The Audi Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron are designed to be the consummate versatile all-rounders for everyday use, transferring the progressive design of the concept cars into a production car that can be driven in the real world without producing any carbon emissions.
The range comprises three different drive versions, spearheaded by a quattro model with a maximum output of 220kW, and both Q4 e-tron models impress with spacious interior dimensions and pioneering solutions to operation, display, and assist systems, while an augmented reality head-up display connects the virtual and the real worlds.
“The Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron will allow Audi to talk to a new, and a wider variety of customers about its vision for the future of mobility,” said Dean Sheed, General Manager, Audi New Zealand. “The Q4 e-tron looks dynamic, youthful and exuberant – while its platform allows for a level of interior space that belies its compact proportions.
“It will deliver outstanding practicality, technology, driving prowess and zero local emissions in a striking package that will surely appeal to New Zealanders.
“We are working hard to land it in New Zealand, however it is likely that international demand for such a vehicle will not see it land here until the end of 2022 at the earliest.”
With the Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron, Audi is taking the next step in the design language of its electric models. The progressive design is typically Audi, as functional as it is striking – the Q4 e-tron achieves a drag coefficient of 0.28, and the Sportback gets to an even lower figure, with a drag coefficient of 0.26.
The versatile Audi Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron are the perfect companions in every situation. At 4.59 meters in length, they offer a package that gives passengers interior space that goes beyond existing class boundaries, and which is comparable with the full-size SUV class. The positioning of the battery in the floor, and the lack of a centre tunnel through the interior ensured that the car’s designers could maximise the spacious and airy feel of the interior.
The Audi Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron can be equipped with an augmented reality head-up display as an option. It superimposes the information provided by some of the assist systems and the navigation symbols on the real-life external world conveniently for the driver to see. This information is displayed dynamically in a large field of view, where it appears in a virtual, floating image at a distance of roughly ten meters or more from the driver – creating a fascinating effect.
The drive portfolio of the two compact electric models considers the requirements of both the urban commuter and the long-distance driver. It includes two battery variants and three drive variants.
The top-of-the-range Q4 50 e-tron quattro has two electric motors for the electric all-wheel drive, generating a maximum output of 220kW – allowing a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. For efficiency, the motor on the front axle comes into action only when high power or additional grip is needed. Another important factor in energy-saving driving is intelligent recuperation, which incorporates navigation and topographical data.
The Q4 40 e-tron and Q4 35 e-tron each have an electric motor that drives the rear wheels, with an output of 150kW and 125kW respectively.
The compact battery for the Q4 35 e-tron has a net energy content of 52kWh (55kWh gross), while the figures for the large battery in the Q4 40 e-tron and Q4 50 e-tron quattro are 77kWh (82kWh gross).
Audi’s two new electric SUVs can be charged with different outputs using alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) depending on the battery. The compact battery can get up to 7.2kW with AC charging and up to 100kW when using HPC charging (high-power charging) with direct current. As standard, the larger battery allows for up to 11kW with AC and up to 125kW with HPC.
Another strength for everyday use is the high range – the Q4 40 e-tron travels up to 520 kilometres* (WLTP) on a single battery charge, while the Q4 50 e-tron can achieve up to 497 kilometres* (WLTP) in range in Sportback guise. The city-focused Q4 35 e-tron, with its lower battery capacity, can travel up to 349 kilometres* (WLTP) before recharging.
Both models can tow trailers with a weight of up to 1,000 kilograms (braked, at 12 per cent incline), with the quattro versions able to pull up to 1,200 kilograms.
Pricing and specifications for the New Zealand market will be announced closer to the local launch of the Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron.
Audi produces the Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron with a neutral carbon footprint. The plant in Zwickau, Germany uses eco-electricity, while battery cell suppliers are also required to use only green electricity in their production processes. Emissions that cannot be avoided at the moment are offset by climate protection projects certified by the TÜV. They meet the strict requirements of the Gold Standard Foundation.
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* As per global WLTP standard. Acceleration, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures depend on the individual vehicle specifications.
The Audi Group, with its brands Audi, Ducati and Lamborghini, is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the premium segment. It is present in more than 100 markets worldwide and produces at 16 locations in twelve countries. 100 percent subsidiaries of AUDI AG include Audi Sport GmbH (Neckarsulm), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy) and Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy).
In 2017, the Audi Group delivered to customers about 1.878 million automobiles of the Audi brand, 3,815 sports cars of the Lamborghini brand and 55,900 motorcycles of the Ducati brand. In the 2017 fiscal year, AUDI AG achieved total revenue of €60.1 billion and an operating profit of €5.1 billion. At present, approximately 90,000 people work for the company all over the world, more than 60,000 of them in Germany. Audi focuses on sustainable products and technologies for the future of mobility.