< < Car makers are making a fuss over the artificial sounds they’re required to produce for their EVs, and Audi is no exception. The German brand explained to Autoblog just how it created the sound for the production E-Tron GT, noting that it was an elaborate process. Audi created the sound from 32 distinct elements using custom software and some ad-hoc discovery. The “foundation” was a 9.8-foot plastic pipe with a fan grafted to one end, producing a low growl that suited the E-Tron GT’s sporty nature.The company’s Stephan Gsell noted the challenge of finding a sound that was pleasing, but also something you could live with every day. A Star Wars podracer sound might be a blast in short bursts, for example, but the novelty could wear off quickly during your daily commute.Audi didn’t borrow from the Porsche Taycan while working on the sound, the company said, although it did use similar techniques and was working on it at roughly the same time.The result is a sound that’s not quite as sci-fi as what you’ll find in the Taycan, but also not just a simple attempt to recreate a gas engine. We’re not quite sure it’s the “emotional” experience Audi claims it is, but that’s not entirely the point. The sound is at once a legal requirement to alert pedestrians as well as a void-filler for people who might be unsettled by the near silence of an EV cabin. And importantly, it’s optional on the inside — you can choose the intensity or turn it off altogether.If you’re wealthy enough to be in the market for an E-Tron GT, you won’t have to wait too long to try it. Production is due to start near the end of 2020, albeit in small numbers.

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 Car makers are making a fuss over the artificial sounds they’re required to produce for their EVs, and Audi is no exception. The German brand explained to Autoblog just how it created the sound for the production E-Tron GT, noting that it was an elaborate process. Audi created the sound from 32 distinct elements using custom software and some ad-hoc discovery. The “foundation” was a 9.8-foot plastic pipe with a fan grafted to one end, producing a low growl that suited the E-Tron GT’s sporty nature.

The company’s Stephan Gsell noted the challenge of finding a sound that was pleasing, but also something you could live with every day. A Star Wars podracer sound might be a blast in short bursts, for example, but the novelty could wear off quickly during your daily commute.

Audi didn’t borrow from the Porsche Taycan while working on the sound, the company said, although it did use similar techniques and was working on it at roughly the same time.

The result is a sound that’s not quite as sci-fi as what you’ll find in the Taycan, but also not just a simple attempt to recreate a gas engine. We’re not quite sure it’s the “emotional” experience Audi claims it is, but that’s not entirely the point. The sound is at once a legal requirement to alert pedestrians as well as a void-filler for people who might be unsettled by the near silence of an EV cabin. And importantly, it’s optional on the inside — you can choose the intensity or turn it off altogether.

If you’re wealthy enough to be in the market for an E-Tron GT, you won’t have to wait too long to try it. Production is due to start near the end of 2020, albeit in small numbers.

< <Audi wants to give prospective buyers of its electric Q4 SUVs plenty of options, so it has just unveiled the Q4 Sportback E-Tron concept — a “sexy back” coupé version of the Q4 E-Tron SUV it unveiled last year. The two vehicles will share Audi’s modular electrification platform (MEB), meaning the Sportback will pack an 82 kWh battery with 280 miles (WLPT) of range. It also shares the same 225kW electric powertrain that can propel it from 0-62 mph in 6.3 seconds.The interior, lighting, modeled fenders, large 22-inch wheels and other features will be the same on both vehicles, too. However, where the original Q4 E-Tron gives off a rugged SUV vibe, the Q4 Sportback concept has a more refined, rounded look. The D-pillars at the rear also slope more, making the Sportback version look longer, Audi noted.Inside, you’ll find a large-format heads-up display with a new augmented reality feature. That can display key info like GPS turning arrows “directly on the course of the road,” Audi said. It also offers a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and vehicle functions, with a strip of buttons below the A/C for control.Both Q4 E-Tron vehicles are smaller and considerably cheaper than the original E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback EVs. They can go farther on a charge, to boot, as the original Sportback E-Tron is only rated for 270 miles (max) by WLPT standards. The quattro all-wheel drive Q4 Sportback versions will go 280 miles, while the rear-wheel drive versions will be rated for up to 311 miles, again by WLPT standards (EPA ratings will be considerably less).Audi hasn’t released pricing for the Q4 Sportback E-Tron yet. However, the regular Q4 E-Tron model is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $45,000, so the Sportback version should be around that price too. That’s a full $30,000 less than the regular E-Tron, and puts the Q4 Sportback E-Tron into the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y price category. While it won’t match those vehicles in terms of range, Audi buyers can probably expect a higher level of build quality.

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Audi wants to give prospective buyers of its electric Q4 SUVs plenty of options, so it has just unveiled the Q4 Sportback E-Tron concept — a “sexy back” coupé version of the Q4 E-Tron SUV it unveiled last year. The two vehicles will share Audi’s modular electrification platform (MEB), meaning the Sportback will pack an 82 kWh battery with 280 miles (WLPT) of range. It also shares the same 225kW electric powertrain that can propel it from 0-62 mph in 6.3 seconds.

The interior, lighting, modeled fenders, large 22-inch wheels and other features will be the same on both vehicles, too. However, where the original Q4 E-Tron gives off a rugged SUV vibe, the Q4 Sportback concept has a more refined, rounded look. The D-pillars at the rear also slope more, making the Sportback version look longer, Audi noted.

Inside, you’ll find a large-format heads-up display with a new augmented reality feature. That can display key info like GPS turning arrows “directly on the course of the road,” Audi said. It also offers a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and vehicle functions, with a strip of buttons below the A/C for control.

Both Q4 E-Tron vehicles are smaller and considerably cheaper than the original E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback EVs. They can go farther on a charge, to boot, as the original Sportback E-Tron is only rated for 270 miles (max) by WLPT standards. The quattro all-wheel drive Q4 Sportback versions will go 280 miles, while the rear-wheel drive versions will be rated for up to 311 miles, again by WLPT standards (EPA ratings will be considerably less).

Audi hasn’t released pricing for the Q4 Sportback E-Tron yet. However, the regular Q4 E-Tron model is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $45,000, so the Sportback version should be around that price too. That’s a full $30,000 less than the regular E-Tron, and puts the Q4 Sportback E-Tron into the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y price category. While it won’t match those vehicles in terms of range, Audi buyers can probably expect a higher level of build quality.