Audi e-tron S Sportback video by Auditography

The Audi e-tron S Sportback is the more powerful, more exciting version of the standard e-tron Sportback and it’s the one enthusiasts are most excited about. What’s impressive about the ‘S’ model is that quite a lot of work went into making it sportier than usual, so it’s not just a marketing job. In this new video, we get to see the e-tron S Sportback up close and personal.

On the outside, the Audi e-tron S Sportback might not look that much different than the standard car. Sure, its ride height is a bit lower and its trim is now black but it ultimately looks the same. In fact, without knowing it was the ‘S’ versions ahead of time, just seeing the car barely gives it away.

Under the skin, however, the Audi e-tron S Sportback is much better. The standard e-tron gets two electric motors, a big one at the rear axle and a small one at the front. While the ‘S’ model gets three electric motors; two of the small ones at the rear axle and one big one at the front.

The idea behind fitting the back axle with two smaller EV motors is that it can distribute torque to the rear tires as needed. It’s the same effect you’d get from a limited-slip differential except that it’s actually faster and more accurate in the e-tron, as each electric motor just provides the necessary power to each rear wheel in real time.

Combined, all three electric motors make 496 horsepower and 718 lb-ft of torque. According to Audi, the e-tron S Sportback can hit 60 mph in the low four-second range. More importantly, though, the Audi e-tron S Sportback should be the more fun, more lively car to drive and should even be able to stick its tail out through corners.

We can’t wait to try it but it’s going to be a long while for that. Until then, we can watch this video, which gets us all as close as we’re going to get for awhile.