Friends, as we know, recognize each other in times of difficulty.
And in a weather situation like the one that characterized Cortina d'Ampezzo and its beautiful surroundings in recent days, it was really nice and reassuring to be able to count on a real 'friend' like the Audi e-Tron S Sportback 55 Quattro electric SUV.
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Audi e-Tron S Sportback, the highest expression of electric high tech
Snow, up to 3 meters high on the sides of the roads.
And then alternation of frost and higher temperatures with the consequent risk of avalanches and collapses of the frozen walls.
Not to mention the fresh snow, which fell on the previous frozen one or on the asphalt dotted with holes (in turn created by the freezing cold).
An ideal condition for evaluating this further refinement of Audi's top offer which brings the three electric traction motors to their world premiere.
In particular, thanks to those letters - Quattro - which in Ingolstad's vocabulary are written like this, in Italian, and which identify with the most perfected all-wheel drive system available today, Audi's electric SUV adds - in the two new variants and -Tron S and e-Tron S Sportback 55 Quattro - the innovative electric torque vectoring function with active and variable torque distribution on the rear axle, made possible by the two rear motors.
A new 'era' for automotive technology, just as the debut of Audi's first AWD systems, called Quattro and derived from the world of rallying, was 40 years ago.
Audi e-Tron S Sportback, like a true friend who does not flaunt his skills, tells nothing of this important novelty - capable of reacting in 4 times less time than the best traditional all-wheel drive system to variations in the coefficient of grip - if not exactly when the car arrives on a slab of ice, on a hairpin half snow and half no or, simply, on a pool of water and mud hidden by the curve.
Faster than human thought - and therefore the rider's ability to react - electric torque vectoring manages the three electric motors (one at the front and two at the rear) that deliver torque to the wheels in milliseconds.
This is achieved through the interaction between the stability control (ESC), traction control (ASG), electronic chassis platform and power electronics control units.
Thus while managing very high power and torque values - respectively 503 hp and 973 Nm in total - the Audi e-Tron S Sportback system maintains safety and driving pleasure at the highest levels.
And if there is an experienced driver behind the wheel, using the Sport mode of the ESC stability control and for the Dynamic program of the Audi Drive Select management system, it is even possible to trigger controlled oversteer and drift (i.e. a skid from the rear). .
The 'blank' test on the Ampezzano roads also made it possible to evaluate other new features of the e-Tron S Sportback, such as the S set-up which includes the adaptive sport air suspension and progressive steering.
New features that add to the advantages of Audi e-Tron - such as the low position of the high-voltage battery and the balanced weight distribution between the axles - so as to further enhance handling and responsiveness.
From this point of view, the importance of progressive steering with sport calibration must be reiterated, which adjusts the gear ratio according to the steering angle and adapts the power assistance according to speed.
The character of these two new electric SUVs (e-Tron S and e-Tron S Sportback) can be declined on the basis of seven profiles and the stability control (ESC) allows you to opt for the four programs Normal, Sport, Offroad and Off.
As we have been able to verify even in 'difficult' snow situations - such as when deep ruts are formed - the adaptive air suspension allows you to vary the height from the ground of the car up to a maximum of 76 mm and thus avoid to 'throw' on the white blanket.
Thanks to the high-voltage 95 kWh battery and the refined recovery system, the Audi e-tron S Sportback travels up to 379 km in the combined WLTP cycle (374 for the e-Tron S).
Both SUVs can be recharged in direct current (DC) with powers up to 150 kW, so as to restore 80% of the energy in less than 30 minutes.
It goes without saying that together with this refined propulsion technology and dynamics management and control, Audi really provides everything (or almost) what you could want from a 'future' SUV like the e-Tron S Sportback 55 Quattro.
The price list starts at 116,600 euros.
