Audi launches its first electric cars in Lebanon

When you first get into the cockpit, you almost wonder if you’ve just stepped aboard a spaceship. The two control screens, especially the one located just behind the steering wheel, offer an infinite number of possible commands. The impression is confirmed as soon as the driver presses the accelerator pedal.

Like an Airbus taking off, the instantaneous thrust, capable of accelerating to 100 km/h in just three seconds, pins passengers to their seats. All this does not make almost the slightest noise, except for the squeal of tires on asphalt.

Between futurism and tradition

But assuming the futuristic universe of this Gran Turismo-like concept car, it doesn’t break with the brand’s tradition of rings. Its sculpted lines follow those of previous models, designed by the hand of Marc Lichte: 4.99m long, 1.96m wide at just 1.41m high, reinforced with a 2.90g wheelbase. The brand’s official designer even considers it the latest arrival (two models have exactly the same appearance) nothing less than “the most beautiful thing he has ever created”.

The interior of the sedan also exudes elegance. The burgundy red upholstery of the four seats is even made from recycled plastic. What needs to be conveniently installed in order to take advantage of the open space over 488 kilometers of autonomy (472 kilometers for the GTI) at maximum load. Performance is made possible by the power of its two engines (one at the front and the other at the rear) for all-wheel drive and a battery with a usable capacity of 83.7 kWh.

The Audi e-tron GT quattro does have a total output of 476 horsepower (hp), which can momentarily go up to 530 hp using the boost mode that boosts its big sister, the Audi RS e-tron GT. up to 650 hp, which is almost unparalleled. spheres.

But if you don’t have 9 hours to fully charge, a five-minute connection may be enough to get 100 km of autonomy. Provided, of course, that he has a charging station installed at home, which is estimated by Audi’s communications department at $1,500-2,000.

Multiple energy sources available

Having contacted L’Orient-Le Jour after receiving an invitation to test the car, the latter was aware of the “challenge” associated with marketing this type of car in a country suffering from power outages like Lebanon. But without seeing this as an “obstacle,” Audi hopes to succeed in attracting customers who increasingly have their own power source.

The brand is also counting on this trend to encourage its public to switch to electric vehicles: “There are already different sources for recharging your car,” says Audi. Whether it’s third-party generators, the electrical terminals found at Medco gas stations and many malls, or the solar panels and inverters that more and more people are installing in their homes or workplaces. »

The German manufacturer also looks forward to partnering with Siemens to provide its customers with the best home charging solutions. And if it’s not setting sales targets yet, the ring-toting brand is already planning to expand its range of electric vehicles in the coming years.

The Audi e-tron GT quattro (about $100,000) and the RS e-tron GT (about $140,000) can be reserved now at www.audi-lebanon.com.