A more powerful battery is said to be among improvements coming with next year’s facelift of Audi’s core electric car.

AS Audi here ramps up to public availability of its sportiest E-Trons, the GT and RS, detail is starting to emerge about changes coming to the derivatives that have been driving the all-electric models so far.

The E-Tron wagon, which Audi simply calls E-Tron, and E-Tron Sportback – common platform, more rakish bodyshape – are in for new batteries, more efficient motors, an upgraded electronics system that will enable greater energy recuperation among other enhanced functions and an increased range.

Those revisions are reportedly implementing in 2022 and occur as a mid-life refresh aimed to keep line relevant until a replacement, in the form of an all-new Q8 E-Tron, comes in 2026. 

The enhanced range is the big news.

As E-Tron currently presents - in $119,900 ‘50 Advanced’ (with a 71kWh battery) and $150,500 ‘55’ and $158,900 ’55 Advanced’ wagon variants, plus a $169,900 ’55 S Line’ with the Sportback styling, all with a 95kWh battery – Audi cites a range of 347 kilometres before requirement for replenishment from the smaller battery and 446kms from the larger, when installed in the more aerodynamic Sportback shape. Those figures are on Europe’s WLTP cycle, an economy gauge now used in New Zealand.

British publication Autocar claims the facelifted versions of those derivatives will achieve more than 600kms’ range in either bodyshape, mainly through adoption of a new battery pack though it also cites an "upgraded electronics system" with improved regenerative braking capabilities as also being influential.

Autocar doesn't confirm whether the updated models' batteries will increase in capacities – merely stating they are "new-generation" units – though a mild capacity increases is likely, from today's optimal 95kWh (86.5kWh usable) to around 120kWh.

It is not clear where this leaves the impending E-Tron GT and RS performance models, about to be become available at $195,400 to $273,500.  

Though these are on a different platform than the more mainstream choices, they run the more powerful of the two batteries in the general issue E-Trons.

As is, the 390kW/640Nm GT and a more affluent GT Quattro have a cited range of 487km while the 475kW/830Nm RS will deliver 472km on a charge, those figures also being based on WLTP estimate parameters.

The battery updates are reportedly designed to extend the SUVs' life cycles to around 2026 – making them seven to eight years old by the time they're replaced – for an all-new replacement, expected to take the Q8 E-Tron name.

The 50/55 wagon and 55 Sportback are based on a modified version of Audi’s MLB architecture, which was originally developed for petrol cars, whereas the GT and RS are on the new, electric-pure PPE underpinning so far only shared with co-developer Porsche (for the Taycan). Audi has another PPE-based model coming the boil, in the form of the Q6 E-tron, expected to be in production in 2023, also in wagon and Sportback formats. The Q8 E-Tron is also tipped to be a PPE car.

Audi and Porsche are also developing cars off the smaller MEB platform developed by the VW Group and used by a span of VW, Skoda and Cupra models, some already in production, though none have yet reached New Zealand.

The announcement of the Clean Car rebate for full EVs pricing under $80,000 might potentially accelerate their arrival, otherwise they won’t be released through distributor channels until 2023. In respect to products so far announced as being NZ-relevant, MEB underpins the VW ID.4, Cupra Born, Skoda Enyaq, Audi Q4 and Porsche Macan.

The 55 wagon has been on sale in New Zealand since 2019 and was followed last year by the 50 and the Sportback.

Audi recently announced intent to end sales of combustion engines outside of China by 2033 and said the last all-petrol or diesel vehicle under its branding will be introduced in 2026.

Meantime, Audi NZ has been ramping up its E-Tron GT and E-Tron RS campaign, largely with an expensive television pitch, ahead of next month’s public availability. 

It has yet to share volume expectations for the near-twin to the Porsche Taycan. At technical level the Audi variants roughly align with the Taycan 4S and Turbo respectively.

The GT is Audi’s fastest car since the combustion-engined R8 and the flagship is the first electric car from Ingolstadt’s famous RS division.

All versions send power to all four wheels, thanks to an electric motor on each axle, and have plenty of spark.

The output figures claimed for the models is as per their operation in normal driving mode. Engaging the launch control function lends both a brief but significant power bump off the line – the Quattro has 390kW for up to 2.5 seconds, while the RS achieves 475kW for the same duration.

This feature allows the Quattro variant to accelerate from 0–100kmh in a claimed 4.1 seconds on the way to a top speed of 245kmh. The RS completes the sprint in a claimed 3.3 seconds and tops out at 250kmh.

Keeping the performance in check is a comprehensive suite of chassis technology.

The GT gets adaptive damping as standard, while the RS model adds air suspension and an active rear differential.

All-wheel steering is optional on both, as are carbon ceramic brake discs. The RS version does get tungsten carbide coated discs by default. Under braking, the electric motors provide approximately 0.3 g of regenerative deceleration, which Audi says can achieve a maximum recuperation of 265kW.

 The GT offers with 19-inch rims, but can be optioned to adopt the 21 inchers the RS runs with.

The car is 4990mm long but also low, with a height of just 1410mm. The body is 1960mm wide (not including mirrors), and Audi says the overall shape has a drag coefficient of just 0.24.

The standard cabin features leather-free "sustainable" upholstery, while a leather package can also be optioned.  The cabin uses some of the current Audi switchgear and detailing, but it debuts a lovely new steering wheel and has a simpler centre stack than some models in the range.

A stepped battery layout under the floor has been designed to maximise cabin space, while boot capacity sits at 405 litres. 

The Pre Sense Front and Pre Sense Basic safety systems are fitted as standard on both models, as is lane departure warning. Three optional safety packages are on offer, these being “Tour,” “City,” and “Park.”

Matrix LED headlights are fitted as standard on the RS E-Tron GT and offered as an option on the E-Tron GT Quattro, while Audi’s laser light high beam feature can also be specified on either model.