Audi is getting ready for their all-new e-tron electric SUV for a 17 September reveal, confirming the new date after a reveal pencilled in the calendar for the end of August was postponed.

Audi Chairman of the Board of Management, Rupert Stadler, has been temporarily relived of his post following his arrest by German officials as part of the latest VW Group diesel scandal probe. Abraham Schot, head of Audi's sales and marketing, and has taken up Stadler's role on a temporary basis.

The postponement of the original reveal is considered to be linked to Stadler's arrest and the scramble for a new chief executive to oversee the reveal of the new vehicle.

Stadler had previously outlined plans to manage the company’s carbon footprint, by taking steps to ensure each of its production facilities was CO2 natural by the end of the next decade.

“At Audi, we are not just using cleaner parts,” Stadler said at the reveal of the new Q8 in China earlier this year. “We are taking production to the next level. We are using a balancing CO2 emissions. By 2030, each of our sites will be carbon neutral.”

He went on to say that by 2025 “every third Audi will be electrified.”

Little additional information was revealed about the new e-tron SUV in China, but we already know that while the original concept used a drivetrain consisting of three electric motors, the production model will feature just two, with one powering each axle. A 95kWh battery pack has been confirmed, made up of 36 shoebox style battery modules. The batteries are housed in the floor of the vehicle for better weight distribution.

A revised all-electric range has been issued under new, stricter WLTP testing standards. Audi claims that the e-tron will be capable of over 249 miles on a single charge, though we'll have to wait a little longer for some performance figures.

On the charging front, Audi claims the e-tron's extensive thermal management system will enable the car to recharge at a Tesla-beating output of up to 150kW at DC charging stations. It means that at stations capable of charging at such a rate - such as the IONITY charging points currently being built by a wide group of European manufacturers - the e-tron will recharge from flat to 80 per cent in less than half an hour.

Audi will also launch what it calls the e-tron Charging Service, which it says will grant buyers access to around 80 per cent of Europe's charging points, regardless of operator. Buyers will only have to carry one ‘e-tron card’ rather than several for different charging suppliers. From mid-2019 onwards, all e-tron models rolling off the firm's Belgian production line won't need the card at all, and will support a system called Plug & Charge. The system will automatically authenticate the car at the charging station.

An 11kW home charger will be included as standard, enabling an 8.5-hour recharge. A 22kW system cuts this to 4.5 hours, and enables smart charging by selecting off-peak hours to recharge the vehicle if the owner desires.

Design-wise, the production e-tron is set to be subtly toned down from the design of the concept first seen in 2015. With designer Marc Lichte determined to add more differentiation between models, the e-tron will feature a different front end shape to the Q5 and Q7, with a smaller, partially blanked grille and reshaped headlamps.

A broad shoulder line is expected to stretch the length of the SUV’s side profile, while a coupe-like rear end shape will help give it a sleeker look than other Audi SUVs. Aerodynamics are a big focus, as the firm looks to trump the I-Pace with a drag coefficient target of just 0.25Cd, maximising the battery’s range. Auto Express understands that the production car will be offered with ultra-slim, camera based wing mirrors to this effect.

The interior of the e-tron has been revealed, with clear influence from the Q8 in terms of the appearance of the dashboard. It features Audi's new dual-screen setup with haptic feedback displays, while a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel is also equipped. Placed on each door are fourth and fifth displays to support the optional rear view cameras.

The SUV sits on an adapted version of the MLB platform that underpins the Q5 and Q7. Power outputs are still under wraps, although we know the concept claimed to produce 496bhp and 800Nm of torque, translating to a Model X-rivalling 0-62mph sprint time of 4.5 seconds.

It’s possible that Audi will adopt Tesla’s strategy of offering a number of power outputs, allowing a competitive entry price as well as more expensive performance variants. However, the 95kWh limit seems like the maximum output due to space constraints, so any further e-tron models using the electrified platform will likely feature smaller battery packs and boast more affordable price tags.

The e-tron is the first vehicle in Audi's all-out assault on the premium SUV market, with eight new high-riding models due to arrive before the end of the decade.