The Audi Q7 e-Tron was originally slated for the first half of 2016. Only those in tune with the plug-in world would have noticed its absence, but we’re already almost a full year past the first half of 2016 and the Q7 e-Tron is nowhere to be seen. Actually, chances are now that it won’t arrive at all.
Instead, Audi is pushing an all-electric crossover vehicle to production in as soon as 2 years. Likely to be called simply e-Tron Quattro, the new vehicle would be the first 100% electric vehicle from Audi and would put them in direct competition with Tesla’s Model X electric SUV.
The Audi e-Tron EV takes the form of a crossover, and is confusingly also referred to as the Q6 – it’s slated to fit into the lineup below the current Q7, but Audi has said it won’t use the Q6 nameplate. Audi is fast tracking the plug-in vehicle and says it’s due to arrive in the first half of 2019.
As far as EV specs go, the e-Tron Quattro will deliver a range of 250 to 300 miles per charge thanks to a 95 kWh lithiom ion battery pack. Top speed is governed at 130 mph, and acceleration to 62 mph takes just 4.6 seconds thanks to the combined 496 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque delivered from 3 electric motors – 2 on the rear axle, and a low powered one on the front axle to be used at low speeds and under light acceleration.
Audi is hoping to have the eTron electric priced between $65,000 and $70,000.
