Audi e-tron S delayed until early 2022

The high-performance Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback have been delayed slightly for the Australian market, with the brand now indicating an ‘early 2022’ arrival.

Originally slated for a late-2021 market launch, the e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback feature a tri-motor electric drive system hooked up to a 95kWh lithium-ion battery pack shared with the 55 quattro variants.

With one e-motor on the front axle and two at the rear, the e-tron S models quote system outputs of 320kW and 808Nm in its standard setting.

Pop it in ‘boost’ and those figures bump to 370kW and 973Nm, good for a 0-100 dash in 4.5 seconds – not bad when you consider the quoted 2695kg when a driver is on board.

In its standard mode, the e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback claim to hit 100km/h from a standstill in a still-respectable 5.1 seconds.

As for range, the company’s European spec sheet says the e-tron S offers between 344km and 372km on the combined WLTP cycle, depending on specification.

Energy consumption, meanwhile, is rated at 26.2-28.4kWh/100km according to the stricter WLTP regime, again based on specification.

By comparison, the current e-tron 55 quattro range-topper offers 300kW and 664Nm from its dual-motor e-drivetrain, and quotes a 0-100 time of 5.7 seconds.

The 55 quattro also gets a 95kWh battery pack, but claims a longer range of 446 kilometres on the combined WLTP test cycle.

Pricing for the new e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback hasn’t been confirmed yet, but expect the performance pair to be a decent premium over the 55 quattro versions of the e-tron and e-tron Sportback – which list for $146,100 and $157,100 before on-road costs respectively.

Audi Australia offered First Edition versions of the 55 quattro models for a circa-$13,000 premium over their respective base trims, so we’re expecting an upcharge of at least $15,000-$20,000.

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