Audi e-tron 55

Audi e-tron
Audi e-tron 55.

Quattro, air suspension, two electric motors – 408 horses, two and a half ton full-size SUV... Too much?

 

The Audi e-tron places itself between the Jaguar I-Pace and the Tesla Model X. The I-Pace is a thought smaller and lighter, but equal in terms of luggage space and performance. The Tesla X is larger and more expensive than the others, but has the lowest drag - CW of 0,24. The E-tron has a CW of 0,28 (0,27 with camera mirror). Compared to the Tesla X, the e-tron seems more conventional with a boasting grill, four rings and towering, sharp profiles. That catches wind and steals range, but looks unashamedly good!

Premium feel

As we have previously owned several great Audis, I wanted to take my wife on a trip around the countryside to get her opinion on the new e-tron - the car that "everyone" is looking for. The seats in the e-tron seem larger than in previous models. They automatically push back when you stop the engine to facilitate entry and exit. In addition, the belts tighten when the car is set in motion. Look and feel is as expected, with leather upholstery above the dashboard and alcantara inlays in the doors. The only thing that does not harmonize with the premium feeling is the center console. There is room for charging equipment and mobile phones and such, but when I reach for something, my hand gets stuck in sharp hard plastic.

Audi e-tron
Audi e-tron Dashboard.

No weight problems

I am amazed at the high weight. 2490 kg without driver is a lot. It is difficult to find a vehicle with a higher curb weight within what you can drive with a regular B license. It had to be something like Rolls-Royce Ghost. In comparison, the Tesla Model X with 7 seats weighs less than the e-tron.
 
You notice that the e-tron is heavy on the road - in a positive sense. The center of gravity is obviously low. I know of a couple of places where the road has a bump into the bend. If you come in at a slightly high speed, you get to test the undercarriage. Heavy (and expensive) passenger cars usually go steadily through, while simple cars and vans often end up slightly out of balance. The Audi passed the road test with flying colours. I have seen film clips that show how well the e-tron manages ice. I'm sure that the good weight distribution and the latest Quattro system do everything to keep the car on the road.

Sound pictures

"- We should take a few more trips this summer", it came from the passenger seat. Rolling calmly away in an e-tron on an early summer Saturday evening with the sunroof open gives a real good feeling! Electric cars and sunroofs go well together. It doesn't extend the range, exactly, but how wonderful it is to hear birds chirping as you cruise silently away! In terms of sound, the e-tron is very well dampened from the road. You hear practically nothing from the road and chassis. This means that in return you hear the sound from the electric motors. Around 50 km/h, the electric motor sound can be quite annoying compared to electric cars I drive regularly. When the throttle is lightly applied, there is a screeching sound reminiscent of unsynchronized gears - a sound that does not fit in a premium car. Considering all the work Audi puts into creating good soundscapes, it's funny that this sound has been allowed to dominate. The hissing sound you get from regenerative braking, on the other hand, is like music to my ears.

Audi e-tron
Surprisingly efficient charging with private wall charger 7,2 KW.

Large in the garage

It is surprisingly easy to finely maneuver the car in narrow places. You know exactly where the wheels are. Only inside the garage did I notice how huge the e-tron really is. The rangefinders beeped as I concentrated on getting the left mirror past a pillar, at the same time saying a silent prayer that the front would clear the neighbour's Yaris. The Audi e-tron ticked all the boxes for my wife. "Approved" on all points, except one: Parking in narrow parking garages. Admittedly, the camera is shown both front and back - and from above, - and there is driver assistance for hatch parking, - but at the beginning it can probably seem like arriving at the dock with a much too large boat.
 
Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit. The E-tron is bigger than you think. Therefore, I recommend testing that both you and your better half manage to park in your own garage before possibly signing the contract. I have seen how new Tesla X owners struggle to pry their donning into place.

charging

Audi advertises that you can fully charge in half an hour with a 150 KW fast charger. There aren't that many of them at the moment, but they will probably come. The fast chargers in my neighborhood are 50 KW. They fully charge in 80 minutes. Since I wasn't going to use the car until the next day, I put it on charge in our own private 7,2 KW wall charger with T2 cable. The battery level was then at thirty-some percent. After 3 hours, the estimated mileage had increased by a full 12 miles. Not bad! Then you can get by just fine with your own charger on a daily basis. With our wall charger, according to Audi, it takes 12,5 hours to fully charge the batteries.

Audi e-tron
Audi e-tron 55.

Regenerative braking

I took a trip to the Sundvollen Hotel where there was a Ford meeting at the weekend. Before I left, I made some useful suggestions. Audi cannot be driven with one pedal. I therefore chose to set regeneration to manually and use the paddles on the steering wheel to determine the degree of artificial engine braking. It worked great. Not only is it fun to drive "eco-actively", but it really takes a toll on consumption. I think the weight of the car helps to collect a lot of energy when braking. It seemed as if the car only used energy on the road up to Sollihøgda. The trip downwards was free, so to speak. After returning to Sandvika, the consumption indicator showed that I had consumed only half of the actual kilometers driven.
 
If one chooses automatic regeneration, according to Audi, the car should behave like a normal petrol car. The electronics then control regeneration themselves, and I think this is what Audi recommends. If you still continue to use the paddles to set the artificial engine brake, it will cancel itself after a few seconds so that the car's electronics can take over control. To me it seemed like the electronics occasionally braked the engine when it didn't fit. I think the feature works best with adaptive cruise control.

Audi Drive Select

Audi Drive Select allows you to choose the car's behavior on the road. I changed a bit when driving between Comfort, Efficiency og Cars . Basically, there was little difference to notice between them. IN Dynamic steering, throttle and damping are tightened - and the car lowers at motorway speeds to reduce air resistance and increase range. If you shift while the car is stationary, you can clearly notice how the car changes height, for example when choosing between Offroad og Comfort.

Powers galore

There was road work in the tunnels through Vøynenenga. Traffic was thus directed via the old E16 through Skui, with subsequent collection and queue formations. There was no suitable place to test all the 408 horses and the boost effect you get from kickdown in S mode. I found the 360 ​​ordinary horses to be more than enough. I was impressed by how the forces are conveyed to the road. Careless field change during kickdown, gave absolutely no jerks and throws in the car, despite the fact that the power was delivered lightning fast and in cash.

shelby ford f-150
Shelby Ford F-150 Super Snake Street Truck
When I arrived at the Sundvollen Hotel, there was a break-up atmosphere and rainy weather. I had already met several classic Fords on the way home from the event. Ford meets like this mainly bring together two types of vehicles - old classics and trimmed Focus's. The organiser, RøhneSelmer Asker and Bærum, had exhibited three fat American pickups. My favorite is the Shelby Ford F-150 Super Snake Street Truck. It has the same 5-liter V8 as the Shelby Mustang, 755 HP and lowered. 0-100 goes away in 3,5 seconds! The fees mean that it costs double what the e-tron costs. The funny thing is that even with full tanks, it weighs no more than the e-tron.

Audi e-tron
Plenty of room for three. No center console.

Place

Batteries and electric operation have not caused any visible interference with the space conditions. The Audi e-tron is a full-size SUV. Interior space is superb for 5 people. The absence of a center console in the back seat means that the middle passenger gets a decent place. The luggage compartment is 660 litres, divided into 600 liters at the back and 60 liters under the engine compartment at the front. The ordinary luggage compartment is divided into two sections, with the option of placing charging cables and small items in the lower compartment. Trailer coupling is actually standard. It can tow trailers up to 1800 kg, but the trailer weight is then a whopping 4 kg. Roof racks are permitted.

Security

The Audi e-tron has been tested by Euro NCAP in 2019 with a score of 91% for adults and 85% for children. The score itself is on a par with other, modern cars today - nothing more, nothing less. The test's most critical remark is in the event of a severe side pillar crash where passengers on the same side suffered serious rib injuries. The car offered good protection against whiplash injuries, and automatic emergency stop systems worked perfectly. Also remember that NCAP has only tested the car in a collision with objects. In collisions with smaller vehicles along the road, I think those sitting in the big, heavy e-tron have the best cards.
 
The full report from NCAP
 

Audi e-tron
Atmospheric in the garage.

Economy

Audi's first electric car is going to steal customers primarily from Tesla. At the moment, I have the impression that "everyone" is getting the Audi e-tron. It's the same impression I had of Tesla a few years ago. The Audi e-tron will undoubtedly achieve high popularity, which contributes to the fact that the trade-in value will remain relatively good - even considering all the changes that will take place in the electric car market.
 
Compared to the competitors, and other SUVs from Audi, I think the e-tron's purchase value gives a lot of car for the money. After all, you get plenty of engine power, air suspension with advanced damping program, quattro, towbar etc. Expensive electric cars follow a normal second-hand price curve, something we see for the Teslas. But the Audi e-tron has so far not proven to be error-free, which Tesla has not been either. Owners of e-tron hardly need to fear unforeseen service expenses within the warranty period. The Volkswagen Group has declared that they will go "all in" for electricity. E-tron will be a beacon for the group, which is watched with skeptical eyes. The factory cannot allow the venture to fail, and will expect to do everything possible to keep the customers of e-tron happy.

Conclusion

The battery pack alone weighs approximately 700 kg. If you are also to bring 5 people and luggage, a solid vehicle is required - a large SUV. As a family car, the e-tron does not suffer in any way from being equipped with batteries and electric operation. The space conditions are plentiful. The drivetrain offers plenty of power - and the Quattro system, the chassis and the weight distribution ensure good grip. Plus, you can hook up a proper trailer and ski on the roof. Stated range is 350-417 km (WLTP). Fully charged, "my" car showed a range of 350 km, which is quite realistic. If you install a wall charger in the garage at home (and in the cabin), you almost never need to stop to charge along the way. The Audi e-tron is an ideal family car. On the minus side, it can be pointed out that it is large, heavy and expensive.
 

Too much? - Nah!

 

Audi e-tron
Space for things and pliers at the front of the "trunk", too.


Facts

Drivetrain
2 electric motors at each axle, electronically controlled four-wheel drive.
Power: 360 HP in total. In dynamic driving mode, a boost of 408 HP is given for 8 seconds.
Torque: 664 Nm constant from 0 (under boost).
Transmission system: 1-speed automatic transmission
 
Performances
0-100: 5,6 seconds
Top speed: 200 km/h
 
Weights and Measures
Length, width, height: 490 cm / 190 cm / 162 cm
Wheelbase: 292 cm
Track width front/rear: 165 cm / 165 cm
Net weight without driver: 2 kg
Payload: 565
Total weight: 3 130 kg
Trailer weight - with brake: 1 kg
– without brake: 750 kg
 
Range and charging
Range 350-417 km (WLTP)
Range indicator under test: 350 km
Fast charging with 150 KW: 30 minutes
Fast charging with 50 KW: 80 minutes
Charging with 7,2 KW: 12,5 hours
Km charged per hour 7,2 KW (test): Approx. 3 hours gave approx. 12 miles from 40% capacity
Battery capacity: 95 KW
 
Price and equipment
Audi e-tron 55 Limited Edition: NOK 822
21″ rims: NOK 11
Panoramic sunroof: NOK 15
Dark windows behind the B-pillar: NOK 4
Lacquered all the way down: NOK 3
Leather seats: NOK 10
Leather interior: NOK 7
 
Other facts
The car is rented through Hyre.no
Owner: Møller car Oslo West
Source: www.audi.no
Mileage: 5116 km
Km driven: 128 km

Audi e-tron - more pictures

You can click on all the images to see them on a larger scale. The standard resolution is 1080×720 pixels.
 

Audi e-tron
Separate charging cable room.

Audi e-tron
Well executed. The Audi returned to Hyre/Møller Vest.

See

Audi e-tron
E-tron in emergency mode
Driving with one pedal
Temperature control of electric car batteries
The temperature in electric car batteries

 

Terje Bjørnstad. Blog administrator, hobby photographer and car enthusiast.

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