Being a member of the respected quattro clan, driving like a car means achieving a certain level of performance – and sometimes even exceeding it. Wein smiles like the citizen of a newly founded republic when he explains that the E-tron can effortlessly drive two full laps on the Nürburgring without overheating or running out of power, even though it stops revealing its lap time.
Embedded in the Namibian desert, the ring that came closest to the ring was a makeshift race track that was traced on a salt pan that stood in the moonlight as a runway for small planes. I drove my first lap in Auto mode, where the car can read the ground and distribute the torque to the axles as it sees fit. The numerous electronic driving aids worked synchronously in order to steer me in the right direction even after a slightly faster curve than recommended. So far, so good.
As I memorized the layout of the track, I threw caution into the warm, subequatorial wind and accelerated the pace. I turned off the ESC system completely – an unexpected feature in an electric family car – and used the slippery floor to give my most compelling impression of Walter Röhrl in his Sport Quattro, minus the flames, noise and rabid trailers. In these conditions, the E-tron becomes a car you dance with, not one you fight. This is impressive when you consider its size and its probably not insignificant weight. The low center of gravity helps eliminate body sway, while the electric quattro system performs several tasks to direct the torque to the wheel with the greatest traction and propel the car around a corner. The motors provide fast, linear acceleration outside of the corners. The E-tron is much more fun on dirt than a family-oriented luxury SUV should be.
I braked before sharp turns but just lifted the accelerator pedal to allow the energy recovery system to scrub speed as I approached the track’s softer corners. Audi’s clever electronic simulator charges the brake pedal with a natural feel that disguises the presence of an advanced brake-by-wire system. It also eliminates the pulsations that are normally felt as a side effect of the ABS system.
Audi admits that the e-tron is not a hardcore off-roader. It won’t be able to compete with a Jeep Wrangler on the Rubicon Trail. It’s about as convenient to drive off the beaten track as a Q3 or a Q5. But when it comes down to it, there’s a built-in off-road mode that unlocks the full power of the drivetrain and increases air suspension by two inches to avoid a karate match between battery and stone. In this configuration, I drove the E-Tron up a dune, deep in the orange sand, without tying myself up. I’ve also tackled a variety of obstacles, including foot-deep ruts. Most owners will leave this facet of the e-tron unexplored, but adventurous motorists can rest assured they are there.
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