Goodyear gains fitment on Audi's first all-electric SUV

SAN FRANCISCO — When Audi A.G.'s first fully electric sport utility vehicle, the e-tron, arrives in the U.S. next year, it will be rolling on Goodyear tires.

The Akron-based tire maker said Sept. 18 that it was selected to supply the e-tron with its Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 SUV tires in size 265/45R21.

The tires, Goodyear said, were engineered to the demands of the vehicle, including extended mileage required by electric vehicles, which operate at higher torque than vehicles with a traditional combustion engine.

The advanced construction of the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 SUV reduces treadwear, Goodyear said, adding that the tire demonstrates optimized braking and handling in all-weather conditions and at higher speeds. The SUV-optimized construction technology employed in the tire design also helps to improve cornering stiffness.

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 SUV features Active Braking Technology that can shorten stopping distances by nearly four feet on wet and dry roads, the tire maker said.

Goodyear's SoundComfort Technology was used in the design of the tire, The tire maker claims that technology can reduce the interior car noise by half, or up to 4 decibels.

Unveiled Sept. 18, the e-tron is among the first in a string of dedicated EVs from European auto makers that are taking aim at Tesla Inc. and other startups with Tesla-like ambitions.

The 2019 Audi e-tron, due in in U.S. dealerships in the second quarter of next year, will boast a 95-kilowatt-hour battery, standard all-wheel drive and several interconnected add-ons.

The five-seat premium crossover also has the same 0-to-60 time as a 2017 Audi A3 sedan (5.5 seconds) and the lowest top speed (124 mph) of any modern Audi except the 1984 Audi Coupe (116 mph). However, like all electric vehicles, the e-tron will featur almost immediate torque, boosting its sporty feel, Audi said.

An official range estimate in the U.S. will be available closer to launch next year, an Audi of America spokesman said. However, Audi A.G. has said the e-tron will have a range of just under 250 miles, based on the WLTP cycle used in Europe.

The 2019 e-tron will come in two standard trims as well as a special First Edition model limited to 999 vehicles. Pricing starts at $75,795 for the base Premium Plus trim and jumps to $82,795 for the higher Prestige trim level. The First Edition model has a starting price of $87,695.

Audi's first electric crossover employs a pair of cooled asynchronous motors attached to single-stage transmissions to deliver torque to the e-tron's axles. When the crossover is operating at moderate speeds under a light load, power primarily comes from the rear motor and axle, and when it is coasting, both motors operate free of magnetic drag torque, increasing efficiency, the auto maker said.

The e-tron recaptures energy to charge the battery as it is coasting as well as during braking, with the driver able to select the amount of energy recovery via paddles on the steering wheel. In its top recovery mode, the e-tron begins to slow as soon as the driver eases up on the accelerator, allowing the driver to operate the crossover with a single pedal.

Like a traditional high-end Audi quattro system, Audi's electric AWD in the e-tron is able to engage the front axle when the driver requests more power than the rear motor can deliver, or during wintry conditions or dynamic cornering. The e-tron also uses its electric brakes to selectively provide torque vectoring, increasing dynamic performance.

The e-tron is able to adjust its ride height automatically up to 3 inches, lowering itself at highway speeds to reduce drag. The body height also can be raised by the driver to increase clearance or to make it easier for passengers to get in and out of the vehicle. When equipped with an optional tow package, the e-tron is rated to tow as much as 4,000 pounds, Audi said, though its battery range would be limited under such a load.

_____________________________________________

Automotive News reporter Larry P. Vellequette contributed to this report.