Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
Audi e-tron Quattro SUV is the first ever pure battery electric vehicle (BEV) that earned the 2019 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ rating, the highest rating awarded by non-profit organizations and funded by auto insurance companies in the U.S.A. The ratings give buyers a way to directly compare the crashworthiness and safety features of different vehicles.
The IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” is based on “Good” ratings—the highest rating given to the vehicle—in the six areas of crashworthiness performance: small front overlap collision evaluations on both the driver and passenger sides; moderate front overlap; side impact; roof strength; head restraints and seat performance. Through IIHS’ evaluations, the e-tron body and structure excelled in safety performance, earning the top rating in all of the said areas.
The standard Matrix Design LED headlights and standard automatic emergency braking helped the e-tron achieve the accolade. It comes standard with Audi pre sense basic, which can help prepare the vehicle for impact by partially closing the side windows and sunroof and pre-tensioning the front safety belts. Using a front-mounted camera, the e-tron can help initiate braking at speeds of up to 87 km/h for detected pedestrians and bicyclists and can bring a vehicle to a full stop when traveling at speeds under 40 km/h.
The full-size SUV, Audi e-tron, is the first full electric series-production model that is sporty and powerful, yet efficient and practical for everyday driving. This electric all-wheel drive is powered by two large lithium-ion battery with 95 kWh stored energy to provide a range of over 400 kilometers. With 561 Nm of torque, the two electric motors accelerate the electric SUV from zero to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds – with no hesitation and in virtual silence.
