Audi Q4 e-tron, Q4 Sportback e-tron debut with up to 520km range, 220kW power
Audi’s Q4 e-tron has been unveiled, and features rear and all wheel drive variants with two different battery sizes, all wrapped in the brand’s progressive, modern design language. Wheels pushed to each corner, aggressive light graphics and sharp angles; this SUV is all about muscular presence.
Two battery sizes, three model variants for Audi’s newest EV
Three versions available in Sportback and regular body styles:
35 e-tron with 52 kWh battery/341-349 km (211-216 mi) range
40 e-tron with 77 kWh battery/520 km (323 mi) range
50 e-tron quattro with 77 kWh battery/488-497 km (303-308 mi) range
Based on Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB), shared with VW ID.4
Charging up to 100/125 kW depending on model
Audi claims carbon neutral production footprint for Q4 e-tron
Priced from EUR 41,900 in Germany, and “below $45,000 US” in the United States before federal EV tax credits
Audi’s Q4 e-tron has been unveiled, and features rear and all wheel drive variants with two different battery sizes, all wrapped in the brand’s progressive, modern design language. Wheels pushed to each corner, aggressive light graphics and sharp angles; this SUV is all about muscular presence.
Underpinned by Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive matrix (MEB) architecture, this vehicle shares a platform with VW’s ID.3 and ID.4 range, and is likely the first of many electric Audis to be based on this modular architecture.
The Q4 e-tron even shares a production line with its VW siblings, manufactured at the group’s Zwickau, Germany plant. Audi even claims a carbon-neutral manufacturing footprint for the Q4 e-tron, from battery and materials supply chains to the Zwickau plant itself.
Audi’s Q4 50 e-tron quattro. Image: Audi AG
Exterior Design
Reassuringly familiar yet refreshingly modern; these are traits that Audi designers somehow manage to weave into each new model. We feel a number of contemporary Audi models have become quite fussy in their designs, but the Q4 e-tron, whilst muscular, is all about width and horizontal lines.
The front of the Q4 e-tron is dominated by the requisite single-frame grille, however the gently cascading hood and three dimensionality of the front surfaces and headlights present a design that is less brutish and better resolved than say the larger Q8 SUV.
Pronounced hip lines and bulges in the lower doors help to accentuate the wheels, and reduce any slab-sided appearance to the side profile of the Q4 e-tron. The rear again accentuates width and aggression through a de rigueur horizontal light bar, and contrasting diffuser. S-Line versions of both Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron are available, and provide an enhanced exterior styling package.
Exterior dimensions are as good as identical to Volkswagen’s ID.4; 4,588 mm long, 1,865 mm wide, 1,632 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2760 mm. There’s a familiarity in the proportions between the two sister products, without a feeling of sameness.
Audi Q4 50 e-tron quattro Edition One gallery
Interior Design
The first thing you notice about the interior of the Q4 e-tron is that new floating console; gear selection, power on/off, hazard lights and drive modes remain accessible by the driver in the form of hard buttons. There’s also a small touch sensitive pad for passengers to adjust volume and select audio tracks.
This floating console frees up a large storage area underneath, with two USB-C ports, a 12V outlet, and wireless phone charging. Just below the main infotainment screen, many (including us) will be pleased to see hardware buttons for the HVAC system; far superior for quick climate adjustment to a touchscreen when powering down a bumpy road.
Moving up to the top of the dash, and it appears Audi is going for a Lamborghini-lite aesthetic, with plenty of angular surfaces, chunky air vents and an LCD screen — available in 10.1 or 11.6 inches — angled towards the driver. The main instrument cluster features Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, and the steering wheel controls are all digital, with slide or press control for various functions. Helpfully, they provide haptic feedback, replicating an old fashioned button.
An optional panoramic glass sunroof extends over the passenger cabin, and provides a sense of space for front and rear seat passengers. Leather upholstery is still the norm in the Q4 e-tron, but the optionally available S line interior provides the possibility of specifying a combination of artificial leather and Dinamica or Puls upholstery, which utilises secondary raw materials such as recycled plastics and old PET bottles.
Q4 e-tron interior Gallery
Battery and Drivetrain
Customers have the option of regular Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron body styles, the latter being Audi’s terminology for a coupe-style SUV. For those with a performance bent, the Q4 50 e-tron quattro will be the model to choose, offering a 77 kWh battery with 220 kW (299 PS) and 460 Nm (340 lb ft). This model offers 488 km (303 mi) and 497 km (308 mi) of range respectively for the e-tron and the Sportback e-tron. If absolute range is your priority, the rear wheel drive Q4 40 e-tron offers 150 kW (204 PS) and 310 Nm (228 lb ft) as well as 520 km (323 mi) range.
All models feature a permarmanent magnet synchronous motor on the rear axle, mated to a single-speed transmission with differential. The motor has a maximum speed of 16,000 rpm, and Audi claims a low weight of 90 kg (198 lb) for this motor. quattro all wheel drive variants add an asynchronous motor to the front wheels with a coaxial layout; Audi claims this setup reduces driveline drag when inactive and that the weight of the front unit is around 60 kg (132 lb).
Audi’s Q4 e-tron range features advanced thermal management, with two coolant circuits to control the temperature of the electric motors, the charging system, the DC/DC converter and more. This system aims to increase battery temperature soon after setting off on a drive, with a target temperature of around 30 degrees celsius (86F). Interestingly, a heat pump —now standard across other manufacturers’ models— is optional for the Q3 e-tron. This device essentially uses waste heat from electric components that would otherwise be lost to the atmosphere to power things like the HVAC system.
Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron quattro gallery
Safety, Technology and Autonomy
Q4 e-tron models feature front radar, four surround-view cameras, one front view camera, rear radar and eight ultrasonic sensors as part of an extensive driver assistance system. Audi’s autonomous braking system known as Audi pre sense front also features a turn assist system, that intervenes in a dangerous system in a left hand turn (for left hand drive vehilces) or a right hand turn (for right hand drive vehicles). Predictive efficiency assist evaluates navigation data, traffic and speed signs, and helps a driver save energy. Audi’s adaptive cruise control, in conjunction with adaptive cruise assist controls the distance between the Q4 e-tron and the vehicle travelling in front, and also ads lane guidance to keep drivers in their lane.
There’s two dynamic packages available, lowering the body by 15 millimeters, and adding dynamic handling within the Audi drive select system. The second ‘dynamic package plus’ adds adjustable suspension with damper control, and constantly evaluates the driving situation by regulating oil flow in the dampers. This change oil viscosity within each damper can produce a variety of ride comfort options, and Audi first debuted this technology back in the B7 RS4 and 8J TT models.
On the inside, there’s a new augmented reality head-up display, providing a visual overlay of navigation and assist systems before the drivers’ eyes. Using a processing unit within the modular infotainment system known as the AR Creator, symbols and graphics can be rendered at 60 frames per second and are adapted to the geometry of the projection optics on the fly, while the system calculates objects and their location relative to the environment, and compares this to radar, GPS and camera data. Sounds complicated? Audi claims this system’s software alone consists of roughly 600,000 lines of programming code; 50 percent more than the entire control system of the first generation Space Shuttle.
The Q4 e-tron is the second all electric SUV in Audi’s line up, and is part of the Volkswagen Group’s commitment to electrified vehicles and reduced fleet emissions. The automaker plans a one size fits all cell design, and hopes to have six battery ‘gigafactories’ across Europe producing battery cells and packs for its vehicles by 2030. Scroll down for galleries of the Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron.
Scroll down for galleries of additional imagery.
Audi Q4 50 e-tron quattro gallery
Q4 e-tron technical renderings
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.
