Audi Announces E-Tron Update

Audi is working on major updates to the E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback, with a lightly camouflaged prototype of the former participating in the E-Cannonball Rally, which departed from Hamburg, Germany, on September 23.

The prototype's livery highlights some of the visual tweaks planned for the E-Tron, including a modified grille, new front and rear end designs, and new wheel patterns.

There are still a few surprises in store, Audi said, but they will be revealed soon, as the updated E-Tron is scheduled to debut later this year. it should be in showrooms next spring as a 2023 or 2024 model. the E-Tron will initially be a 2019 model in 2018, followed a year later by the E-Tron Sportback, and last year by the three-motor E-Tron S model.

More significant tweaks are expected under the sheetmetal. Rumors point to a new battery, a more efficient electric motor, and new electronic control software to increase range; the E-Tron had a range of just 204 miles; a 2021 efficiency update increased the range to 222 miles. This major update is expected to bring the range closer to 300 miles.

Audi was relatively early among existing automakers to launch a credible Tesla competitor when it first rolled out the E-Tron. However, to speed up development, Audi modified a platform originally developed for internal combustion engine vehicles, specifically a high-riding version of the Volkswagen Group's MLB Evo platform, which is shared with the Audi Q7 and Q8 and several other VW Group SUVs.

Eventually, the E-Tron will be replaced by the new Q8 E-Tron, which will replace the current Q8. The new Q8 E-Tron is confirmed to go into production around 2026, but it is possible that the E-Tron has already been renamed the Q8 E-Tron in this update.