8 APRIL 2 020 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 23
T
his is the car with which Audi is
aiming to challenge the Jaguar
I-Pace for zero-emissions SU V
driving honours.
The E-tron Sportback 55 quattro, as
its name suggests, is a more sporting
version of the E-tron 55 quattro that
h a s b e e n on s a le he r e si nc e m id-2 019.
Outwardly, it’s distinguished from
its sibling by a more heavily curved,
coupé-like roofline and liftback-style
tailgate, among other subtle changes,
including more aggressively styled
bumpers and headlights using Audi’s
new digital matrix LED technology.
Together, these alterations provide
the E-tron Sportback with a shapely
profile similar in style and detailing
to the Elaine concept that Audi
unveiled three years ago.
Sharing certain exterior design
elements with conventionally
powered Audi models, it’s perhaps
not as distinctive as the I-Pace. But
with a drag coefficient of just 0.25Cd,
it’s among the most aerodynamically
efficient series-production SUVs yet,
beating the Jaguar in this crucial
a r e a b y a c on side r a ble 0.0 4 C d
m a r g i n. T h i s i s t h a n k s i n pa r t t o
the availability of ‘virtual exterior
mirrors’, which use a camera to
project a live video feed on the
forward part of the doors inside.
The changes to the cabin over the
regular E-tron are slight, but that’s no
bad thing. In terms of attractiveness,
perceived quality and tactility,
the dashboard, controls and trim
materials are all premium in nature.
The optional front sports seats
are firm and supportive, setting
up a pleasantly roomy and airy
driving environment. However,
accommodation in the rear is
compromised to the tune of 20mm
b y t h at plu n g i n g r o of l i ne. T he
adoption of a more heavily angled
tailgate also reduces boot capacity
b y 45 l it r e s ov e r t he E-t r on , at 61 5
litres. Even so, it’s still quite versatile,
with 58 litres more than the I-Pace.
L i k e t he E-t r on (a longside w h ic h
it ’s produced at Aud i’s fac tor y i n
Brussels, Belgium), the E-tron
Sportback is based on a modified
version of the MLB Evo platform,
housing between its axles a sizeable
95kWh lithium ion battery made
up of c e l l s s uppl ie d b y L G C he m.
At 4901mm long, 1935mm
wide and 1616mm tall, the E-tron
Sportback is 85mm shorter, 60mm
narrower and a considerable 89mm
lower than Audi’s conventionally
powered f lagship SUV, the Q8.
The drivetrain is borrowed
wholly from the E-tron. It uses two
differently specified asynchronous
electric motors, one sitting up front
that produces peaks of 181bhp and
182lb ft of torque and a second at the
rear making 221bhp and 232lb ft.
Together, they provide a maximum
system output of 402bhp and 490lb ft
for limited periods of up to eight
seconds in Boost mode, which is
activated by slotting the gear selector
i nt o S. I n D, t he c ombi ne d out put
of the motors is reduced to a milder
355bhp and 414lb ft to help increaseefficiency and consequently extend
the range between charges.
The I-Pace’s two motors, by way
of comparison, deliver a maximum
combined 394bhp and 512lb ft.
Power is sent to all four wheels
via a single-speed gearbox attached
to each motor and networked via a
central power electrics system. In a
key departure from its more practical
sister, however, the E-tron Sportback
features a decoupling mechanism
between its front and rear axles.
This enables it to send its drive
exclusively to the rear wheels in
e v e r yd ay d r i v i n g i n D, g i v i n g it a n
additional seven miles of range over
the E-tron, at 278 miles. It’s only
w he n y ou c a l l up g r e at e r r e s e r v e s v i a
the kickdown function in S that the
other motor is called upon and the
front wheels begin to do the driving.
Acceleration off the line is strong
but far from explosive in D, owing
i n pa r t t o t he E-t r on Sp or t ba c k ’s
he f t y 2 4 80k g k e rb w e i g ht a nd t heconsiderable amount of energy
required to set it in motion. Once
you’ve built up initial momentum,
though, rolling acceleration is quite
sharp. Keep the throttle nailed
thereafter and the car will dispatch
you beyond the British motorway
s p e e d l i m it w it h a go o d de a l of for c e.
Selecting S instantly heightens ◊
Driving environment is impressive but steering is numb