Alanis Altınbaş: If We Could See Electricity: The New Audi e-tron

Electricity is an invisible power. If you were to imagine electricity as a car, only the new Audi e-tron with its magnificent design and 408 hp capable of "teleporting" you could manifest before your eyes...

By Alanis Beril Altınbaş

Competition among electric vehicles is far higher than that of fossil-fueled ones. Electric vehicle manufacturers are forced to create a competitive edge in both range and design. It is safe to say that a large segment of them has struggled to do so. This is because most of what we have seen so far are "eccentric" modern designs from the future that look too similar to one another, and apart from range values, very few models manage to make a real difference in the market.

Some premium brands rushed to be the "first" in the electric market, acting before truly understanding what a customer expects from an electric vehicle. Naturally, they were met with great disappointment. I won't embarrass these brands by listing their first models here; you can easily find for yourself how much they "failed" in terms of sales figures.

Audi, following the German school of thought, digests every step of the process. While brands that fail to understand what the customer truly wants remain stagnant, Audi’s approach is not just to "be there," but to offer electric cars in such a refined way that customers can upgrade to an electric vehicle instantly, without a second thought or feeling alienated...

THE UPGRADE!

To upgrade is to rise. Moving from a fossil-fueled vehicle to an electric one is exactly that. To grasp this, you need to test and experience many different brands and models like we do. Unless you are a die-hard "petrol-head" who says, "I love atmospheric engines, the roar from my car sounds like music to me; I can't rest unless I find road dust and exhaust smoke; breathing in carbon dioxide is my pride," then we have nothing left to say to you.

But for those of us who consider their budget, appreciate the agility and economy of electric vehicles, and are mindful individuals who realize they can charge them anywhere (including long trips), it is impossible not to see that the near future belongs solely to electric and hydrogen-fueled transport. If you have driven enough electric cars to perceive the driving differences between them and fossil-fueled cars, the transition is inevitable.

DRIVING

THOSE WHO GO ELECTRIC NEVER GO BACK TO FOSSIL FUELS!

Now, we are facing a new Audi model mature enough to tell you this out loud: e-tron! e-tron: If electricity had a photograph! Electrification visualized!

The Audi e-tron reflects the fundamental formal expression of Audi design and easily transitions it into the electric era. Distinctive details such as the specific entry area, the new electric driving technology's signature daytime running lights, and the absence of exhaust pipes define its unique style.

What I love most about the Audi e-tron is that it doesn't scream "I'm electric" to its surroundings. You can perceive it as an electric car only through its subtle details. Audi’s well-loved characteristic features have been applied to the e-tron without sacrifice—only with added sporty elements—to visualize electrification.

This vehicle looks truly chic and sporty. It feels as if we are inside an Audi RS. The Audi logo on the front grille has been blackened, and the e-tron logo at the back is similarly finished in a dark, sporty tone. Even the giant 22-inch wheels reflect the characteristic RS elements across the entire car.

To an outside observer, its "electric" nature might not be immediately apparent. This emerges as a point of distinction created by Audi in electrification, without hiding its sporty DNA—and in fact, enhancing it.

While competitors lose their characteristic features with eccentric designs that look like "crazy gadgets from the future," they lose customers for that very reason.

The Audi e-tron offers up to 300 kW (408 hp) of power and a range of up to 390 km. When used in 'Efficient' mode, it consumes very little electricity. We observed that the driving range hardly decreased, especially in urban use.

The 'Dynamic' mode, however, allows you to "teleport" as you are pinned to your sports seats. Between these two extreme modes, the car can house multiple different characters within a single chassis. This means that whichever family member drives the e-tron, they will find a driving experience positioned exactly to their own character.

CONCLUSION

The Audi e-tron S line 55 quattro, which we had for testing, is a "stealth" electric teleportation vehicle that glides silently. It doesn't shout "I am an element of mobile mobility" like its rivals who look like they fell out of a sci-fi movie.

This demonstrates that Audi has not only thoroughly understood what customers expect from electric vehicles and beautifully stylized electrification, but has also executed it flawlessly in terms of functionality.