Audi first provided a glimpse of the Q4 E-Tron by unveiling a namesake concept a little over two years ago at the Geneva Motor Show. In July 2020, the sleeker Q4 E-Tron Sportback concept was introduced as a coupe-like take on the electric SUV. Fast forward to April 2021, the two EVs are a couple of weeks away from debuting in production guise.
A shadowy teaser image shows the silhouettes of the two MEB-based models, which will be mechanically related to the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Skoda Enyaq iV SUVs. Needless to say, the Q4 E-Tron duo is going to be significantly more sophisticated than its mainstream siblings to earn its Four Rings and justify what will certainly be a premium.
In the lead up to the Q4 E-Tron’s official reveal, Audi has been quite generous as far as sharing technical specifications. We know the non-Sportback model will be 4,590 millimeters (15.1 ft) long, 1,865 millimeters (6.1 ft) wide, and 1,613 millimeters (5.3 ft) tall. Thanks to a generous 2.76 meters (9.1 ft) wheelbase, the interior cabin should be as spacious as combustion-engined SUVs from a segment above.
The Sportback will sacrifice some of the rear headroom for a bit more style, and bear in mind the more appealing version is likely going to cost more. If the bigger E-Tron Sportback is any indication, the Q4 Sportback E-Tron might end up slightly more efficient than the standard Q4 E-Tron thanks to a more aerodynamic body.
We’ve already seen in full how the Q4 E-Tron is going to look on the inside, and an educated guess tells us the Sportback will be virtually identical. The fully digital instrument cluster will be standard across the range, complemented by a 10.1- or 11.6-inch touchscreen for the MMI infotainment system. A head-up display with augmented reality support has been confirmed, along with the “Hey, Audi” voice assistant.
The cargo volume for the standard Q4 E-Tron has already been announced at 520 liters (18.4 cubic feet) with the rear seats in place and 1,490 liters (52.6 cubic feet) after folding them. It goes without saying the Sportback’s practicality will take a hit due to the more sloped roofline giving the compact electric SUV a bit of a coupe vibe.
We will have to wait until April 14 for the body wrap to come off and for Audi to talk about the electric motor(s) and battery options available for the Q4 E-Tron models. The two will be followed in 2022 by a bigger Q6 E-Tron riding on the new PPE platform and twinned with the next-generation Porsche Macan EV.
Audi will be launching more than 20 purely electric models by the middle of the decade when it aims to have a significantly more generous lineup of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Source: Audi
