Audi rips covers off all-electric Q4 e-tron Sportback

AUDI has revealed the Sportback version of its Q4 e-tron all-electric SUV in pre-production guise, which will join the ‘regular’ Q4 e-tron when both go into series production in around 12 months time.

Audi Australia says the Q4 twins are under consideration for Australia, with the brand currently set to launch its first-ever EV, the e-tron and e-tron Sportback, in September priced from $137,700 plus on-roads and $148,700 respectively.

Dimensionally, the Q4 pair are slightly smaller than the e-trons, and slot in between the Q3 and Q5 in Audi’s model range – hence the name Q4 – with the Sportback marginally longer and lower to the ground than the wagon. Width and wheelbase are identical.

Like the e-tron, the Q4 is built on Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric architecture, with Audi claiming the new offering will sport the interior space of a C-segment vehicle despite its smaller stature.

Audi AG chairman of the board of management Markus Deusmann said the Q4 would represent Audi’s first EV aimed at achieving high sales volume.

“The e-tron was our first car into our journey into e-mobility, and while the e-tron GT, which I like a lot, will be a sportscar and a new Audi icon,” he said. 

“And the Q4 e-tron along with the Sportback version will be our first premium electric volume SUV, and the gateway into the progressive, premium segment. 

“They give our customers what they want, featuring Audi’s most popular body style, the SUV and the Sportback, combined with the highest level of functionality and state-of-the-art technology.”

The Sportback features the same zero-emissions powertrain as the Q4 e-tron, namely an 82kWh battery pack stored underfloor, teamed to a pair of electric motors for a combined output of 225kW/460Nm.

The permanently excited synchronous motor fixed to the rear axle produces 150kW/310Nm, which does the bulk of the work under normal driving loads.

At the front, the second motor – asynchronous this time – adds 75kW/150Nm.

Sprinting from standstill to 100km/h takes 6.3 seconds, while top speed is limited to 180km/h.

Driving range is pegged at 450km on the WLTP cycle, with the battery able to be charged to 80 per cent capacity in 30 minutes when using a 125kW charger.

A rear-drive version will also be offered at some point, providing an extra 50km of driving range to up the range to up to 500km.

The Sportback rides on MacPherson-strut front suspension with a multi-link rear, with an almost perfect 50:50 weight distribution, including the 510kg battery pack. 

Visually, the Sportback shares a similar look to the Q4 e-tron with the exception of the sloping rear end, which helps provide a sleeker drag coefficient than its wagon sibling, which could also provide a marginal real-world advantage in driving range.

The sloping rear end is capped off by a horizontal lip spoiler, while creases above the rear wheelarches give the Sportback a more muscular and purposeful stance.

A wide LED light strip runs along the vehicle’s rear, while an illuminated ‘e-tron’ logo appears at the top of the diffuser.

At the front, the Audi Singleframe grille has been inverted and is flanked by narrow LED headlights, with 22-inch alloy wheels giving it a striking on-road demeanour.

Inside, Audi designers have endeavoured to provide the Q4 with a sense of light, using lighter, warmer colours for the top half of the cabin, with the entire interior upholstered in sustainable materials.

Infotainment comes in the form of a 12.3-inch touchscreen and matching Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, set up to provide a variety of EV-specific displays.

With no transmission tunnel to speak of, the centre console is used for plentiful storage including wireless phone charging.

The seventh all-electric model revealed by Audi, the Q4 e-tron Sportback forms part of Audi’s strategy to launch 20 EVs by 2025, with roughly 40 per cent of all sales to be made up of hybrid and EV models.