Audi reveals new e-tron S

Audi claims that three motors – one up front and two behind – is a world first for a volume produced electric car. The new more rear-biased drive system, with torque vectoring, endows the 2.5-tonne e-tron with the agility to justify the keen driver-friendly S badge, says the firm. In Sport mode it can even perform drifts.

Where the regular e-tron has two motors, one back and one front with a differential at the back to distribute the 408PS and 664Nm, the S versions get an additional motor on the rear axle. This boosts total system power to 496PS with a mammoth 973Nm (718lb ft) of torque, though as with the regular model the full beans is only available in eight-second bursts.

The S’s power distribution is controlled electronically rather than by a mechanical differential, though the single-speed transmission remains. In normal driving only the rear electric motors spin. The front motor cuts in when you put your foot down, or when traction at the back is broken.

With your foot hard down, the S shaves just over a second from the from the e-tron’s 0-62mph time, achieving the sprint in 4.5 seconds against 5.7. The top speed is still limited but now to 130mph rather than 124mph.

With no increase in capacity of the lithium-ion battery pack tucked away under floor – it’s still 95kWh – range of the S versions drops a little on the WLTP cycle over the standard model, from 240 miles to 226. As with the other e-trons, the S gets three driver-selectable levels of power recuperation, with the most extreme offering one-pedal driving.

It’s likely these bald figures tell only part of the story of how the new e-tron S is to drive; in particular that mountain of torque will have to be experienced to be believed, even a car this heavy (no new weight figure is quoted, but it is difficult to see how the S could be any lighter than the standard car’s 2,565kg). Certainly Audi fans will be disappointed if the S doesn’t handle like a true S should, marking a significant step up on the rather lead-footed standard car. Audi is in no doubt that the S badge here is fully deserved, as UK Audi boss Andrew Doyle believes.

“This is a significant milestone in the evolution of e-tron,” he tells us. “In setting a new precedent to deliver breathtaking performance and ultra-intelligent all-wheel-drive these e-trons underscore the fact that excitement and efficiency certainly won’t have to be mutually exclusive in the new era of electrification.”

The S’s dynamic advantage is achieved not just by more rear-drive bias, but with recalibrated systems that, in Sport mode with the handing set to Dynamic, deliver what Audi says is far more adjustable handling, up to the point where, if provoked, the car can execute controlled drifts. That would make quite a sight.

For exuberant cornering, the electric torque vectoring brakes the inside front wheel to keep things steady, while S-specific tuning of the adaptive air suspension can vary the level of the body by up to 76mm, depending on the driving situation and the drive mode setting. On standard 21-inch wheels (with 22s coming as an option later), Audi says the S versions offer sharp responses, a high level of precision and uncompromising safety.

One thing for sure, Audi has ensured it lives up to its S badging in its looks. The e-tron gets a signature S makeover: more flared wheel arches boost the body’s width by 50mm (2-inches), there are new reprofiled front and rear bumpers, more prominent inlets and, at the rear, a wider new diffuser insert. Impressively the e-tron’s wind-cheatingly low Cd is largely undamaged, with the sleeker Sportback recording an excellent 0.26, when equipped with the (still optional) virtual mirrors.

Body details are executed in silver and the mirrors (unless you opt for the cameras) are finished in trademark aluminium. To add a splash of colour, brake calipers can be painted orange as an option. Inside Audi’s now-familiar and much-copied virtual cockpit takes pride of place, alongside S essentials of sports seats and lots of dark and moody Nappa leather.

A new electric car driving champion? Time, and that mountain of torque, will tell. Meanwhile, Audi is offering £150 of free electricity if you order one before year’s end. Mind you, you’ll still have to find £87,000 (around £15,000 more than the base standard car) to join the electric S club, or £88,700 for the more pleasing looking Sportback.