Casting a Wider Net: Audi's EV Push Won't Ignore the Entry-level Crowd

by Steph Willems

Published: February 9th, 2019

casting a wider net audi s ev push won t ignore the entry level crowd

Audi plans to make a green new deal with premium-minded buyers of limited means. With the brand’s Volkswagen Group parent going all-in on electric vehicles, Audi has access to whatever it needs from mama’s parts bin. This will come in handy.

It seems a cheaper, smaller EV is Audi’s next big reveal, with the Golf-sized I.D. Neo hatch serving as a starting point for a new entry-level electric.

Having already shown off the pricier E-Tron midsize SUV, its Sportback sibling, and a GT concept strongly hinting at a future four-door “coupe,” Audi is turning its mind to the low end of the premium market. Underpinning the smaller vehicle would be VW’s dedicated MEB electric architecture.

According to Automotive News Europe, Audi confirmed its plans to debut a “premium compact SUV concept” at next month’s Geneva Motor Show, one which borrows VW’s MEB bones. Thanks to economies of scale, VW Group believes it’s capable of offering a multitude of EV in various segments with only a modest markup over comparable internal combustion vehicles.

The concept bound for Geneva is reportedly a close match to a production model slated for a late-2020 launch. Deliveries should begin in early 2021, by which time the larger Audi EVs (and those of its rivals) will have had time to reach buyers and normalize the idea of a fully-electric German luxury vehicle from a mainstream brand. Production will occur alongside the I.D. Neo at VW’s Zwickau plant.

Earlier reports claim the unnamed Audi will arrive with a footprint similar to that of the Q3 crossover. Expect a rear-drive setup in single-motor guise, all-wheel drive with twin propulsion units.

As early specs for the I.D. Neo claim 181 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of instant torque, the cheapest Audi EV should mirror these figures. While driving range depends on battery size decisions Audi hasn’t yet revealed, industry sentiment states 200 miles should be the absolute minimum.

The first MEB-based vehicle enters service in Europe early next year, with numerous models to follow. Audi’s E-Tron SUV goes on sale later this year.

[Image: Audi AG]

#Audi #Crossovers #ElectricVehicles #EVs #FutureVehicles #Platforms #ProductPlanning

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Tele Vision on Feb 09, 2019

EVs are great Sunbelt cars. They don't work for where I live but I get to be lectured about them by Sunbelters in the media. It's currently -40C here.

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- Mcs on Feb 09, 2019
  
  Really?? They do work where you live. There may be other issues like charging infrastructure and driving distance issues, but an EV is useable at -40C: youtu.be/capOgUHPz9Q?t=824
  
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- Stingray65 on Feb 10, 2019
  
  MCS - you keep pushing that Norwegian EV video to demonstrate how well EVs work in the cold, but have you actually watched the video? He loses about 1/3 of his range by having the car sit out in -36 degree weather for about 7 hours unplugged, and then drives very slowly 80kph or less to a charging station, where he waits in -30 degree weather for almost 1 hour to recharge his battery (what fun), and then drives slowly for another couple of hours before having to recharge again for an hour (more fun), and then finally arrives back in Oslo. A 24 hour unplugged stop in that weather would likely drain the entire battery causing permanent and expensive damage to the battery and rendering the car undrivable. Needing 2 hours of recharging to travel about 200 miles in the cold is also not going to be popular with very many people not getting the huge EV subsidies that Norwegians receive.
  
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- Tele Vision on Feb 10, 2019
  
  @mcs I want to tow my old, big, heavy boat ( with full gas tanks/bikes/tents/coolers ) with my family onboard in the Summer. I also need to punch though the odd snowdrift in Winter on my way to work, which is an 80 Km round-trip on country roads. I asked my employer if I could plug an EV in at work and got a 'Don't Ask - Don't Tell' sort of response. I would love an AWD truck with four motors and 100% torque at zero RPM but, with F-150s littering the Buy N' Sell pages for pennies on the dollar, I'm not in a hurry to spend money on an EV that can't do any of the above. I'd need a truck with the aforementioned four motors AND a range-extender aboard before I even think about it. A wee Diesel would be perfect.
  
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- Inside Looking Out on Feb 10, 2019
  
  @stingray65 ICE vehicle also consumes more gas at -40. So what?
  
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- Tele Vision on Feb 10, 2019
  
  @ Inside It's hard to mess with EFI stoichometry. EVs use more energy in the cold, too. Tire slippage; warming the cabin; seat heaters; aerodynamic drag; reluctant steering racks... And cold batteries! Nice try, though.
  
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- Multicam on Feb 10, 2019
  
  @Inside Looking Out ICE vehicles consume more gas at -40C... okay, do they consume enough additional gas to reduce their range by 40%? No? Didn’t think so. Can you still refill them in 5 minutes vs. however many hours for the EV? Yes. No way in hell I’d drive an EV in a legitimately cold climate. Didn’t we just talk about this here on TTAC?
  
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Loopy55 on Feb 10, 2019

I just want someone to give Tesla a bloody nose as I am quite tired of the Tesla drivers with their holier-than-thou attitude and number-plates here in SoCal.

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- SCE to AUX on Feb 10, 2019
  
  FWIW, I canceled my Model 3 reservation and got a Hyundai Ioniq EV instead. For me, Tesla presents too much drama, although I'm generally still supportive of what they're doing.
  
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- Jatz on Feb 10, 2019
  
  @SCE to AUX Aren't you tall? The Ioniq looks crampy and without shoulder-check visibility.
  
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- Tele Vision on Feb 10, 2019
  
  @SCE to AUX Well, THAT worm has certainly turned.
  
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- Inside Looking Out on Feb 10, 2019
  
  "I just want someone to give Tesla a bloody nose " Keep dreaming. I can see exactly opposite happening.Those people who buy Teslas are rich. Don't you think they just might be smarter than you?
  
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- Tele Vision on Feb 10, 2019
  
  @Inside Looking Out Money does NOT confer intelligence. Fact.
  
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