Audi’s new electric platform debuts

The PPE underpinning used by the stylish e-tron A6 concept is crucial for this make and Porsche.

THE soon-to-land e-tron GT sedan and its RS flagship are good reminders that Audi’s electric brand isn’t just about sports utilities – but just in case that message hasn’t resonated, here’s another passenger car concept that enforces it all the more.

The e-tron A6 styling study revealed by the brand doesn’t just serve to preview how the next generation of large Audis will look – which, in this instance, is sedan-ish but with a dollop of influence from the A7 Sportback. It is also a debut for a new electric platform designed specifically for bigger models.

In respect to exterior dimension, the A6 e-tron is very similar in size to the current Audi A6 and A7, though the concept's wheelbase is longer, and the overhangs shorter. Audi has dropped fat hints that these proportions will make it through to production.

Audi has only released images of the exterior. The display car rides on five-spoke, 22-inch alloy wheels, has cameras instead of door mirrors and no visible door handles. Dig the flared arches and an interesting black design element that breaks up the 'Heliosilver' paint and stylishly links in with another black section in the rear bumper.

Viewed from the rear, a significant diffuser can also be seen. It's part of a suite of aerodynamic measures to reduce drag. Audi quotes a coefficient of just 0.22.

The A6 e-tron's head lights use Digital Matrix LED technology and can even project a high-resolution display onto a wall or screen in front of the car. To demonstrate this, Audi has created a smartphone game that can be played on the projected screen. The lights can also maximise illumination of the road ahead without blinding other road users, and project various symbols and patterns to enhance safety.

The tail lights use digital OLED tech, allowing customisable light signatures and start-up light shows in 3D. Indicators are also high-res LED projectors, with the ability to project signals onto the road. Projectors are integrated into each side sill, to display welcome messages.

The most important aspect of the A6 e-tron is one you can’t see. The car is on the new PPE - Premium Platform Electric – underpinning which designed for large Audi and Porsche electric cars. Production models using PPE roll out in late 2022. It’s thought the first will be the Audi Q6 e-tron SUV, followed by an A6 e-tron in 2023.

The concept's battery pack is said to hold about 100kWh of energy, fuelling an electric motor on each axle. Maximum outputs are quoted as 350kW and 800Nm of torque.

Audi says that the most powerful versions of the A6 e-tron will do 0-100kmh in less than four seconds, while the most efficient models, using just one rear-mounted electric motor, should achieve more than 700 kilometres on a charge.

Like the e-tron GT and RS, the PPE cars will use an 800-volt architecture, allowing rapid charging at up to 270kW.

Thought is that other PPE cars in the Audi pipeline will include an A4 e-tron, a Q5 e-tron, a Q7/Q8 e-tron and perhaps an electric A8 e-tron.

Q4 e-Tron unveiled but not close

NZ not prioritised for Audi’s tasty medium crossover.

INTRODUCTION here of the Audi Q4 e-Tron unveiled overnight has been blown apart by the same issue that has delayed sister cars – maker determination other countries are initially more deserving.

Forget the early 2022 timeframe touted previously by Audi New Zealand. Local boss Dean Sheed says any hope of that occurring has gone. At very best the new crossover model, set to hit Europe’s roads in June, ‘might’ be available for launch here at the end of next year, though it could yet have to be a 2023 sighting.

“It definitely won’t be early 2022 … it will be late 2022. At the earliest. Potentially even flipping it to early 2023 is a possibility. We are down the pecking order and the challenge is securing volume.”

It’s a story that also already been told for two close cousins, the Volkswagen ID4 and Skoda Enyaq and seems increasingly likely to be aired for two others indicated for eventual NZ availability, the next-generation Porsche Macan and the SEAT/Cupra Born. 

In addition to being Audi’s seventh electric vehicle the Q4 it is also the first on the MEB platform, the structure upon which all key VW Group electric vehicles set for NZ introduction are based.

Basically, when it comes to the release of MEB models, VW Group is calling the shots.

 New Zealand does not have priority – as much as anything else, Sheed believes, it’s because VW Group has decided our national policies are not up to the pace of other countries pushing electric car adoption.

Audi NZ has been promoting the early 2022 release schedule for Q4 for some time and some months ago began to back that up with a viral warm-up campaign, now seemingly shelved.

With three powertrain options, offering up to 520km of range, and in sports utility wagon and more rakish, also five-door, Sportback body stylings, the Q4 has long been touted as being the model that would achieve as a best-seller for Audi.

The new car will sit below the e-tron in wagon and Sportback styles, the impending S editions of those, plus the more performance-oriented e-tron GT, which shares an underpinning with the Porsche Taycan and includes an RS edition.

Sheed says it’s a disappointment not achieving Q4 to the original timeframe because a lot of groundwork for its release has been laid by his brand, but fact is that VW is giving preference to countries that have a stronger Green attitude and are doing more to encourage electric vehicles.

“A lot of the volume is going to the countries with legislation and requirements for CO2 (reduction). Our country doesn’t have those yet so we are down the pecking order.

“With these (MEB) cars, demand is in excess of supply. So it comes down to rationing … VW Group has to prioritise and those countries with very strong Governmental pressure typically get the product first.

“So it’s Europe first and then they will go outside that to other countries.

“Are we (Audi NZ) ready for it? Absolutely are. However, when it comes down to prioritisation, the Government and the country does not have a sound pathway yet.”

While MEB-based cars are particularly affected, he believes this issue will also disrupt availability of many other EVs and potentially also plug-in hybrids.

However, the e-Tron GT and RS cars that will go on sale in June are not affected, being on an Audi (and Porsche)-specific platform. Also, product planning for those was signed off months ago the factory has begun production of NZ models.

The Q4 family is headed by a 50 Quattro, offering 220kW and 460Nm through dual electric motors, sending power to all four wheels for a 0-100kmh time of 6.2 seconds. It also involves an entry-level 125kW/310Nm Q4 E-Tron 35 and mid-spec 150kW/310Nm Q4 E-Tron 40. These use a single electric motor to power the rear wheels, for 0-100kmh times of between 9.0 and 8.5 seconds depending on the variant chosen. 

Audi quotes 341km of range from the E-Tron 35's 52kWh battery on the WLTP cycle. The E-Tron 40 and 50 Quattro have a 77kWh battery pack offering 520km and 488km of range respectively.

The E-Tron 35 can support fast charging up to 100kW, with 125kW charging available to the 40 and 50 Quattro models. The company says in ideal conditions, the E-Tron 40 can gain 130km of range in around 10 minutes of charging. 

The SUV body is 4590mm long, 1865mm wide, and 1613mm tall. Boot space is 520 litres, or 1490 litres with second-row seats folded down. The SUV shape has a drag coefficient of 0.28, whereas the Sportback variant has a 0.26 Cd signature.

The car runs disc front and drum rear brakes; the latter is to enable a regeneration cycle from the rear electric motor under braking, meaning less mechanical braking force is required.

The provisions to expected luxury level. It rides on 20 or 21 inch wheels and provisions a 10.1-inch infotainment screen with voice control, with an 11.6-inch screen as an option. The driver gets a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with an augmented-reality head-up display.

Buyers can also choose from nine equipment packages, each offering different trims, accents, stitching, headlining, and door sill combinations.

Those who opt for the sportier S Line interior can choose between standard natural/synthetic combination leather, premium nappa leather, Dinamica artificial suede, and Puls artificial leather – the latter two which are created from recycled plastics.

Haptic-touch buttons feature on the steering wheel, while seat heating, ventilation, and massage function can figure.

Q4 e-tron set to deliver tech edge

An augmented reality head-up display is among snazzy new features on incoming Audi.

AUDI has allowed a sneak peek of what will likely become its most important new electric car of the immediate future, the Q4 e-tron – not just at its styling but also at some of the technology.

In respect to the electronic whizz-bangs, there’s particular pride in a new head-up display landing with a model that Audi New Zealand has previously said is intended be fully settled in by early 2022 to sit below the e-tron in wagon and Sportback styles, the impending S editions of those, plus the more performance-oriented e-tron GT, which shares an underpinning with the Porsche Taycan and includes an RS edition. 

This is regardless that other NZ-destined cars on the MEB platform (VW ID.4, Skoda Enyaq and SEAT El-Born) have all been significantly delayed for local introduction because of VW Group’s desire to satisfy demand in Europe before releasing them elsewhere.

Anyway, if things change for the Q4 e-tron, Audi’s first MEB car, we’ll let you know.

Back to the tech. Projecting information such as speed and navigation directions onto the windscreen so that the images seem to be hovering somewhere over the bonnet, and the driver can keep their eye up and out on the road, rather than looking down at an instrument panel, is nothing new.

Audi is now taking that to the next level, in two ways.

First, it has vastly increased the size of the projection. The HUD in the Q4 appears to be 178cm (70 inches) across. 

Secondly, it’s relaying much more than the usual basics. New prompts that appear to float in space around 10 metres in front of the car include a navigation direction graphic - a series of bright blue chevrons - that point you down the right turning, or pick out your final destination.

It can also keep an eye on other traffic, warning with little red or green lines if you're too close to the car in front, and even predicting where other cars are going to go next, by reading the car's 'body language.' The lane keep assist function gains a visual element by showcasing the position of the Q4’s wheel tracks on the road ahead.  

Worried this could become too distracting? Audi’s engineers involved in this project say the exact opposite is their goal: "The data itself is chosen to be contextual and situational.  

“So actually we don't want to overload the driver with a lot of information. The meaning of augmented reality and the use of it is to show the information you need, when you need it. And this is exactly what we're doing.” 

The tech upgrade doesn’t there. The main touchscreen in the centre console is, at 29.5cm (11.6 inches) across, one of the biggest screen Audi has yet put into one of its cars. The Q4 e-tron also lacks a gearstick and achieves a funky new steering wheel, flattened off at the top and bottom, featuring touch-sensitive haptic pads on the spokes instead of traditional buttons and roller switches.

At 4590mm long, 1865mm wide and 1,613mm tall, Q4 e-tron appears similar in physical size to the Audi Q3, regardless it is intended to slot between that car and the Q5 and despite but the wheelbase being long, at 2760mm. 

The benefits of being on the MEB architecture is that will be a lot roomier that the compact and medium orthodox ‘Q’ models: Some who have seen the car already say it has the kind of space you'd expect from the Audi Q7,  with lots of rear legroom and stadium-style seating in the back.

What it doesn't have is a seven-seat option. Does this seem odd, given that it has a massive 541-litre boot (with a 40:20:20 split rear bench opening up 1490 litres with the rear seats folded down) and also, of course, three-row formats are popular with consumers. Audi has indicated only that a dedicated seven-seat electric car is on the way, but is vague in respect to that model being part of this family. One other point of interest is that this model eschews a 'frunk' under-bonnet storage area; that space has been filled by ancillary systems, such as the air conditioning unit, to maximise cabin space.

 Audi intends to keep the Q4 e-tron’s shape wrapped in camo tape until next month, however it’s surely quite obvious the car in today’s images still roughly matches the original Q4 concept, in general dimension and look, with many of the production vehicle’s surfacing and lines are taken directly from the concept. The obvious revisions cited by overseas’ media are changes to conventional side skirts, smaller vents at the front, a toned-down rear diffuser and smaller wheels. 

Drivetrain specifications have not been revealed, but it will share the same range of electric motors and battery packs as the ID.4, with a range topping quattro variant sporting a 225kW twin-motor, four-wheel-drive powertrain and a 77kWh (usable) battery. A 0-100kmh time of around six seconds, a top speed of 180kmh and a maximum WLTP range of 500km are expected.

E-Tron GT and RS racing to NZ

The sporty electric that represents the ultimate Audi brand statement and the start of a new era could well be just four months away.

UNVEILED fully today in all its four door coupe glory and potentially on sale here as early as June – Audi’s near-twin to the Porsche Taycan electric car is wasting no time making its big trip to New Zealand.

As previously reported the new all-electric four-door will be offered in two configurations – an entry-level Quattro variant, the grey car pictured, and top-spec RS, seen in a dark hue.

Local pricing and our market’s specifications have yet to be shared by Audi NZ, but at technical level the variants roughly align with the Taycan 4S and Turbo respectively.

Porsche’s cars cost from $203,900 and $289,900 but there’s nothing to suggest the Audi’s will be lineball – quite potentially, there could considerable air between them.

The GT is Audi’s fastest car since the combustion-engined R8 and the flagship is the first electric car from Ingolstadt’s famous RS division. 

Both versions send power to all four wheels, thanks to an electric motor on each axle, and have plenty of spark. 

In normal driving mode the Quattro derives 350kW/630Nm from its dual axle-mounted motors, whereas the RS has a claimed output of 440kW/830Nm.

Engaging the launch control function lends both a brief but significant power bump off the line – the Quattro has 390kW for up to 2.5 seconds, while the RS achieves 475kW for the same duration.

This feature allows the Quattro variant to accelerate from 0–100kmh in a claimed 4.1 seconds on the way to a top speed of 245kmh, Audi’s media information says. 

The RS completes the sprint in a claimed 3.3 seconds and tops out at 250kmh.

Both models run with an 85kWh lithium-ion battery, with an estimated real world range of 488km.

Keeping the performance in check is a comprehensive suite of chassis technology.

The GT gets adaptive damping as standard, while the RS model adds air suspension and an active rear differential.  

All-wheel steering is optional on both, as are carbon ceramic brake discs. The RS version does get tungsten carbide coated discs by default. Under braking, the electric motors provide approximately 0.3 g of regenerative deceleration, which Audi says can achieve a maximum recuperation of 265kW.

 The GT offers with 19-inch rims, but can be optioned to adopt the 21 inchers the RS runs with.

The car is 4990mm long but also low, with a height of just 1410mm. The body is 1960mm wide (not including mirrors), and Audi says the overall shape has a drag coefficient of just 0.24.

The standard cabin features leather-free "sustainable" upholstery, while a leather package can also be optioned.  The cabin uses some of the current Audi switchgear and detailing, but it debuts a lovely new steering wheel and has a simpler centre stack than some models in the range.

A stepped battery layout under the floor has been designed to maximise cabin space, while boot capacity sits at 405 litres. 

The Pre Sense Front and Pre Sense Basic safety systems are fitted as standard on both models, as is lane departure warning. Three optional safety packages are on offer, these being “Tour,” “City,” and “Park.”

Matrix LED headlights are fitted as standard on the RS E-Tron GT and offered as an option on the E-Tron GT Quattro, while Audi’s laser light high beam feature can also be specified on either model. It’s not clear if the camera rear vision mirrors that debuted on the e-tron SUV as an option carry to the GT.

In a brief comment, Audi NZ described the GT as being “a demonstration of how fascinating and exciting electric mobility is – the start of a new era, the Gran Turismo of the future.” It says the car will be here mid-year.

With coronavirus making the usual glam international media launch impossible, Audi ran its launch as a video presentation. That’s included here. There’s a fair bit of chat, but also some interesting video of the cars in action, including a sprint between a Formula E racing car and the RS GT, the latter driven by Nico Rosberg.

Audi’s hot electric uncovered

Spanish website gives preview ahead of official reveal.

SCHEDULED for an unofficial global unwrap tomorrow, Audi’s much anticipated rival to the Tesla Model S has surfaced online ahead of that timeline.

The E-Tron GT electric sedan surfaced on social media with images of what appears to be the completely showroom-ready example published on Spanish car enthusiast community Cochespias.

The GT has been seen camouflaged form under testing, and a concept was displayed by the Volkswagen Group brand in 2018, but this might well be the first look of the car as it will avail to buyers.

Kiwis might have particular excitement, as New Zealand seems set to be an early adopter of the performance-focused four-door coupé, which combines enough rapid performance with rapid charging to match the platform-sharing Porsche Taycan, whose supercar-slaying stomp has won global acclaim.

Audi NZ has signalled the first electric out of Audi that’s been purpose-designed to specifically appeal to the marque’s petrolhead audience, especially fervent in this country, will come here from mid-year.

 It is set to present in the guise seen here and also as a full-blown RS model, the latter being the first electric car from Ingolstadt’s performance tuning operation. Audi appears to have successfully kept the production look of that flagship, seen below during testing, under wraps.

Last October Audi NZ boss Dean Sheed explained to MotoringNZ why he’s comfortable promoting these cars to revheads presently driving fossil-fuelled S and RS models.  

“We’ll definitely be talking to them because they are right in the sweet spot. The reason I say that is because this is the first complete car from Audi Sport … it has a huge credibility and it just happens to also be electric.”

Will the old-school buy into the new way? Sheed reckons he can talk most around to at least thinking about it.

“When people see it, when they understand the technology and when they find out how it drives .. well, they’re going to want it.”

The hero variant is powered by a 440kW/830Nm electric system that will power it to 100kmh in less than 3.5 seconds – thanks to a 475kW output in overboost mode. 

Media says this pales in comparison to the new ‘Plaid’ variants in the most recently updated Tesla Model S, however, which promise 0-100km/h times from 3.2 seconds and right down to “less than 2.0 seconds”. 

Driving range for the E-Tron – at least in RS form – is expected to come in at around 400 kilometres on the WLTP measure, thanks to an 83.7kWh (93kWh gross) battery pack. 

Audi’s baby Q joins plug-in hybrid gang

No word yet about NZ introduction timing.

THE SMALLEST offer in Audi’s sports utility portfolio has joined the plug-in hybrid club.

There’s no word from Audi New Zealand about when the Q3 TFSIe will become available here, but it goes on sale in Europe in March. 

The new edition uses a 1.4 TSI turbo petrol engine aided by an 85kW electric motor.

Power for the electric half of the drivetrain comes from a 13kWh battery, which when fully-charged gives the Q3 TFSIe an electric-only range of 51km on the WLTP cycle. Combined power is 182kW, with 400Nm of torque, and Audi claims a 0-100km/h time of 7.3 seconds.

The plug-in hybrid tech is available in both the standard Q3 and in the Q3 Sportback and is badged as a '45 TFSIe' in current Audi badging-speak.

Audi claims both return figures of 32 to 39g/km of CO2 and fuel economy of 1.4 litres per 100km.

The Q3 plug-in’s commitment to eco-minded motoring is quite pronounced. It will always start-up in electric mode unless it's in very cold conditions and, when running in 'Auto Hybrid' mode, an engine-off coasting feature will often enact, which helps to save a little extra fuel. The computers that decide how best to juggle electric and petrol power can also take info from the sat-nav to predict how best to deploy that power. 

There is, of course, the option to charge the battery while driving, and there's an S setting for the gearbox which allows brief bursts of maximum torque, gauged to be 330Nm, released from the electric motor for hard acceleration.

Audi suggests the brake energy recuperation system can recover 40kW of power during braking. Charging from a home socket with 3.6kW output, the Q3's battery can be recharged in just under four hours, and you can use the MyAudi smartphone app to monitor and schedule that charging.

The battery pack does impact on boot space – Audi cites it at 380 litres – but the cabin and exterior styling are essentially unchanged, aside from the addition of an extra cover for the charging point.

PM's diesel limo parked up for electric alternate

Black day for BMW as Ardern pulls the plug on her diesel Seven limo and goes for an electric Audi.

Audi NZ boss Dean Sheed, pictured at the E-Tron’s launch last year, says one of the three cars signed up for Government VIP use will be Auckland-based and has been checked out for suitability to carry a baby seat.

AUDI’s flagship electric model could well have bumped a BMW diesel as Jacinda Ardern’s choice of state-provisioned home town ride – with her toddler likely also set to enjoy the car’s Green vibe.

Government’s historic step up to wholly battery-driven cars as VIP transport has just been confirmed by Audi New Zealand. 

The distributor says three examples of its plush five-seater sports utility-formatted and wholly battery-reliant E-Tron in swishest $156,000 ‘55’ format have been accepted onto the fleet of limos provisioned for highest-level state duties, meaning they are silver, Crown-plated and chauffeur-driven. 

The cars’ permanent sign-on came after months of trial when they were measured up again the incumbent provision; BMW’s turbodiesel Seven Series.

Audi has been an approved Government fleet supplier for several years, but never at this level.

It is hoping to enlarge the imprint soon, as it seems a tender seeking a replacement for the entire fleet of VIP product is about to be called. 

That procurement process is run by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

While two of the E-Trons are being retained in the capital, primarily to shuttle ministers from the Beehive to Wellington airport, the third is based in the Prime Minister’s home town and it seems set to become to her priority work car.

While coy to offer too much insight, Audi New Zealand’s boss, Dean Sheed, let slip when discussing the arrangement that a request specific to the Auckland car is that it is fully sorted to accommodate a baby seat.

Ms Ardern and her partner, Clarke Gayford, have a daughter, Neve Ardern Gayford, who turned two in June. The PM is not unfamiliar with electric cars as she already drives a Hyundai Ioniq EV.

Mr Sheed said today that feedback about the E-Trons “has been positive for all parties.”

While he did not name BMW directly, he said the Audis had replaced “three current  diesel long-wheelbase sedans” and that more of those cars were set to be replaced.

“They are trialling alternatives to optimise their fleet mix. We are putting our hand up to supply more E-Trons.”

The PM need not imagine her new ride is only suited to urban driving - the E-Tron’s SUV credentials allow it to explore into the most remote electorates.

The Government recently said it now has 18 vehicle suppliers on the motor vehicles contract with 14 of those being able to provide EVs for purchase to meet all-of-Government fleet potentials, which span all Government agency usages. 

In a press comment about this delivered in October, it said: “The new catalogue offers Government agencies the choice of 19 models of battery EVs available, an increase of 9 more models. There will also be 11 models of plug in hybrid EVs added onto the panel.”

Audi’s deal has especially huge kudos – Government VIP fleet contracts are highly valued and the other German premium brands generally enjoy more success globally.

BMW New Zealand has met the contract to supply limos for a decade with the biggest and most expensive sedan it makes, across two contract periods, the second time delivering a variant specially-created to suit the Government’s tastes. The cost of those cars has never been disclosed, however it has always been assumed they were availed at a price significantly below any recommended retail.

The Sevens were chosen on strength of being vastly more economical than the petrol-dedicated Ford Fairlanes that held the job for years. The current contract was cemented in 2016 and picked up 32 examples of the BMW 730Ld (3.0-litre turbo diesel, long-wheelbase), with two models from the previous fleet being retained. They were understood to be cars built to a high security level. MBIE said then that all the vehicles were leased rather than purchased.

However, issues such as Dieselgate and the emergent concern about the carcinogenic properties of diesel particulates has blackened the Sevens’ standing.

On top of this, Government expressed determination two years ago to go electric whenever possible as it work toward a stated ideal of an emissions-free fleet. 

BMW NZ cannot fulfil that dream. 

It has a number of plug-in electric cars, that use limited battery impetus but still rely on petrol engines for primary motivation, here but so far its wholly electric spearhead is represented by two small city cars - the i3 that’s almost at the end of its production life and the Mini-E. It will soon also have an all-electric version of the X3 compact crossover here.

An electric Seven is under development, but has yet to reach production, whereas the E-Tron has been on sale here for a year.

* Subsequent to this story’s publication, the Department of Internal Affairs has notified that “The Audi e-tron is part of the overall Crown fleet and is not dedicated to the Prime Minister.”

RS and S today, E-tron GT and S tomorrow?

Are you ready to say auf wiedersehen to performance petrol engines? Audi NZ’s push to point purists toward an electric future is about to kick off.

E-tron GT is expected to stay true to the styling presented by the same-named concept here.

INTENT to steer Kiwis away from their fossil fuel-frenzied Audis and toward full fizz electric equivalents is about to step up.

The trigger is the E-tron GT, a performance-focused four-door coupé combining enough rapid performance with rapid charging to match the platform-sharing Porsche Taycan, whose supercar-slaying stomp has won global acclaim.

 The first electric out of Audi that’s been purpose-designed to specifically appeal to the marque’s petrolhead audience, especially fervent in this country, is a confirmed starter here.

 The model received mention at today’s media event for the E-Tron Sportback, a $169,990 car that’s also set to develop into an S-badged flagship that’ll also represent in the SUV bodystyle that’s been here for a year.

Audi NZ boss Dean Sheed also shared why he’s comfortable promoting all three future additions with revheads presently driving fossil-fuelled S and RS models. 

“We’ll definitely be talking to them because they are right in the sweet spot. The reason I say that is because this is the first complete car from Audi Sport … it has a huge credibility and it just happens to also be electric.”

Will the old-school buy into the new way? Sheed reckons he can talk most around to at least thinking about it.

“When people see it, when they understand the technology and when they find out how it drives .. well, they’re going to want it.”

The GT won’t be here until mid-2021 and the S derivatives are likely to land in the third quarter, yet the hearts and minds campaign starts in January.

 The GT’s full development path is exciting, with high certainty it will ultimately achieve RennSport accreditation, so becoming the first non fuel pump-reliant RS car ever. That breakthrough might occur in 2022.

Those S models and the GT in its initial roll out won’t be lacking, either.

Whereas the mainstream E-Tron SUV that has been here since last year and the new Sportback that releases this week run dual motors, and offer power and torque of 300kW and 664Nm (there’s also a base E-Tron SUV with 230kW and 540Nm), the S editions are the world’s first EVs with three motors – one of the front and two in the back – and pack 370kW and 973Nm.

A cited 0-100kmh time of 4.5 seconds places the models as the second fastest S models Audi presently makes, beaten only by the petrol-gulping S8 sedan. Top speed is regulated to 210kmh.

As for the GT? Outputs have yet to be given, but Taycan presumably gives a good idea of what’s in store and Audi has already made clear that even if some GTs are dual motor like the Taycan, the RS will provide with three as well. 

Porsche’s model line spans from a 4S with 320kW (390kW on overboost) and 640Nm, a Turbo with 460-500kW and a flagship Turbo S with up to 560kW. Zero to 100 times range from 4.2 to just 2.8 seconds.

Talk overseas is that the GT RS will pack no more than 522kW, so as not overshadow the top trumps Porsche. For his part, Sheed assures the car will be comfortably quicker and gruntier than the E-Tron S and will also serve up with varying levels of hotness.

“We have not made up our minds which ones we will take yet but, if you have an S car with around 370kW, we are unlikely to a GT at the same level. We will likely go with a hot car and an even hotter car.”

The e-tron Sportback (above) that has just gone on sale here now will be joined by a S variant in 2021 that makes history as the world’s first tri-motor electric car.

He acknowledges Audi NZ has enjoyed massive success with its S and RS badged models. RS penetration here is world-leading on a per head of population count.

A wide span of more than a dozen models – not just the traditional passenger models, but also sports utilities from the Q3 up to the Q8 – are presently leveraging that interest, with more than 200 registered this year alone.

Yet times are changing. While some have 48 volt electrical architectures that alleviate some fuel burn burden, all these heavy hitters rely on souped up petrol engines – from fours to also turbocharged V6s, V8s, plus a V10 - that are the biggest drinkers within their respective model families.

That actually raises another point. When it comes to range, most of Audi’s electrics will prove superior to some of the big banger petrols; the GT, for instance, is expected to arrive with a 96kWh battery that delivers a respectable 400km electric range on the official WLTP test cycle. Try getting that far in an RSQ8.

Sheed isn’t sure the argument needs be that direct. “You can burn a lot of petrol and diesel in any car … we’re just talking about using another fuel type and it happens to be electricity.

“The cool thing about EV technology is that you can ‘refuel’ your car overnight and your running costs are an absolute fraction of what you would normally have.”

Alternately, an 80 percent charge should be possible in as little as 20 minutes if you can find a rapid charger that allows the car to absorb energy at its maximum 350kW rate. Present E-trons replenish at a maximum 150kW.

Dynamics-wise? Even though EVS carry lots of weight, they need not be elephantine.

“You can also do all the things you might enjoy doing in an ICE (internal combustion) car,” Sheed says, pointing out that as well as being massively accelerative, the S models and GT are tailored to undertake drifting naughtiness.

That close relationship with the Taycan also suggests that the handling should be pretty special, as does the fact the battery occupies the entire underfloor area between the front and rear axles.

This helps to give the car a centre of gravity comparable with the Audi R8 supercar which, ironically, is set to be the other model rolling out of the Neckarsulm factory that will host GT production.

Plus, there’s an additional feel-good: “If you’re focussed on sustainability and on wanting to leave the world in a better place … well, there is one clear choice.” 

Audi has not signalled intent here or internationally to curtail any of its combustion-engined performance models, but simply the VW Group’s determination to leave ICE behind for an electric future says everything.

Sheed says moves in the United Kingdom and Europe to make the sale of ICE models illegal from as early as 2030 are obviously being noted by makers. The NZ scene is obviously influenced by that, yet of course there’s yet to be direction from Government about fleet intention so “without clear direction … we have no plan.”

However change is unavoidable. “I understand why people are petrol heads and I started life that way, too.

“But I understand where the electrical strategy is and I understand how good an EV can be. If I had a future view about leaving our wonderful country in a better place, my choice is electric.”

Audi NZ has not yet shared specific volume expectation for GT, which stands as the brand’s fifth production-confirmed electric car. Two others that have been made public, the Q4 E-Tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback, are coming to NZ at the start of 2022.

The GT’s finished design is set to be revealed soon, but pictures of camouflaged prototypes suggest that it won’t stray far from the 2018 concept car of the same name.

One last thing. The sound signature: Nothing beats the roar of a performance petrol engine, right? Well, true, electrics cannot emulate that level of noise, but Audi promises the GT will be pleasing to the purist ear. A team of sound engineers have, through blending combinations of 32 different audio tracks, created what they claim will be ‘one of the most aurally active’ EVs on the market.