The Audi E-tron quattro SUV is the first-ever pure battery electric vehicle (BEV) to earn the 2019 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ rating, the highest rating awarded by the non-profit organization and funded by auto insurance companies in the US. The ratings give buyers a way to directly compare the crashworthiness and safety features of different vehicles.
The “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. The E-tron body and structure exceled in safety performance, earning the top rating in all of the areas.
Helping the E-tron achieve the honor were standard Matrix Design LED headlights and standard automatic emergency braking. Standard, too, on the E-tron 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 87kph for detected pedestrians and bicyclists and can bring a vehicle to a full stop when traveling at speeds under 40kph.
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. The two electric motors deliver 561Nm of torque to accelerate the SUV from zero to 100kph in 6.6 seconds – with no hesitation and virtually silent.