Audi e-tron Quattro Prototype on Audi's Stand at Geneva - so the Jaguar i-Pace knows it's coming

Audi e-tron Quattro Prototype at Geneva

The Audi e-tron quattro electric SUV is on the floor at the Geneva Motor Show, just so the Jaguar i-Pace knows it won’t have the premium electric SUV market to itself.

In many ways, the star of the Geneva Motor Show is the Jaguar i-Pace, all ready to go in production guise and offering a real premium alternative in the SUV market.

With its unique cab-forward styling and the promise of real driving abilities – not to mention a 300 mile range and a starting price under £60,000 – the i-Pace is as much a game-changer for Jaguar as the XJ was in 1968.

That Jaguar has managed to get a jump on other premium makers with the i-Pace, by accident or design, is a real achievement. But they’ll soon have competition.

Not only is the Mercedes EQC on the way, so too is the Audi e-tron quattro, and Audi has taken the unusual step of coming to Geneva with prototypes of the e-tron quattro to make sure Jaguar knows they’re coming after them.

We reported last week that Audi would be running the camouflaged e-tron round the streets of Geneva during the show, but they’ve also plonked a prototype e-tron front and centre on their stand in Geneva. Just so you know it’s on the way.

Audi aren’t keen to give too many details on the e-tron, save to point out that it offers 150 kW charging (the i-Pace only offers 100kW) and will offer long-distance range.

But it seems likely Audi will offer more than one ‘power’ option, with the initial entry-level e-tron matching the Jaguar’s 400bhp and 300 mile range.

But the big difference is perhaps in the execution of the e-tron, with Audi’s electric SUV packaged in a more conventional body than the i-Pace. Is that what the market wants – it seems to be the way the Mercedes EQC is going too – or will the I-Pace’s new design direction be the key to its success?

That’s probably the biggest question, and with the e-tro due to arrive in production guise at the end of August it won’t be too long before we find out which way the premium electric SUV market is going to blow.