Slideshow: e-Tron Prototype Tows Vision Gran Turismo at Wörthersee
What better way to demonstrate the e-Tron Prototype's towing power than by pulling a the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo concept?
Showing Off
Towing is typically important to most truck and SUV owners. Well, maybe not most soccer mom SUV owners. But still, it's nice to know that you can pull a trailer if needed. And to give us peace of mind surrounding its electric future, Audi has been hard at work lately demonstrating the towing capabilities of its e-Tron prototype. The latest of which involves a little bit of a "show off" session pulling nothing less than the e-Tron Vision Gran Turismo.
Dream to Reality
The promotional stunt took place leading into the 37th GTI Meet at Lake Wörthersee, which takes place each year in early May. And it's significant for multiple reasons. For starters, the fact that Audi transformed the electric, Formula E-inspired Vision Gran Turismo racer into a reality.
Show Pony
Previously, the racer existed only virtually on the PlayStation 4. But by bringing it to life, Audi now has a nice little EV racer to show off in the increasingly popular Formula E racing series, even if it isn't actually participating in the race.
Proving Grounds
As for the e-Tron SUV, this is an important step in proving that it's capable of everything we'd expect from an internal-combustion powered 'ute. We don't yet know the e-Tron's actual towing capacity, but we'd expect it to at least match the Tesla Model X's max figure of 5,000 pounds.
Fast, and Fast Charging
We already know that if nothing else, the e-Tron Quattro will be quite fast. A trio of electric motors and a 95-kilowatt-hour battery pack provide plenty of juice. And that same pack is DC fast-charging capable up to 150kW, which reduces charging time to a mere 30 minutes.
Made for the Real World
All of which is critical as we continue to creep into a world of electric vehicle viability. Audi aims to "demonstrate its suitability for everyday use" with these sorts of exercises. Beginning with the prototype's solid 248.5-mile range in the WLTP driving cycle.
Built to Do It All
The goal here is providing optimal performance on any terrain - whether that be on or off-road. And the fact that it will come with an optional trailer hitch only adds to that viability. Whether you use it to tow a horse trailer or your weekend racer.
Slippery in the Wind
Further helping the e-Tron prototype to achieve its amazing numbers is a class-best drag coefficient of 0.28. It took over 1,000 hours of wind tunnel testing to achieve that incredible result, which helps not only performance but efficiency as well.
Changing with the Times
It's all part of what Audi calls "the dawn of a new era for the brand with four rings." Instead of simply continuing to exist as nothing more than a classic carmaker, Audi aims to become a systems supplier for mobility, offering tailored solutions for charging at home and on the move.
End of Range Anxiety
Charging the production e-Tron will be incredibly easy on the move, too. Drivers simply register on the myAudi portal and use a single card at any charging point. And in 2019, even that won't be necessary as the car will be able to authorize itself. Planning trips on the app will even plot charging points along the way, so forget about range anxiety. And that's the future of electric vehicles we're looking forward to!
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