Audi Q4 e-tron on road European reviews
The Audi Q4 e-tron is an important car for the Ingolstadt brand, with the luxury crossover segment proves to resonate with potential buyers around the world, and also provide healthy amounts of profit for manufacturers. View some recent reviews here
The Audi Q4 e-tron is an important car for the Ingolstadt brand, with the luxury crossover segment proves to resonate with potential buyers around the world, and also provide healthy amounts of profit for manufacturers.
Based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric architecture, the Q4 e-tron shares its underpinnings with VW’s ID.4, and Skoda’s Enyaq. Available in Europe in e-tron 35,40 and 50 models, battery sizes from 55 kWh and 77 kWh are available.
This is an Audi that provides all the style and quality many associate with the four-ringed brand, in a small (ish) footprint targeting the likes of BMW’s X3/iX3, Porsche’s Macan, and even Audi’s own Q5 range. With the recent release of Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 and the upcoming EV6, Audi is now being squeezed for market share from new contenders.
We’ve included a couple of recent European reviews below; while Audi has yet to provide a firm release date for Australia and New Zealand, we can hope to see the Q4 e-tron Downunder sometime in 2022.
ŠKODA preps fully electric rally car to debut in July's Rallye Weiz in Austria
Škoda Motorsport has unveiled the lithium-ion powered ŠKODA RE-X1 Kreisel concept car. The rally beast was developed in conjunction with Kreisel Electric and Baumschlager Rallye, and is based on the successful ŠKODA Fabia Rally2 evo.
Škoda’s all-electric RE-X1 Kreisel concept car. Images: Škoda Motorsport
Škoda Motorsport has unveiled the lithium-ion powered Škoda RE-X1 Kreisel concept car. The rally beast was developed in conjunction with Kreisel Electric and Baumschlager Rallye, and is based on the successful ŠKODA Fabia Rally2 evo.
Škoda Motorsport developed the vehicle, and provides a bespoke chassis for the electric power unit which delivers 260 kW or power and 600 Nm of torque. That’s a lot more than the petrol Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo 1.6 litre turbo version which produces 214 kW and 425 Nm of torque. The lithium-ion battery pack has a 52.5 kWh capacity, powering an 860 volt electrical system.
“The concept car Škoda RE-X1 Kreisel is an exciting combination of traditional and future-orientated technology. We provided our best experience, based on developing already three generations of the rally-going Škoda Fabia,” comments Michal Hrabánek, Head of Škoda Motorsport. “The concept car offers all the setup possibilities of the latest generation Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo, but with a fully electric powertrain and I really believe rally fans will find such a combination truly interesting.”
The first chassis built by ŠKODA Motorsport is in asphalt spec. However, Baumschlager Rallye & Racing, the project’s partner for the testing program and future competition activities, has started to put the ŠKODA RE-X1 Kreisel through its paces on gravel as well. The car has undergone a successful homologation by the Austrian Motorsport Federation AMF (ÖAMTC), and is expected to debut in July’s Rallye Weiz as part of the Austrian Rally Championship.
We’ve seen electric rally cars before in the form of one-off specials such as New Zealand rally champion Haydon Paddon’s Hyundai Kona, and Ken Block’s electric Ford Fiesta ST special, but its great to see factory teams like ŠKODA getting in on the action. With the Extreme-E rallycross series kicking off this year, its only a matter of time until the WRC hosts fully electric entrants.
2022 Audi Q4 e-tron previewed with 450km range, augmented reality tech
With aspirations to dominate every market segment, the Volkswagen Group is looking to utilise its electric vehicle architecture across multiple brands and vehicle classes. Enter the Q4 e-tron: the first Audi model based on the Modularer E-Antriebs-Baukastenmodular, or modular electric drive toolkit as a literal translation.
Audi reveals pre-production MEB-based 2022 Q4 e-tron
Based on Audi’s Modularer E-Antriebs-Baukastenmodular (MEB) architecture
The smallest e-tron SUV in Audi’s line up at 4,590mm (15.1 ft) long, 1,865 millimeters (6.1 ft) wide, and 1,613 millimeters (5.3 ft) high
Two electric motors with 224 kW (304 PS), 82kWh battery with claimed 450 km (280 mile) range
Fully digital operating concept with augmented reality head-up display
Upholstery materials with recycled polyester
Worldwide reveal set for April 2021
Q4 e-tron spearheads Audi’s compact electric crossover rollout
With aspirations to dominate every market segment, the Volkswagen Group is looking to utilise its electric vehicle architecture across multiple brands and vehicle classes. Enter the Q4 e-tron: the first Audi model based on the Modularer E-Antriebs-Baukastenmodular, or modular electric drive toolkit as a literal translation.
The MEB is designed exclusively for EVs, and already underpins the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4, as well as the Škoda Enyaq. It’s flexibility will see use across future Volkswagen family models, including from the Cupra brand.
Q4 e-tron battery and drivetrain
Packing an 82kWh battery likely to be manufactured by LG Chem, the Q4 e-tron should have a WLTP range of 450 km (280 miles) and can be charged up to 125 kW. With two electric motors outputting a combined 224 kW (304 PS), Audi claims a 0-100km/h (0-62 mph) time of 6.4 seconds.
Of course, quattro -all-wheel-drive will be standard, and it’s expected that adaptive air suspension will also be a feature on the Q4 e-tron.
Exterior Styling
My, didn’t Audi’s wrappers have a field day? Graphics aside, the Q4 e-tron has many familiar Audi design cues. Those slim LED headlights with segmented daytime running lights, that single-frame grille (though perhaps it’s time for Audi to ditch this when it serves no function) the pronounced rear wheel arches and angular taillights.
At 4,590mm (15.1 ft) long, it’s around 10cm longer than a Q3, though that may be hard to discern in the metal. Audi will likely be producing a Q4 e-tron Sportback, complete with cut-off plunging roofline.
Technology and Interior
Audi is promoting the technical innovations and interior features of the Q4 e-tron in the lead up to the vehicle’s global reveal. With the latest version of the Audi Multi-Media Interface (MMI), drivers will have a head-up display with augmented reality features that can project important information over objects in the driver’s line of site, similar to technology already deployed by Mercedes-Benz.
The usual passive and active safety features are expected, such as blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistant, front collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous capabilities.
Audi also claims the Q4 e-tron offers similar exterior dimensions to a Q3 SUV, but with Q5 levels of space on the inside. The luggage compartment provides 520 litres (18.4 cu ft) of space for luggage, and the 2.76 metre (9.1 ft) long wheelbase should provide comfortable foot, knee and legroom for front and rear seat passengers.
It’s nice to see the shift away from leather interiors; to each their own, but leather has a huge environmental footprint, not to mention the ethical issues around animal skin. The Q4 e-tron offers a combination of artificial leather microfiber Dinamica, which looks and feels like suede but is made of 45 percent recycled polyester, sourced from textiles and PET bottles.
We’re expecting the Q4 e-tron to go on sale (in base trim) from $45,000 USD / £50,000 when it is revealed to the public next month. While there’s nothing about this upcoming crossover that appears revolutionary, the combination of the usual Teutonic interior quality with Audi’s contemporary (if predictable) exterior styling should bode well for the MEB-based electric crossover’s sales.
