Drivers of Audi e-tron models manufactured between 2019 and 2020 can unlock an additional 12 miles of range with a free software update.

The upgrade is applicable to 55 Quattro variants, built between September 2018 and November 2019, of which there are 1,655 in the UK.

It can be installed at an Audi service centre.

The update expands the usable capacity of the car’s 95kWh battery to to 86kWh and optimises the control of the front electric motor.

In normal driving mode, the motor attached to the rear axle is responsible for propulsion. For improved efficiency, the front electric motor is now almost completely disconnected and powered off – and only when more power is needed do both motors come into play.

The update also improves cooling. The thermal management system, which consists of four separate circuits, regulates the temperature of the high-voltage components more efficiently. Modifying the control system made it possible to reduce the volume flow rates in the coolant circuit, thus reducing energy consumption.

The cooling system is the basis for fast DC charging, long battery life, and consistent driving performance, even under high loads.

“At Audi, we deliver progress through technology – and there’s no clearer demonstration of that than the free software and range update we’ve just launched for our existing e-tron 55 quattro customers,” said Andrew Doyle, director of Audi UK. “As we shift our focus to the world of electric vehicles, we’re channelling our pioneering spirit and world-renowned technological expertise into the reinvention of our company as a leading light in the field of sustainable mobility.”