Having 8,920Nm of wheel-torque on tap helps.
On the off-chance that you’ve ever thought about Kitzbühel in Austria, it’s likely that you envisioned snow-covered slopes & skiing. The Streif is one of the most challenging ski courses in the world and the Mausefalle section is graded as the steepest part of it.
Of course when Audi arrived recently, they didn’t pack their skis. They instead brought their new e-tron SUV and with it, the intent to conquer the Mausefalle in the wrong direction (that’s upwards, in case that wasn’t clear).
“We already proved the mettle of the electric SUV last year, in a number of Audi e-tron extreme events. From Pikes Peak to the salt plains of Namibia to the high-voltage test-bay in Berlin, the Audi e-tron prototype mastered the greatest of challenges. With the sensational drive up the Mausefalle, we have pushed the boundaries even further and demonstrated all the technical possibilities of Quattro in an electric car.” – Peter Oberndorfer, Head of Product & Technology Communications, Audi GmbH
To do so, the “e-tron technology demonstrator” (also known as fully-functional prototype) was fettled with ever-so-slightly to take on the 85% gradient, so don’t take your own e-tron up a mountain pass anytime soon. The ‘demonstrator’ was fitted with 19-inch alloys housing specially-studded tyres, which were necessary to transfer the potency of the powertrain down to the ground snow.
How potent, you may be wondering. Try 370kW and 8,920Nm on for size. This was achieved by adding another electric motor to the rear axle, resulting in a total of two on the rear and one on the front. The 95kWh battery remained untouched, but the Quattro system was reworked to ensure maximum traction on the challenging climb.
The Audi e-tron will be built in Belgium, where Audi’s existing production facility has undergone an extensive upgrade in order to accommodate the futuristic new SUV. The Brussels plant now features spaces for battery-module and electric motor assembly, but the modular production method employed throws out the conveyor-belt production line system carmakers adopt.
The e-tron is on sale in the US now from US$74,800 to US$86,700 (or $104k-$120k), with the dearest e-tron available being a 999-unit limited Edition One model, which features a Daytona Grey paint finish, 21-inch unique-design allows, e-tron Orange brake callipers, and puddle lights with an ‘Edition One’ light signature.
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