24 Aug 2020
Audi’s sporty electric SUV – Q4 Sportback e-tron concept
Audi’s ambitious electrification plans continue to make great strides forward, even during these current difficult times. The latest exciting news is that Audi’s compact electric SUV line up now has a second model on the way – the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron. Like its twin, the Audi Q4 e-tron concept unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, this sporty new SUV Coupé is all set to go into production in 2021.
Striking good looks from front to rear
Unveiled to the world during a virtual launch held online on 8 July 2020, the Q4 Sportback e-tron concept reveals some classic quattro design cues. Large 22-inch wheels are pushed out to the corners while short overhangs and prominent fenders hark back to Audi’s original 1980 quattro. It has a powerful, muscular appearance thanks to a slim cabin sitting on wide, sculpted shoulders while its streamlined silhouette is enhanced by a dynamic slanting roofline.
Audi’s signature single-frame grille remains, but it’s a closed grille – given air flow is no longer needed for engine cooling – with an eye-catching black mask. The rear of the Q4 Sportback e-tron concept is equally distinctive with a futuristic light band arcing right across which echoes top-of-the-range Audi models such as the A7 and A8. A spoiler boosts the overall sporty appearance while helping to reduce the car’s drag coefficient.
The performance of this model is as impressive as its design, with two powerful electric motors combining to provide 225 kilowatts of power. And because the quattro all-wheel drive delivers exceptional traction, the Q4 Sportback e-tron concept will achieve 0 – 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds, even when driving in the midst of a tropical downpour. With an excellent range of 280 miles and a high-voltage battery capable of reaching 80% charge in only 30 minutes, this versatile yet sporty SUV is clearly built for real-world driving scenarios.
AI leading the way forward
The bright, spacious interior follows the same intelligent driving experience developed for the Q4 e-tron concept, with an all-digital Audi virtual cockpit, 12.3-inch touchscreen tilted towards the driver and new augmented reality head-up display. It’s roomy inside the Q4 Sportback e-tron concept too, with plenty of legroom in front and rear as there’s no transmission tunnel to get in the way. Interestingly, the floor covering is made using recycled materials – yet another reminder that Audi is prioritising sustainability from top to bottom when it comes to the future of mobility.
All-electric range will be growing fast
Being Audi, innovation doesn’t stop with the Q4 e-tron concept. By 2025, the brand with the four rings will offer more than 20 models with all-electric drive. The SUVs within this portfolio include the e-tron – already available for pre-order in Singapore – and the e-tron Sportback. In addition, Audi fans can look forward to a range of models with classic body layout such as Avant and Sportback. So get ready for an electrified offering covering all major segments from the compact class to the luxury class.