Audi was founded by August Horch who worked under Karl Benz. He was a young German engineer but had enough aspirations that he would end up creating the 2nd largest German auto company and overwhelmed the automotive industry. Audi now delivers a little under 2 million cars per year with a quarter of them being Q5 and A6 models.
Audi is 2nd among all automakers in the number of 24 hours of Le Mans wins. Porsche is in the first place with a total of 18 wins. Audi has scored 13 wins in total. However, Audi only began racing at Le Mans in 2000, whereas Porsche's 18 wins have been scored starting in 1970.
Audi was the first car brand to win the race using a hybrid vehicle when it entered with an R18 e-Tron Quattro. Now it's time for the 2020 Audi Q4 e-Tron and here are 15 things we know about it.
15 Compact City-Friendly SUV
The 2020 Audi Q4 e-Tron is 4.59 meters long and 1.90 meters wide, which places it in the upper third of the compact class. However, as there is no transmission tunnel, the car offers enough space for each passenger. The company emphasizes that the vehicle is especially generous with its legroom.
14 12.3 Inch Touchscreen
The 12.3-inch touchscreen is where all vehicle functions are operated. It sits in the middle of the center console. AC buttons are located below it. Since the center console does not have a gear lever or a hand brake, it has a spacious storage compartment with a phone charging station.
13 Two Powerful Electric Motors
The car has got two electric motors: one in the rear end and one for the front wheels. The first one delivers an output of 150 KW with a 310 Nm torque. There's another motor with 74 kW and 150 Newton meters of torque that supplies the front wheels. The battery range is over 450 km.
12 Sporty Feeling, Precise Handling
The 2020 Audi Q4 e-Tron's drive components are installed in low and central parts of the car. Axle load distribution is balanced at 50:50. The battery that weighs 510 kg is placed between the axles. The center of gravity is at the same level to that of a sedan with a conventional driving system.
11 New MEB Platform
The MEB platform is developed for the new 2020 Audi Q4 e-Tron by Volkswagen. As the company says, it should "reduce the number of microprocessors, advance the application of new driver-assistance technology, and somewhat alter the way cars are built". The platform monitors axles and wheelbases and analyses their interactions.
10 0-63 In 6.3 Seconds
The company claims 0-63 mph in 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph. Two electric motors provide all-wheel drive and make 300 horsepower. The estimated price is around $70,000, which makes it an alternative to the Mercedes EQC. The 2020 Audi Q4 e-Tron is expected towards the end of the year.
9 Electronic Stabilization Control
In a potentially dangerous situation, this system applies brakes on each wheel individually. This gives the vehicle enough force to keep moving in the intended direction. The program works together with the Anti-lock Brake System. It also has a dry brake function which means that the system wipes excess water off the brake discs.
8 Central Suspension Control Unit
The Q4 e-Tron has an electromechanical unit at every corner of the suspension system. During fast cornering, the Suspension Control Unit counters the compression of the wheels and minimizes pitch and dive during heavy braking. Each unit can apply up to 1100 Nm of force and change it depending on the driving conditions.
7 Adaptive Air Suspension
Adaptive air suspension is the system that changes body height depending on the speed and driving style. When the speed is continuously high, it lowers the car by 15 mm. At average speeds, the system raises the level by 35 mm. When you're driving slowly, you can manually increase the height by 10 mm.
6 Power Electronics Of The Electric Motors
As the company said, power electronics is one of the most expensive systems in the 2020 Audi Q4 e-Tron. The inverter in the powertrain transforms battery voltage from DC to AC as required by the motor. The system is responsible for utilizing the potential of the car and making it fun to drive.
5 Dynamic Handling System
Dynamic handling system is an intelligent unit that offers 4 pre-set driving modes. In every mode, the car shows off a different personality. It can be a relaxed freeway cruiser or a powerful race vehicle. In performance mode, 3 additional settings are available: wet, dry and snow. They make handling even more precise.
4 Redesigned Control And Display Concepts
One of the main brand innovations is the redesigned virtual cockpit with its high-end animations and modern lighting effects. A new graphics processor is made by Nvidia, a company with whom Audi has partnered for years. The tachometer generates 60 frames per second and shows the speed with maximum precision.
3 Lightweight And Quality Wheels
Since lightweight design is one of the priorities, the company made the alloy wheels even lighter. They used flow-forming technology, in which the rim well of a wheel is rolled out at 300 degrees Celsius. In doing so, it compresses the material and makes it thinner. The wheel thus becomes lighter and sturdier.
2 Rapid Charging
Rapid charging adds as much range as possible in a short amount of time and makes longer journeys more pleasant. The 2020 Audi Q4 e-Tron can go from 10% to 80% in 41 minutes. It can even charge in 31 minutes if you use an ultra-rapid charge point that delivers 150 kW DC.
1 Light Interior Colors And Recycled Materials
The light color scheme emphasizes the feeling of spaciousness. White and beige dominate the cabin while the dark carpet creates a depth effect. Window pillars and the upper section of the dash panel are fitted with microfiber textures. The floor covering is made of recycled materials. 4 seats are upholstered with Alcantara.