The Audi E-Tron label has been applied to numerous electric vehicles and concepts for over 9 years. The new Audi E Tron SUV puts its stake in electric cars right into the ground.

The Audi E Tron specs for the new Audi E Tron SUV are as follows:

• 5 seats
• Dual motor
• All-wheel drive

The new Audi E Tron price is between $75,000-$87,000 before applicable state and federal tax credits. Audi is attempting to target buyers who are looking for a prestigious vehicle with all of the bells and whistles and then some – a status symbol.

What’s noticeably absent from the spec list is range. Audi is going to leave that for the EPA to pronounce. Other electric SUV competitors including those from Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and Tesla estimate ranges between 240 and 290 miles. 80 percent of this unknown range can be replaced in 30 minutes on a DC fast charger. A Level 2 home charger can fully charge the battery overnight, which isn’t surprising.

What we currently know about the Audi E Tron battery on the new SUVs is that it is 95-kWh, 7 feet long, and includes a 1,545 pound slab under the vehicle with 35 bolts holding it in place. The bottom side of the vehicle features a thick aluminum plate that is able to withstand most impacts with internal aluminum lattice supporting 36 battery modules connected to a conductive cooling system of gel and liquid. Audi says that their system is reliable and safe compared to the flaws found in Tesla’s system.

At the end of the vehicle sits one asynchronous AC motor. The rear does most of the work until other performance conditions including slippage force the front wheel motor to kick in. It also has Quatro all-wheel drive, accelerating to 60 miles per hour in approximately 5.5 seconds. Until a production unit is sent in for testing, we will reserve judgement on the selection of seven drive modes. The motors sit on axle lines instead of corners, while torque-vectoring is done by braking the wheels. One of the most interesting features about the E-Tron SUV is how it conserves its power.

When you’re braking or coasting, all four wheels and both of the motors contribute to regenerating the battery. This can be set to one of three levels with the help of steering wheel paddles. One of the most aggressive settings allows for one-pedal driving, which was first made popular by the second-generation Nissan Leaf and BMW i3. Audi predicts that over 90 percent of the E-Tron’s braking, which is about 0.3g, will be entirely handled through regeneration instead of brake pads. Instrument panel prompts will tell the driver when to lift off during driving based on analysis of camera imagery, forward radar sensing, and navigation data.

During an early test of the system, the braking system’s efficiency was verified through an innovative metric that comfortably placed a hand on cool brake rotors right after a steep descent into Pikes Peak.

Audi anticipates that this complex regeneration system will account for roughly 30 percent of the range of the E-Tron’s SUV, recognizing that lengthy charging times and heavy batteries are huge defects for EVs.

Audi’s plan for charging is just as ambitious as their onboard power handling. Audi has partnered with Amazon Home Services to support the installation and purchase of Level 2 chargers for your home, which is a first for the auto industry. While installing Level 2 chargers is nothing original, doing them with price shopping and fewer contractor interviews is. In partnership with Electrify America, a company that was created from a $2 billion VW fund set up as part of their settlement for emissions cheating, E-Tron charging is supported by a network that includes 500 fast charging sites while you’re on the road. People who purchase new E-Tron SUVs will receive the equivalent of 11 free full charges on this network during the first four years they own the vehicle and will also be allowed to use a variety of other chargers.

The network of available Electrify America stations, Amazon charger installations, battery regeneration, and the styling of the Audi E Tron SUV are all about one thing – reducing fear. Audi of America president Scott Keogh wants their customers to trust them. The company continues to try to make their trust leap as small as possible.

Audi is currently reserving their new 2019 vehicles for a nonrefundable $1,000 deposit. When the first vehicles are delivered by the middle of next year, Mercedes, Porsche, and Jaguar will be competing with Tesla. Mr. Keogh at Audi isn’t bothered by this, though. Consumers are looking for a car that’s interesting. They aren’t trying to be the first in line to purchase the latest vehicle; they just don’t want to be left behind.

That, in a nutshell, sums up our Audi E Tron review quite nicely.