did you say this electric crossover can hit 500 horsepower?
In normal driving conditions the E-Tron S produces a combined output of 420 HP and 596 lb-ft of torque. Nice, but the real headline here is centered on the car’s “S” drive mode option. This is a boost feature that can increase the car’s power up to 496 HP and 717.6 lb-ft of torque, and it can maintain this output for up to 8 seconds at a time. Utilizing the boost, the E-Tron can go from 0 to 60 MPH time in 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 130 MPH.
Source | Jalopnik
How did Audi achieve this kind of sorcery?
Plain and simple: some pretty smart engineers. Audi moved the car’s big motor from the rear-axle of the standard E-Tron model up to the front axle. With all of this new space now available, the engineers threw in two smaller electric motors on the rear axle to create a tri-motor layout. The aforementioned front-axle motor only activates when the driver pushes for more power, or when grip levels diminish.
Source | Jalopnik
>>Join the conversation about the E-Tron S right here in the Audi World Forum!
But it’s an electric motor – that means I need to wait for it to charge up before I can drive it.
Yes, technically this is the case. But according to Audi, it won’t take too long. Per a company release, it takes roughly 30 minutes for the E-Tron’s battery to from 5% to 80% state-of-charge when it’s plugged into a 150 kilowatt charger.
Source | Jalopnik
>>Join the conversation about the E-Tron S right here in the Audi World Forum!
How can the E-Tron handle this much power without ripping itself to shreds?
Again: engineering baby. An electric torque vectoring system, coupled with retuned progressive steering and adaptive suspension, all get supported with firmer bushings, larger stabilizer bars front and rear, and wider tires (now at 11.2 inches on all of the available 20, 21, and 22-inch wheel options). The result is supreme handling.
Source | Jalopnik
>>Join the conversation about the E-Tron S right here in the Audi World Forum!
Take my money!
Well, not just yet. Audi hasn’t come out with when the S versions would be available or how much more they’ll cost. But the company has been quick to hop up on the soapbox and state that the S models will be “the first electric cars worldwide with three motors in mass production.” The reason for such a quick proclamation around a car that doesn’t have a price tag to it yet? Tesla is working on a three-motor powertrain codenamed “Plaid” that will power the Model S, X, and second-generation Roadster; heck, it’ll probably even the Cybertruck. So it’s an arms race if you will, and if these power numbers continue to increase, it’ll be one worth following.
Source | Jalopnik
>>Join the conversation about the E-Tron S right here in the Audi World Forum!
for help with service of your car, check out the how to section of AudiWorld.com.
