Following the release of Audi's first pure electric crossover, the e-tron, the brand has promptly launched a new configurator and reservation process. Interested parties are offered the choice of two different trim levels, ten exterior colors, two different wheel choices, three interior environments, along with the option to reserve the build for $1,000.

According to the configurator, standard kit on the $74,800 e-tron Premium Plus includes Matrix LED headlights, heated and ventilated front seats, navigation, a top-view camera with virtual 3D, a Bang and Olufsen stereo and Audi's Pre-Sense active safety suite.

The top shelf Prestige package will set you back $81,800 and adds a driver assistance pack, a driver HUD, contour seats with Valcona leather, massaging front seats, power close doors, and an HVAC ionizer.

Paint which is a color other than Brilliant Black will cost a further $595, and if you want to replace the mundane looking standard wheels with the far more interesting fifteen-spoke Bi-color 21-inch wheels, it costs an extra $1,500. However, only Prestige buyers will be offered the chance to upgrade.

As for the interior, there are currently only three configurations to choose from and just one dash inlay. Smart shoppers should wait as there will most definitely be different color and material options added once production ramps up accordingly.

Beyond that, the option list is pretty skint, with an improved Driver Assistance Plus Package on offer for $2,850, a $900 Cold Weather Package, and a $650 Towing Package. Lastly, you can bake the vehicles first four scheduled maintenance visits into total MSRP by selecting Audi Care for another $1,000.

If you ticked every box you can get the price of the e-tron SUV to north of $85,000 before the $1,000 reservation fee.

The move to offer pre-reservations is quite clearly modeled on Tesla's unprecedented success selling reservations for the Model 3, however, unlike Tesla, shoppers will still have to physically go to the dealership in order to pay the reservation fee.

The e-tron is the first Audi to use a new dual-motor electric drive system with asynchronous motors that will generate 402 hp and provide 250 miles of driving range from its 95 kWh battery. Look for early orders to begin showing up in driveways early next year.