Closer look at Audi’s all-electric e-tron quattro prototype

Audi didn’t end up bringing the production e-tron quattro, which is expected to launch in Europe in just a few months, to the Geneva Auto show. However, the automaker did give us a closer look at its latest prototype and a glimpse at its development program.

The German automaker says that the e-tron quattro has “310 miles of range” on a 95 kWh battery pack, but Audi usually uses NEDC ratings for electric vehicle range. Therefore, real-world range or the EPA estimate should be closer to ~275 miles.

The all-electric SUV is also equipped with 3 electric motors for a total output of 320 kW and it is capable of DC fast-charging up to 150 kW.

Yesterday, we reported on Audi bringing a fleet of e-tron quattro prototypes to the streets of Geneva and encouraging people to chase the cars for pictures.

Now, the company has released some official pictures – giving us our best look so far at the latest prototype:

Audi says that it will have “almost 250 development vehicles” before the start of production later this year.

Those vehicles will have traveled “more than five million test kilometers (3,106,856 mi) on four continents”, according to the automaker.

They wrote:

“Until the first electric model of the brand with the four rings is launched at the end of the year, the sporty SUV will complete test drives on four continents. Whether in the cold of Scandinavia or the heat of Africa, in the mountainous altitudes of Asia or on the north loop of the Nürburgring, in the stop-and-go traffic of major Chinese cities or on American highways – the purely electrically powered SUV has to prove its all-round qualities in uncompromising practical tests under extreme conditions. Audi is testing the pre-series vehicles for customer-focused operation in all climate zones ranging from below -20 to above +50 degrees Celsius (-4° to +122° F). In addition, intensive tests of the charging technology are being conducted worldwide – an important safeguarding criterion for battery-electric models. The individual charging standards are tested on proving grounds and in public areas to validate the full range of different charging options. In total, just under 250 Audi e-tron prototypes are used in the tests. They will cover more than five million kilometers (3,106,856 mi) – roughly equivalent to 125 times around the earth and 85,000 hours on the road.”

While their development program seems to be going well, it looks like they will be beaten to market in the segment by the new Jaguar I-Pace.

The car is set to enter production at Audi’s carbon-neutral plant in Brussels in the next few months in order for deliveries to start in the European market at “the end of 2018.”