We gave our watersport lovers one job:
Learn the ins and outs of the Aerofoils eFoil. We were three people testing these boards as much as possible. We found some flaws but ended up loving this system. One year later, it’s still testing well.
Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews.
Expectations naturally run high with a name like Audi attached to any machine. Initial impressions of the eTron efoil by Aerofoils will remind of the sleek engineering that goes into Audi’s luxury cars.
The German-made efoil is sleek and presents quality in both aesthetic and practical design upon unboxing. Compared to “budget” options like Waydoo or SiFly, the eTron foil is a demonstration of beautiful engineering with a tactile elegance on the carbon fiber mast and wings. Even the board and tools included in the package are impressive.
The two board options, Adventure and Performance, are for cruising or a more freestyle experience, respectively. Both can be customized with the same interchangeable wings for slower surfing and beginner-friendly riding or faster-paced sessions with more agility.
All in all, Aerofoils bears the Audi name quite appropriately into the awesome realm of efoiling.
Things we like:
-
Beautiful equipment and ultra pleasant experience -
Amazing surface
-
Steady cruising power when up and flying
-
Adventure board can be used by beginners with some boarding experience
-
Remote has one of the better UX
-
Lightweight board and battery
Things we don't like:
-
Only one engine type (no surf-friendly, gliding motor) -
The shiny, pretty finish will get scratches
- Ideal for: Intermediate to Advanced
- Mast Height: 80 cm
- Board Weight: 9.5 kg / 20.9 lbs (Adventure) & 8.5 kg / 18.7 lbs (Performance)
- Battery Weight: 19.4 kg / 42.7 lbs
- Charge Time: 120 minutes (fast charge), 5 hrs 30 min (slow charge)
- Accessories included: Transport bag, charger, battery, hand controller, board, mast, wings, and jet engine
- Ride Time: Up to 2 hours
Aerofoils: An Audi Efoil
The founders of Aerofoils, Franz Hofmann, a former AUDI engineer, and Christian Rössler, with a background in aeronautics, combined their individual skills to design a performance efoil with a focus on safety.
These principles are evident in the AUDI e-tron Foil by Aerofoils, as seen in the streamlined, fully shielded jet propulsion engine. It also gives this efoil its sleek appearance and provides a quieter experience with minimal drag.
The Adventure efoil is a large board at 5.77 feet (176 cm) with a volume of 103 liters. That makes it more ideal for less experienced riders and heavier bodies.
The significantly smaller Performance board measures in at just over 5 feet (153 cm) and 83 liters for less buoyancy when starting out.
Both boards attach to one of the longest masts in the industry, measuring 31.5 inches (80 cm), with a jet that can, in theory, propel to a top speed of up to 31 mph (50 km/h). We were more than happy cruising or riding slalom well below the 25 mph mark.
The 44.25 Ah (2.23 kWh) lithium-ion battery is one of the lightest power/weight units you can find. On paper, Aerofoils claims 2 hours of ride time, but for most sessions, you can expect something closer to 1 and a half hours.
The two locking clasps of the top battery compartment stay out of the way of your feet and keep the internals nicely airtight, whether getting splashed or even when upside down in the water.
AUDI e-tron will Get you Flying
Rigorously tested at AUDI’s test lab and inspired by aircraft design, the AUDI e-tron foil is a beautiful machine, from the compact design of the small jet propulsion engine all the way to the design of the packaging materials.
The AUDI e-tron efoil simply feels like a premium product with its sleek high-resolution hand controller, wing designs, and thoughtfully crafted hull that places the padded platform in a raised position so you can find the perfect riding stance with little thought.
German engineering can be seen and felt throughout every aspect of this efoil’s build and functionality, highlighted by a data-packed high-resolution color display integrated into the hand controller.
Marketed as one of the safest efoils in the industry, the AUDI e-tron Foil by Aerofoil is an ideal machine to enjoy the best of what this growing hobby offers. There’s an extra peace of mind knowing that, even if you kick the engine by accident when in the water, there’s no contact with the impeller. Unlike open prop motors.
The flipside of jets, though, is that they don’t deliver the same amount of instant torque. But Aerofoils propulsion is strong enough to easily lift a 100 kilo (220 lbs) rider out of the water.
103L for the larger Adventure board and 83L for the smaller Performance board gives riders of all weights and skill levels ample support to easily get to standing and fly across the water with ease.
In the long run, the Performance board has the advantage of better portability and agility, whereas the Adventure offers a more easy-going experience and will be easier to introduce to the uninitiated.
Premium Feel
Upon first look (even from the packaging), it is easy to see that the Aerofoils team had luxury and advanced technology in mind when creating the AUDI e-tron efoil. Eye-catching color patterns and smooth rails with a distinct, crocodile-style padded platform give riders great foot placement. Although it’s worth mentioning that the pristine glean on the carbon chines and hull will show signs of use. Maybe even quicker than other boards, but we’re thinking that they can be touched up at an Audi body shop if needed.
Aerofoils, in fact, recommends using bubble wrap around the board as well as the included transport bag when moving it to help better protect your investment. Considering how arduous a task it is to transport an efoil, with the board in a bag and a larger boxy bag for mast and wings, this is a notable trade-off to be aware of.
How Do They Ride?
Extremely well and super smooth for being larger efoil models! The AUDI e-tron high-tech hand controller is amazingly responsive, with less abrupt speed changes when handling the trigger. And provides riders with three different ride profiles along with lots of data, both in real-time and post-ride.
The best stat for beginners and intermediates is the flight time data point. It shows, as a percentage, how much time is spent up and foiling versus fluttering along the surface of the water.
The lithium-ion battery provides plenty of power, but jets–while safer–are a bit slower on take-off compared to open propeller engines. Props provide more initial torque than enclosed jet engines. Awake’s Vinga motor is an exception to this due to its bigger size.
The e-tron has a few options for wings geared toward different performance levels and lengths, the larger Freeride 1350 allowing for flight at lower speeds, making it a better option for beginners. Aerfoils also has an intermediate wing, Freeride 1100, that is slightly shorter than the 1350 and gives riders a more playful and loose efoil experience.
For thrillseekers and speed races, the Freerace 900 offers the highest speeds and the most range of motion to carve tight, quick turns with the shortest wing.
The AUDI e-tron Foil by Aerofoil is also one of the lightest efoils in terms of weight, including the battery; it measures only 32 kg / 70 lbs, making it super easy to carry and handle. The low weight is thanks to the build with a carbon board, light aluminum mast, and slim, fully shielded jet impeller.
The long 80 cm mast may seem redundant at a first glance, but it gives you much more flight time versus a short mast. With a longer mast you have more time and space to float above the water when you’re riding, unlike machines with shorter masts that can often breach the water and have you dipping back down more frequently.
The longer mast has a distinctly forward leaning angle atop 80 cm of lightweight material. That length will allow for a sharper turning radius and flying above choppy water. It’s going to be a little challenging for less experienced riders, though.
A 44.25 Ah (2.23 kWh) lithium-ion battery is where most of the weight is concentrated, and even though it is lighter in weight, it still offers a long range of up to 40 km / 24.8 miles and an average ride time between 90 – 120 minutes.
On rough waters, you’ll only deal with choppy waves as you’re gaining speed and standing up, then you are smooth sailing when you’re planing above the water. The fully-shielded jet propulsion engine and its sleek design are key components of what make this efoil a top-quality ride.
The Aerofoil e-tron Foil engine is the smallest diameter impeller system we have seen, and although it doesn’t give a quick take-off like open prop efoils, riding speed and performance aren’t inhibited by its size.
The gearless jet propulsion drive gives Aerofoils a quiet and smooth ride from start to finish, even when depressing the trigger slightly, instead of an abrupt stop like you feel with an open propeller. Also, having a fully shielded jet drive means riders are less likely to access the sharp parts of its interior.
Performance
The AUDI e-tron Foil by Aerofoil does not disappoint when it comes to riding performance. The high-aspect wings, which currently have 3 variations (FreeRide 1350 and 1100, and FreeRace 900), are designed to give you a range of possible riding options suitable for all skill levels.
Aircraft Inspired Jet Propulsion
The small diameter shielded jet impeller offers minimal drag resistance and an increased energy efficiency that awards riders with a responsive, super fun ride that lasts for hours.
The electronic drive is fully integrated, so setup is a breeze. If you run into any issues with the engine, it has been designed to be easily swapped out if needed.
The AUDI e-tron 44.25 Ah (2.23 kWh) lithium-ion battery is designed with durability in mind as well as ease of setup, similar to the style of Fliteboard’s batteries. It connects to the board by seating it under the hatch in its snug fitting space. There are two power cables and a data cable that are secured with just a couple of clicks. The battery is heavy but lighter than most efoil batteries and is self-monitored to keep it from overheating.
State-of-the-art Hand Controller
The e-tron’s engine is kept in locked mode, so if you accidentally hit the trigger of the hand controller when walking with it or climbing on it, the motor won’t go. The auto-lock is easily unlocked with just a tap of a button on the hand controller, which comes with a beautiful sunlight-readable high-resolution color display.
The controller will float if accidentally dropped in the water. It is loaded with data readings like the battery life of the board battery and hand controller, trip tracking with GPS and Gyro, the time, your speed, and power level indicated by a specific color wheel.
There are three power profiles, each one with 10 sub levels, so you can choose to have a Nice & Smooth ride (blue color wheel), Gonna Fly (green color wheel), or a Rocket Ride (red color wheel), to suit every style and comfort level.
And when you’re done riding, you can see all of your trip stats through the connected app. It tracks your total ride distance, your average and maximum speed throughout the ride, and battery capacity to stay up to date on the health of your system.
We like the fact that, Aerofoils doesn’t require the app to activate their efoil.
Safest and Smallest Impeller
Aerofoil created a fully-shielded jet propulsion engine system that is easily one of the safest in the industry. Its small diameter, built-in-line design, and fully covered propeller ensure no harm in the water.
Aerofoil’s AUDI e-tron foil is striving to be the safest efoil on the market. While other premium players, like Flite and Lift and Awake claim similar standards with their jet motor variants, this doesn’t mean efoiling is as easy and safe as advertised.
We acknowledge that jets are less likely to cause harm than open propellers, but efoils in general, need to be respected. They are heavy, fast-moving vehicles that can do damage if not driven properly.
The 44.25 Ah (2.23 kWh) lithium-ion battery that powers the jet engine is self-monitoring to automatically adjust internal settings to address any problems before they occur, so you won’t be caught too far offshore in trouble.
Buoyancy for Beginners
The AUDI e-tron Foil carries ample buoyancy – both the Adventure and Performance boards are super floaty at 103L and 83L, respectively. Having a board with more offers riders of any larger size and weight the ability to pop up and get to foiling more easily. It also provides the most comfort and reassurance to newer riders who are still learning how to maneuver.
Addons / Accessories / Extras
The AUDI e-tron Foil by Aerofoil comes fully equipped with everything you need to get into the water right out of the packaging. But if you are looking to change your ride experience from super stable to more agile and playful. Aerofoil offers three different wing sets that are easily interchangeable to provide a ride that suits your needs.
Aerofoil has impeller sets you can purchase if yours becomes damaged, as well as the ability to purchase replacement hand controllers, stabilizer wings, and batteries. They also have a cool t-shirt and hat if you are interested in repping the brand outside of the water.
Side-by-Side Competitor Comparison
Propped up against industry competitors like Awake’s Vinga 3 and Lift 3 Foil which both have similar board sizes and rideability, the AUDI e-tron Foil by Aerofoil matches their reliability and ride style.
Compared to the Awake Vinga 3, the e-tron is just as buoyant, also has the same jet impeller style engine, and their prices are in the same ballpark. The only real differences are the click-to-ride technology and standard analog display found in the Vinga.
The Lift 3 Foil is more of a standard setup efoil with a shielded external propeller that sits a bit higher up on the mast and has the standard analog display. To us, the AUDI e-Tron has a bit more aesthetically on efoils like the Lift 3.
Looking at how Aerofoils developed as a concept, its impressive how it actually delivers. The Audi Activesphere design that integrates watersports with automobiles gives an added lifestyle thrust, an aesthetically pleasing benefit that’s uniquely located in the luxury side of efoiling.
Worth It?
With true safety in mind and enhanced tools like AUDI e-tron’s handset offering ride data and performance in real-time, the AUDI e-tron Foil offers innovative next steps in the efoiling industry. Its higher price tag ($12,499) reflects these advancements in technology along with its state-of-the-art build, design, and performance.
If you have the budget for it, the AUDI e-Tron will impress you when you see it and keep you flying across the water in style and good form.
Related Reviews
Things we like:
-
Beautiful equipment and ultra pleasant experience
-
Amazing surface
-
Steady cruising power when up and flying
-
Adventure board can be used by beginners with some boarding experience
-
Remote has one of the better UX
-
Lightweight board and battery
Things we don't like:
-
Only one engine type (no surf-friendly, gliding motor)
-
The shiny, pretty finish will get scratches
Frequently asked questions
You bring the balance AUDI e-tron can do the rest. The Audi e-tron Adventure board has great stability and buoyancy with a 103L volume. With this larger board riders of all sizes and weights can get up and start to love e-foiling.
Aerofoil has measured it to a speed of 31 mph/50 kmh, depending on the weight of the rider, wings and weather conditions. Most people will feel comfortable riding around 15-20 mph to start.
It can fly a distance of up to 40 km on a full charge. This is dependent on the weight of the rider, weather conditions, and the average speed of the rider. As with anything the faster you go the more battery you will burn.
Back
Comments
Nice review, thank you.
I’m planning on going with this, but still needs a few days before I decide.