CARS
In Latin, “audi” means “listen!” We did, and the car runs almost silently – the only sound was a soft hissing noise during acceleration and braking. The double-glazed windows, air suspension and quality assembly all work together to create a profoundly quiet environment. The e-tron continues to pleasantly surprise the senses with haptic feedback screens, automatic steering – if you happen to let go of the steering wheel – and a smoothness found only in electric motors. But most importantly, the e-tron handles with surprising ease, feeling almost weightless. The lowest possible centre of gravity makes this four-wheel drive vehicle very easy to manoeuvre despite its weight of 2,490 kilos empty, as it is perfectly balanced on the two axles. With 300 kW (408 hp) under the hood, passing other cars is easy. The supercharged torque (664 Nm), available instantly, can smooth out every bump in the road and easily ascend even the steepest gradients with no effort. It is also possible to tow 1,800 kilos. And when going downhill, the motors switch to generators, recouping up to 70% of the electric input, which Audi claims is a record. Managing the intensity of the energy recovery with the paddle shifters on the steering wheel becomes second nature as you continue to drive. Light pressure on the brake pedal also activates the “brake motor” which encourages proactive driving. The disc brakes only kick in during hard braking, slowing the kinetic energy with heat. The 417 km
advertised range therefore includes regular energy recovery.
Some test runs in ruts and spring snow put the all-wheel-drive to the test Priced at 12,200 Swiss francs higher than the Audi, the imposing Tesla X, with a 100 kWh battery, offers more than 100 kilometres of range, which is quite significant. That said, with 95 kWh, the e-tron already allows for a few solid
sets of sporty driving and several minutes of heated seats before the battery runs dry in the middle of a remote valley. And while the actual range starts to run short after more than 300 km (consumption of 23.7 kWh/100 km in WLTP cycle increases to about 28 kWh/100 km on hilly terrain), the Audi has yet another card to play: its ability to take shortcuts thanks to off-road mode that raises the body off the ground by a few centimetres. Some test runs in ruts and spring snow put the all-wheel-drive to the test: while there is no mechanical link between the axles, the e-tron can escape a tricky situation thanks to its precise electronic connections. It is proof that today’s electric vehicles can make sparks fly on any terrain, in any form.
THE ALTERNATIVE
These include most, if not all, navigation commands, including temperature and driving modes. Your smartphone has a dedicated location and can be induction-charged. All that’s left to do is set the ionising temperature, trust the backup cameras and slide your thumb across the gear selector to D...
SWISSQUOTE MAY 2019
JAGUAR I-PACE, THE 2019 CAR OF THE YEAR
For its first foray into electric vehicles, Jaguar designed a refined hatchback touring car with quality safety features (AWD) and performance. Its two engines generate 294 kW (400 hp) and 696 Nm. This is more than enough to rocket the 2.2 tonne I-PACE from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. With a WLTP consumption of 22 kWh/100 km (2.4 L petrol equivalent), its range exceeds 400 km. Price: starting at CHF 82,800
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