Audi Q4 e-trons due NZ early 2022

The new Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron concept unveiled with about 450km-500km range is scheduled to enter series production soon as the seventh fully electrified Audi in the portfolio.

The Q4 e-tron and its brother the Sportback will be volume sellers in the New Zealand market given their physical size, technical capability and ability to complete all the mid-size SUV’s activities that Kiwi drivers demand, Audi New Zealand general manager Dean Sheed says.

“I saw the car back in February in Germany and it will be a winner in New Zealand.”

Sheed expects the Q4 e-tron to be available in New Zealand early 2022.

Both models will complete the current e-tron family.

“Currently on the market is the e-tron 55 SUV, our first BEV,” Sheed says.

“Just introduced is the entry e-tron 50 SUV at $134,900 with a 230kW quattro system.

“In September we will launch the Sportback (coupe) version of the e-tron 55 SUV.

“Then in 2021 we will launch the e-tron GT, our flagship – moving to the 800-volt system (Porsche Taycan brother car) – think mid-year for the local launch – then the Q4 e-tron starts production and local launch we are planning for early 2022.”

Sheed says one of the main aspects to the car, based off the Volkswagen Group’s new modular electrification platform (MEB), is the interior space.

“It’s at least a vehicle class above its exterior size – the Q4 sits between the Q3 and Q5 in terms of exterior size but has a larger interior than today’s Q5. Hence its suitability to the New Zealand market.”

The Q4 e-tron concepts (including a coupe variant) outlines Audi’s plans to cascade e-tron technology into the compact SUV class, Audi UK director Andrew Doyle

says.

“I have no doubt that they will encourage wider acceptance of the benefits of electric driving, with the Audi e-tron range.”

The two Q4 e-tron concepts are the first Audi models to be built on VW’s MEB platform, which will provide the foundations for numerous EVs from the compact class upwards.

They share the same 1.9-metre width and 2.77m wheelbase, but at 4.6m in length and 1.6m in height the Sportback is fractionally longer and lower, with just one centimetre separating the duo in each dimension.

The two concept cars are also twins in technological terms, and give a clear indication of the direction Audi engineers are taking for the powertrain of ‘performance versions’ of the series production model.

Powered by an 82kWh battery two electric motors mobilise 225kW of system output via quattro all-wheel drive.

Both versions accelerate to nearly 100km/h in 6.3 seconds and are restricted to a 178km/h top speed.

The vehicle floor battery has a 125kW maximum charging capacity, equating to a minimum charging time to 80% of around 30 minutes at rapid chargers.

Audi plans more than 20 fully electric models by 2025.

The range will cover every relevant market segment from the compact class to the luxury class.