Range Audi e-Tron, goodbye combustion engines with numerous electric launches

The days of combustion engines are numbered, or rather the years, since the German brand Audi has announced that in 2025 its last combustion engine will be produced, and by 2026, Audi will have a complete range of models with fully electric propulsion, highlighting the launch of the Q6 e-tron and Audi A6 e-tron.

More network, more interconnection and more charging facilities

For more electric vehicles to be sold, it is necessary, among many other things, to have a wide, powerful charging network that is available without too many complications. Today, charging an electric car at a public charger in Spain means we need a huge array of mobile apps, or even cards, to activate the charging points of different operators.

To address this, Audi has bet on ultra-rapid chargers (HPC/150 kW), in collaboration with Iberdrola. Installing these chargers for public use in its commercial network, and helping the HPC charger network grow considerably. This is a commitment other manufacturers should imitate, especially those that are strongly betting on electric vehicles.

Another interesting point for improving the experience of driving an electric car is the Audi Charging programme, which, through a magnetic card or app, provides advantageous access to more than 400,000 chargers in 27 countries (from different operators), even with lower prices on some networks or types of chargers.

As a novelty, the Audi Q8 e-tron and Q4 e-tron will feature the Plug & Charge system, which uses encrypted data verification to authorise and activate the charging point automatically, without a card or app (available on the IONITY network, for example) and provided you are a Audi Charging user.

Audi Q4 e-Tron and Q4 Sportback e-Tron

Access to the Audi e-Tron range is represented by the Audi Q4 e-tron, a fully electric SUV that has received updates to remain competitive in a very volatile and changing market. The battery powering both models has 77 kWh net capacity, which the brand says is enough to cover up to 529 km on the WLTP cycle in the Q4 Sportback e-tron version.

The mechanical range consists of two versions: 40 e-tron and 50 e-tron. The first has a 204 CV engine with rear-wheel drive and offers the greatest range. The second, the 50 e-tron, offers more power, up to 299 CV, and also features quattro all-wheel drive.

We were especially impressed by the spacious interior of the Q4 e-tron, a car that is comfortable both in urban environments and on the open road. The Audi Q4 e-tron is on sale with a starting price of €58,710 for the rear-wheel-drive version, while the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron starts at €60,360.

Audi Q8 e-tron and Q8 Sportback e-tron

Another model that has undergone updates, and even has a new name, is the Audi Q8 e-tron. Although the exterior changes are quite subtle, focused on the new logo and little else, the key lies in the new batteries and energy management.

It now features 95 kWh and 106 kWh batteries, depending on the version, increasing the usable capacity of the batteries compared with the previous generation and significantly improving their energy management. The batteries can now charge at up to 150 kW or even 170 kW, also improving charging speed for longer.

All Audi Q8 e-tron models come with quattro all-wheel drive, with engines ranging from 340 CV to the 503 CV of the Audi SQ8 e-tron. Incidentally, being electric doesn’t mean being any less sporty, and as proof, the SQ8 e-tron accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds, with instant torque that literally presses you into your seat.

The entry-level version for the Spanish market, Advanced, is priced at €84,610. Sportback versions cost €2,500 more than the SUV body. Finally, the Audi SQ8 e-tron starts at €106,510.

Audi e-tron GT quattro and RS e-tron GT, the brand’s electric flagship

To conclude our review of the Audi electric range, we come to a legendary model, a design that leaves no one indifferent and is the centre of attention wherever it goes. I am referring to the Audi e-tron GT, whether in its standard version with “just” 476 CV or its RS version with 598 CV.

The most remarkable thing about this model is not its range, although its 93 kWh net batteries do their best and offer a WLTP range of 501 km (in the most favourable cases). It stands out for its design and its interior, with carefully finished details where luxury is expressed through eco-friendly trims such as fully synthetic leather.

Another detail we liked, in addition to the enormous on-board comfort, is the sense of lightness at the wheel. We are talking about a car weighing around 2 tonnes which, when you press the accelerator, moves with enviable ease, especially with systems such as four-wheel steering (optional, but recommended) that make the car move with outstanding agility.

That said, the price to pay for having this electric sports car in your garage is €110,290 for the e-tron GT, while the RS e-tron GT starts at €151,830.

In short, it seems the future, at least in the short term, will be electric, and brands are taking firmer steps in this direction, which I undoubtedly applaud: that, in addition to launching electric models, efforts are made to solve some of the charging and infrastructure problems needed for an electric vehicle fleet to be truly sustainable.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira and Audi Spain