Audi with real spark
Aslew of exciting automotive metal awaits South African consumers in 2019. And if you’re a lover of electric mobility, you will be catered for. This year, BMW will be launching a version of its egg-shaped i3 with a bigger battery. And Jaguar will be coming to the party, with its first-ever attempt at the genre, in the form of the I-Pace.
There is hope yet that Nissan makes good on its promise of launching the second-generation Leaf, which was supposed to arrive last year. But this piece is not an A-to-Z of forthcoming rides — tune in next week for that. Instead, we present an account of our experience with a rather significant offering for Audi and the Volkswagen Group. Behold, the new E-Tron, launched to media in Abu Dhabi early December 2018.
The interlinked circles brand is the first from beneath the umbrella of its parent group to take electric to the mainstream. Aside from helping to dissipate a bit of the smog of a certain emissions scandal, the product ought to help Audi regain some equity in the sales race.
Last year premium archrivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz outsold Audi globally. Since preferences have shifted towards sport-utility vehicles — and electric technology is proliferating — the E-Tron should position the brand for a healthy sales boost.
Note, as well, that BMW does not have an all-electric sport-utility vehicle in the stable yet, while Mercedes-Benz will field the EQC, expected here in 2020.
Appropriately, our initial acquaintance with the newcomer takes place in the zerocarbon footprint district of Masdar City. The hub, comprising a residential neighbourhood and business zone, is reliant on renewable energy.
Some have prophesied that Masdar City is destined to become the first environmentally-friendly ghost town in the world. While it was built to accommodate 45,000 people, around 1,300 are said to be permanent residents. Sure, the sentiment of such a development is great. But in the bigger scheme of the United Arab Emirates narrative, Masdar City strikes one as an oddity, a mere marketing device. For the time being, anyway. That shift from a reliance on fossil fuels to the green utopia based on solar power and wind farms is not going happen overnight.
Eerily, our silent E-Tron convoy leaves Masdar City — and the loudest thing in the vicinity is probably the wonderfully lurid shade of Catalunya Red worn by our test vehicle. It takes time to get accustomed to the digital side mirrors, replacing the age-old method of reflective glass for cameras transmitting a feed to the cabin. According to the technical release, this is an option. Some might find the archaic method easier to trust.
The delight of instant acceleration offered by electric power is a sensation to relish. And in the E-Tron, with its maximum system output of 300kW and 664Nm, the pace is plentiful for a car of this body format. In its most athletic mode it can dash to 100km/h in a brisk 5.7 seconds. The number and corresponding feeling in the seat of the pants is more impressive when you consider it