Versatile all-rounders for everyday use that transfer the progressive design of the concept cars into series production and that can be driven locally without any emissions: The Audi Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron are the first compact electric SUVs from the brand with the Four Rings. Both of them impress with a new spacious dimension in the interior and pioneering solutions when it comes to operation, display, and assist systems. The augmented reality head-up display connects the virtual and the real worlds in a totally new way. The two compact SUVs bring into series production the body line that the Audi Q4 concept and Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron concept show cars demonstrated at the beginning of 2019. This body line impresses thanks to the striking proportions – short front overhangs, large wheels, and powerfully toned muscles. The brand’s progressive design is typically Audi, as functional as it is aerodynamic: 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 new era of technology on which Audi has embarked can also be experienced in the interior of the Q4 e-tron. The instrument panel introduces itself with progressive elegance and underlines the airy feeling of spaciousness. The cockpit features a distinctly three-dimensional design, and its geometric volumes are interrelated in an electrifying way. The digital instrument for the driver is embedded like a diamond between two volumes – a short one on the left-hand side, which incorporates an air vent, and a long one on the right-hand side. It extends all the way to the front passenger door and integrates further air vents. The central MMI touch display, which appears clean and light, occupies the space in front of it. It is tilted toward the driver and is positioned within ergonomically easy reach. Depending on the equipment package, the further contours of the instrument panel, which are known as accent surfaces, are designed in various silver and gray tones to match the inlay. The most striking of these runs across horizontally, dividing the instrument panel into two zones, and is decorated with an e-tron badge. It features the compact shifter for selecting the gears, a capacitive rotary volume control and the start/stop button.
The Audi Q4 e-tron on include a wide range of drives – from the city cruiser to the powerful quattro. They are being launched on the European markets with two different battery sizes and three motor line-ups. In the Q4 35 e-tron and Q4 40 e-tron a permanently excited synchronous machine (PSM) on the rear wheels provides the drive – these two models, along with the R8 V10 RWD high-performance sports car, are the only series-production Audi models with purely rear-wheel drive. The Q4 50 e-tron quattro as the sporty top model uses two electric motors for its electric all-wheel drive. The entry-level models Audi Q4 35 e-tron are equipped with the compact battery that has a net energy content of 52 kWh (55 kWh gross). An electric motor with an output of 125 kW (170 PS) and torque of 310 Nm provides the drive. In both body variants, it accelerates the electric SUV from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds and produces a governed top speed of 160 km/h. The Q4 35 e-tron can cover up to 341 kilometers (211.9 mi) (WLTP cycle) on a single battery charge, while the Q4 Sportback 35 e-tron does up to 349 kilometers (216.9 mi) (WLTP). The average energy consumption in WLTP, depending on trim version, is 19.1 to 17.0 kWh per 100 kilometers (62.1 mi) (WLTP) for the Q4 35 e-tron and 18.6 to 16.6 kWh for the Q4 Sportback 35 e-tron.
The Audi Q4 40 e-tron features the large battery, which stores a net 77 kWh of energy (82 kWh gross). The electric motor generates 150 kW (204 PS) and 310 Nm here. A standard sprint takes 8.5 seconds, and here, too, the propulsion tops out at a speed of 160 km/h. One charge is enough for up to 520 kilometers (WLTP). According to WLTP the Audi Q4 40 e-tron uses an average of 19.3 to 17.3 kWh per 100 kilometers (62.1 mi). The top models Q4 50 e-tron quattro and Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron quattro also run on the 77 kWh battery (82 kWh gross). It supplies two electric motors that combine to produce a maximum output of 220 kW (299 PS) and 460 Nm (339.3 lb-ft) of torque, while making electric all-wheel drive become a reality. The rear motor generates 150 kW (204 PS) and 310 Nm, the front motor 80 kW (109 PS) and 162 Nm. The electric motors keep reserves available for certain driving situations, which is why the sum of their individual outputs exceeds the drive’s total output. The car sprint from a standing start to highway speed in 6.2 seconds and continue on to reach a top speed of 180 km/h. the car has ranges of up to 488 kilometers respectively in WLTP. The average energy consumption for the Q4 50 e-tron quattro in WLTP is 19.9 to 17.9 kWh.
