The Audi e-tron Sportback would be Audi’s first all electrical vehicle that is available in Dubai. If you’ve been waiting for an electric vehicle with an Audi experience, then they’ve got it for you now. Audi is now expanding their all-electric series by introducing many more models in the near future. The drive has not been compromised by moving to electric but rather it is an overall new experience being in one and feeling an all-electric vehicle. The future is definitely electric and Audi seems to be clear about their vision. The Audi e-tron Sportback represents the future that you can expect from Audi. The Audi e-tron Sportback comes with their innovative technology such as the option of virtual exterior mirrors that project images into the vehicle via a small camera, interior digital technologies such as the Audi virtual cockpit and MMI support enhance functionality. The e-tron that we test drove could give an output equivalent to 265 hp which is executed by two powerful electric motors underneath. The starting price for an e-tron sportback would be around AED 375,000 and the vehicle being reviewed with additional equipment is around AED 445,725. Mileage is quite less for a full charge which gave only around 320kms at an average.
e-tron Specification
- Transmission 1 speed
- Output – 265HP
- Top Speed – 200
- Acceleration 0-100 km/h (seconds) – 6.6s
- Electric power consumption (combined) (KWh/100 km) – 25.8 –21.6 (WLTP)
- Electrical range, combined (km) – 373-452 (WLTP)
Exterior Design
The Audi e-tron Sportback has an athletic sill with a sloping back roof line which gives it a sportier look. The front LED headlights is sleek and give is it a bold look. The octagonal-design Single frame grille is now partially closed since there isn’t any engine inside which needs cooling, the only space is to allow air flow is for better aerodynamics. You open the hood and you find storage space this time. An optional panoramic glass roof ensures a pleasant, light-flooded interior.
Virtual Mirror
Audi is always fast forward when it comes to technology and one of the latest innovation they have introduced would be their eye catching virtual side mirrors. In reality there isn’t any mirror but a digital camera that would capture and relay the image inside the vehicle for the driver. Many people have stopped by the vehicle, just wondering how does the driver see through these physical side arm when actually there isn’t any mirror visible. It’s the first of a kind actually. A tiny camera that digitally process and display into a 1200 x 800-pixel OLED side display which is available on the both inner sides of the front door. There are some advantage and disadvantage with these so called cool looking virtual mirrors.
- The camera and the display is continuously switched ON from the time you switch on the vehicle which is continuous use of power, not a good idea when you want to save as much as power in an all-electric vehicle.
- Any damage or technical issue with the camera and you won’t have a side view.
- Placement of the screen is even lower as opposed to the original side view mirrors, so the driver has a moment of blind view of the front view while he looks into the lower side screen.
- The side screen performs well even in the dark which gives a better view than traditional mirrors.
Charging
- You need a charging cable and DEWA issued charging card.
- You need to find a type 2 charging station
- A full charge will need upto 7 hours(normal charging) and gives only a mileage of about 320 kms.
Finding a public charging station for the vehicle is an important one to know. One thing I noticed was that it wasn’t easy to find an available charging port in malls. If you get one in a mall such as Dubai Mall or City Centre consider lucky. Firstly you can search for available charging stations from within the car navigation system, but I noticed it doesn’t show all charging stations available in the city. The best way to find a charging station is by using the plugshare app which is available on Android and IOS. Having apple car play built in, you can then have the app play over the vehicle’s MMI interface. You need to be looking out for TYPE 2 charging stations as other types including TESLA port would not work for an Audi e-tron. The e-tron has two sides for charging and one of the side has additional pins for fast charging. There were 2 types of charging cable in the vehicle. One had a 3 pin for charging which is to be used only in emergency at homes where you don’t have an adequate charging station for an electrical vehicle. This would be the slowest charging method and can take days for a full charge from 0. The other is a standard cable which can be used across any public charging station which is usually provided along with the vehicle. You can also use the myAudi app to monitor the charging process for your e-tron Sportback.
Cockpit
The center of the e-tron has an attraction of it’s own. Starting with sleek aluminium gear shifter which is like never seen before. A flat metal block resting on a palm rest. You just simply push up or down with your finger to change the gear level. Just above the gear shift is the palm rest. There is lot of space between the armrest and the palm rest. This would be where you find the cup holders and wireless charging for your phone. Wireless charging is better in the e-tron considering the phone can never slip from its wireless charging position because it’s clipped to the wireless charging surface. There also exist standard ports which would include USB type A, SD card and even a sim card slot for data connectivity.
Interior
The interior of this vehicle is just wonderful. Especially the gray natural wood finish on the dashboard. The wooden panel is wide and you can easily feel the wood grain when you put your hands on the wood which makes it feel natural and with padding of adequate leather everywhere in the vehicle, makes the car feel more luxurious. These natural wood inlays and accents can be selected to your liking when you purchase a new one. The driver and passenger seats have standard electrical controls for seat adjustment. When you open doors you are invited by the e-tron light projected on the floor.
Instrument Cluster
The instrument cluster is one of the best. It’s a 2 view, a standard view with 2 instrument dials or you can shrink the dials to see everything else such as the vehicle statistics, condition, call details, maps, media. I love how we can see the entire map on the instrument screen when needed, you can also zoom in and out of these maps using the steering wheel controls which is just wonderful to use. It’s one of the best experience for a driver using an instrument cluster. The color display and screen quality is simply high end. You could also write to search for a location on the lower wide screen which makes it so easy. Hand writing recognition technology in the Audi is one of the best you can find and also has a haptic feedback.
The front seats are 18-way powered contour comfort seats wrapped in Valcona leather. The rears seats are also 40/20/40 split-folding which can create lot of space when in the boot when you need it. The rear vents are touch control and gives the rear passengers to have their respective AC controls for their air space. The Panoramic sun roof in the Audi e-tron adds more light and feels more open. Parking is a breeze, thanks to the virtual 360 camera system which gives a top view and rear view with perfect visibility when you park the vehicle in tight spaces.
Click here to visit their official website. Click pictures below to see them in full screen view:
Recent Comments