No tech details are currently being released by Audi. But previous reports point to an increase in power and range. Allegedly, the Audi e-tron facelift would come with more efficient motors, an improved energy recovery system, and an upgraded battery pack. The total range could increase to around 373 miles (600 km) in the WLTP cycle. That’s a significant bump over the current e-tron’s 273 miles (440 km).

A rumored Audi e-tron RS will come with a tri-motor setup for a huge performance boost. Before the arrival of the Tesla Model S Plaid, Audi was proudly announcing that it would be the first carmaker to bring a tri-motor electric vehicles to the segment.

Audi e-tron was introduced to the market in 2019 and it was followed by the e-tron Sportback in 2020. But today, Audi is facing new competitors with Mercedes EQE SUV and EQS SUV being a more up-to-date choice, BMW has the iX and iX1. Audi is expected to reveal the e-Tron this year and will continue to be manufactured until 2026. That year, a dedicated electric-car platform shared with other Audi and Porsche electric vehicles will come to market.

[Photos: Audi]

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Of course, the camp does a very good job hiding the fine details so it’s hard to tell what’s changed. However, we expect Audi to have made some changes to keep it looking fresh. Even if the changes are minimal. There are also rumors that Audi made some major updates to the battery pack of the e-tron, providing more range.

“An Audi driver has to be able to feel it’s an Audi – in the form of harmonious, distinctive driving characteristics,” says Oliver Hoffmann, Audi Board Member for Technical Development. “The genes of the Audi feeling should be an unmistakable experience for the customer.”

Furthermore, there are also rumors that Audi is changing the e-tron name with this facelift. If so, it could become the Audi Q8 e-tron S Sportback. Just calling it the “e-tron”, without any “A” or “Q” designation causes confusion as to which model it actually is. Though, there’s no official word that Audi’s changing the name so take that with a grain of salt for now.

No word on when the Audi e-tron facelift will officially debut but expect it sometime this year, sold as a 2023 model.

[Photos: Audi| Source: QuattroDaily]

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Now, Audi is considered a major player in the world of performance cars and almost every modern performance car uses all-wheel drive. All thanks to the Ur Quattro. Audi is hoping that the new e-tron GT could have a similar effect, proving that electrification can not only be fast but also fun and exciting. This new video from Autocar brings both the Audi Ur Quattro and e-tron GT together, to compare both the legend and the future of the brand.

The Audi Ur Quattro and e-tron GT Quattro couldn’t be more different, despite both having “Quattro” in their names. The original car is a small two-door hatchback with a 2.1 liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine up front, a five-speed manual, and a mechanical all-wheel drive system with a locking differential. While the Audi e-tron GT is a four-door sedan with two electric motors; one at each axle, and a big battery pack in its floor. And yet, they’re designed to do very similar things; go down a twisty road, regardless of weather conditions, very quickly.

After driving both cars, the old and the new, are there any similarities? We know there are going to be countless differences, as they’re two completely different machines from two distant eras. But could there be any familial similarities between the two Audi performance cars? Autocar finds out in this new video and it’s well worth watching if you’re an Audi enthusiast. Both the Audi Ur Quattro and e-tron GT are pivotal cars in the brand’s history. Will the e-tron GT have the same impact as its legendary predecessor? We won’t know for some time but that’s the idea.

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However, don’t get too excited because it won’t be an all-new SUV with zero emissions. Instead, it will take the shape of the E-Tron facelift with a different identity. The large vehicle will still ride on an electric adaptation of the MLB platform intended for models with combustion engines. In other words, you’ll still have to live with some compromises in terms of packaging compared to an EV riding on a bespoke electric architecture.

We won’t be entirely surprised if the Four Rings will indeed switch to the fresh designation since continuing to simply use “E-Tron” would be a tad confusing. The current nameplate doesn’t reflect how the EV is positioned in relation to the existing global Q4 E-Tron and China’s Q5 E-Tron. It would be even more difficult to figure out its positioning once the Q6 E-Tron is going to be revealed later in 2022.

As previously reported, the mid-cycle update for the fullsize electric SUV is rumored to come with an upgraded battery to increase the range to 373 miles (600 kilometers) in the WLTP cycle. That would certainly represent good news since the current version is rated at a rather disappointing 249 miles in Europe. In the United States, EPA rates the E-Tron at 222 miles or 10 miles if you opt for the hotter S derivative pictured here. Go for the E-Tron S with the bigger 21- or 22-inch wheels and the range drops to just 181 miles.

According to the same report published by Automobilwoche, Audi will borrow styling cues from the smaller Q4 E-Tron compact electric crossover. The Q8 E-Tron is scheduled to go on sale in 2023 and will allegedly be retired in 2025. The all-new namesake model riding on an EV-only platform won’t arrive until about a year later.

Source: Automobilwoche (subscription required)

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In these new photos, you can see an Audi e-tron SUV doing some winter testing in the snow. It was wearing enough camouflage to obscure the majority of its updates, so it’s hard to see how many there are or what sort of difference they make. The headlights seem the same as the current car’s but the grille looks different. Rather than the vertical lines of the current Audi e-tron grille, this new one seems to get horizontal ovals, which looks a bit more modern.

The rest of the car, though, looks nearly identical to the current car. The wheels, the side cameras, and the taillights are all familiar Audi e-tron design elements. To be honest, we’re not entirely surprised that the e-tron’s facelift will be minimal. As behind-the-times as the e-tron is under its skin, it remains a really good looking car and one that feels familiar for Audi customers.

Unfortunately, the interior isn’t seen in these photos, which is a shame because I’m hoping Audi adds a bit of pop to it. As good as the Audi e-tron cabin is, it’s a bit dark and sort of boring. It needs a bit of spice if it wants to keep up with its newer rivals, especially the iX, whose interior is superb. Some upgraded tech, some new trim options, and maybe even a new steering wheel would go a long way to making the e-tron feel updated.

However, what I hope happens most is that Audi updates its battery tech and powertrain. At the moment, you’re lucky if you get 220 miles out of an e-tron, even after the recent update. Yet, both the BMW iX and Tesla Model X can get 300 miles or more. Audi needs to update the powertrain efficiency, as well as the power, or it’s going to lose customers faster than it gains them, which would be the death knell for the Audi e-tron.

If Audi can up the range, even to past 250 miles, increase its power a bit, and freshen up the cabin, it just might find some more sales before it’s replaced.

[Via QuattroDaily]

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Available for 34,000 vehicles from the 2019 and 2020 model years and built between mid-September 2018 and the end of November 2019, the software revision applies to the E-Tron 55 Quattro model and it makes changes to the battery. The 95-kWh pack gains a slightly bigger usable capacity of 86 kWh for improved range.

In addition, the software tweak optimizes the control of the front-mounted electric motor by disconnecting it almost completely in normal driving mode, effectively shutting it off. The front e-motor only kicks in if the driver needs the power of both motors. This change makes the E-Tron SUV more efficient by relying less on the front e-motor in normal driving conditions.

Yet another improvement brought by the new software is related to cooling by adjusting the thermal management system. With the update applied, the volume flow rates in the coolant circuit are reduced by making changes to the control system to lower the energy consumption.

Manufactured in Brussels, Belgium, the Audi E-Tron 55 Quattro can be updated to the newest software version without having to pay for it. There is one downside as you’ll have to take the vehicle to your local dealership since this isn’t an over-the-air update. In other words, it has to be installed at a service center by a professional rather than simply downloading it through the infotainment system.

As a final note, the newer examples of the electric SUV, built during the current model year, don’t need this update since it’s already built-in. The latest E-Tron 55 Quattro can cover up to 441 kilometers (274 miles) per WLTP before having to recharge.

Source: Audi

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Available in the United States as an Audi Genuine Accessory, the indoor car cover will set you back $785 and we’d argue it is money well spent as the electric sedan will look great resting in your garage while imitating the prototype’s appearance. When you’re already paying six figures for the E-Tron GT, a few hundred dollars for such a neat accessory won’t break the bank.

As a refresher, the camo applied to prototypes was designed in such a way as to look like a circuit board, thus hinting at the E-Tron GT’s purely electric nature. The only way Audi would be able to top this would be by offering a special paint finish with the same body graphics as the prototype, but the indoor car cover will have to suffice for now.

It goes without saying it precisely fits on the E-Tron GT and its high-performance RS sibling, protecting your prized possession from dust and dirt. The design was created at home in Germany and brought to life by the firm’s internal design department – the same team behind the cool body wraps applied to pre-production E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback prototypes.

The bespoke indoor car cover comes at the right time as the 2022 E-Tron GT is now arriving at dealers in the United States, priced from $99,990 for the base Premium Plus model. The better-equipped Prestige trim starts at $107,100 while the sportier GT will set you back $139,900. There are already rumors Audi might come out with a wagon version in the same vein as the Taycan Cross Turismo.

Source: Audi

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It’s worth noting the maximum power is available only in boost mode, which lasts just eight seconds. In normal mode, the three electric motors produce a total of 429 hp and an instant torque of 596 lb-ft, which isn’t too shabby. You’ll want the boost mode on for the quickest acceleration possible, with the sprint to 60 mph taking a mere 4.3 seconds.

Feeding the three electric motors is a fairly large lithium-ion battery pack with a 95-kWh capacity that can be charged at up to 150 kW. Doing so will replenish the battery from 5% to 80% in less than half an hour provided you’re using a level 3 DC public fast charger. With the battery full, the E-Tron S can travel for 208 miles whereas the Sportback S covers 212 miles thanks to its slightly more aerodynamic body.

As standard equipment, both performance-oriented electric SUVs get adaptive air suspension and six-piston brake calipers at the front axle. To sweeten the deal, Audi USA is offering a towing package that bumps the E-Tron S models to a rated capacity of 3,300 pounds.

Manufactured in a carbon-neutral factory at the Brussels factory in Belgium since mid-2020 for the European market, the Audi E-Tron S and E-Tron S Sportback will be available in the US this fall. The conventionally styled model starts at $84,800 for the base Premium Plus and rises to $89,800 for the better-equipped Prestige. Its equivalent Sportback sibling commands a $2,600 premium for both trim levels.

These new models are part of Audi USA’s efforts to electrify about 30% of its lineup by the middle of the decade. A facelifted version of the E-Tron is rumored to get more efficient motors and battery pack for a greater range in 2023, but nothing is official at this point.

Source: Audi

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In three years, Audi will be close to the end of its investments in internal combustion, which will help its overall profit margins. Come 2026, Audi will cease all development of new engines, only building the engines for vehicles it has on sale at the time. By 2033, Audi plans on ceasing all internal combustion engine manufacturing altogether. With the decrease in piston engine investment, Audi will have more money to invest in electrification and manufacturing, thus helping to decrease cost and increase profitability.

Additionally, in a few years’ time, Audi will also have more e-tron models on sale. The Audi A6 e-tron, Q6 e-tron, and potentially a smaller A4-sized e-tron model will be on the market. The aforementioned models are built on architectures that were developed in-joint with the rest of the Volkswagen Group. That electric platform sharing helps keep costs down dramatically, as it spreads the R&D investment over several brands. That will help to make Audi’s EVs more profitable, too.

This is an incredibly interesting and exciting time for Audi enthusiasts. The brand is going through a massive shift, from internal combustion to electrification, and it’s doing it surprisingly quickly. While Audi won’t stop producing gas engines for almost another decade, it could become a primarily electric automaker in just a few years time and we’ll be talking about Audi as one of the premiere electric automakers on the market.

[Source: Der Spiegel] [Quattrodaily]

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According to the British magazine, Audi’s engineers will be installing more efficient electric motors and a new battery pack to unlock significantly more range compared to today’s model. While the European-spec E-Tron is rated at 249 miles of range in the WLTP cycle, it is believed the facelifted version will be able to do more than 373 miles between charges. Expect a similar bump for the US-spec E-Tron, which in its current configuration is rated by EPA at 222 miles.

An extra 124 miles in the WLTP cycle would be quite the range boost, much needed considering more and more dedicated EVs are coming out with impressive ranges. Speaking of which, Audi is working on its own larger bespoke electric SUV as the Ingolstadt-built Q6 E-Tron will be coming out next year on the PPE platform co-developed with Porsche, which is working on its own Macan EV.

The Q6 E-Tron’s arrival won’t spell the end for the E-Tron, even though the latter is based on the MLB platform that was originally conceived for high-end VW Group models equipped with combustion engines. High-ranked sources close to Audi cited by Autocar claim “there will be a facelift for the E-Tron SUV and E-Tron Sportback.” The insider says both electric SUVs will be “significantly upgraded with a number of technical updates that will further increase their competitiveness.”

Meanwhile, there’s another dedicated electric SUV coming before the end of the year. It doesn’t have a name just yet, but it made an unexpected appearance as a camouflaged prototype back in April at the Shanghai Auto Show. Much like the Q4 E-Tron and Q4 Sportback E-Tron, it rides on the MEB platform shared with the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Skoda Enyaq iV.

The China-bound model is expected to be a three-row electric SUV twinned with the VW ID.6 also only available in the People’s Republic. It will come from the local joint venture with SAIC, complete with dual electric motors, about 300 horsepower, an all-wheel-drive system, and up to seven seats.

Source: Autocar

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