Audi’s new electric e-tron Sportback has just made landfall at dealerships across the UAE and, saving the planet aside, the manufacturer has gone all out to make it both a practical and pretty option. Most would say the company has succeeded on the attractiveness front and, with a predicted range of nearly 450 kilometres, the new arrival seems to have the day-to-day usability angle covered, too. Equipped with the all-wheel-drive system that has become trademarked by Audi as quattro (it means four in Italian), the e-tron can operate on any terrain and, as the manufacturer says, “allows the driver to relish the interaction of efficiency, performance and supreme calm”. It’s certainly fairly nippy for a larger vehicle, accelerating from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 6.8 seconds (5.7 in boost mode) and reaching 190kph foot to the floor. Neat touches include an S-line logo that embellishes the radiator grille, with the same moniker on the illuminated aluminium door-sill trims. At the rear end, the spoiler fitted as standard (in addition to a diffuser) extends across the entire width of the vehicle. The interior offers a 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit, and there is enough space for five people. Seat-wise, customers can choose between standard, sport, S-sport seats and the custom-designed contour variety, with optional ventilation and massage functions. Prices start at Dh430,000 for the Sportback, and the new models are in showrooms across the UAE now.