While we were expecting the Audi e-tron Sportback to be the next vehicle in Audi’s electric line, Audi had other plans with the reveal of the Audi e-tron 50 Quattro, a less powerful version of the current e-tron 55 Quattro.
While there are no changes to e-tron on the exterior, there are some significant changes going on within the electric SUV.
The most major difference of the e-tron 50 Quattro will be the smaller battery pack, which has now shrunk to a 71 kWh battery down from the original 95 kWh battery (a 25% reduction in size). While this can save weight, the reduced battery size will negate the benefits of a lower weight on efficiency. According to Audi, the e-tron 50 Quattro will have a WLTP range of 186 miles (299 km). The 95 kWh version of the electric SUV had a WLTP range of 259 miles (417 km).
The EPA found the e-tron 55 Quattro to have a much lower range of 204 miles, meaning that the e-tron 50 Quattro would have an EPA-rated range of around 150 miles or less. However, the EPA won’t get a chance to test the less powerful e-tron as Audi is not planning to bring it to North America, no doubt in part to the very low range.
The range is not the only thing that has been lowered in the cheaper e-tron. Instead of having a charging rate of 150 kW, the e-tron 50 Quattro will have a charging rate of 120 kW, meaning a 0-80% charge will take around 30 minutes.
The motors have also been downgraded. While the e-tron 50 Quattro still has two motors, the total output has been dropped from 402 hp to 308 hp. As such, its 0-62 mph time has increased from 5.7 seconds to 7.0 seconds.
In terms of pricing, all we know is that Audi says that in Germany it will start “below 70,000 euros”. This represents over a 10,000 euro savings from the 83,000 euro base price of the e-tron 55 Quattro in Germany.
Certainly, if the price is low enough, then some people will turn a blind eye to the lackluster range of the e-tron 50 Quattro, but there is no doubt that it would not do well in the United States. Only in the most compact parts of Europe will Audi see sales for this electric SUV.
Specifications (vs. e-tron 55 Quattro)
- 71 kWh battery (vs. 95 kWh battery)
- 186 mile WLTP range (vs. 259 mile WLTP range)
- 0-62 mph: 7.0 sec. (vs. 5.7 sec.)
- Top Speed: 118 mph (vs. 124 mph)
- Total Output: 308 hp (vs. 402 hp)
- Charging Rate: 120 kW (vs. 150 kW)
The Audi e-tron 55 Quattro will look to hit the road sometime in early 2020.
What do you guys think of this electric SUV? At what price point would this be an attractive option? Let us know down in the comments below.
Source: Automotive World
