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Audi Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback revealed | Australian arrival


The German maker is supercharging its line-up after revealing two exciting new models packed with game-changing features.

Audi’s electric revolution is gaining momentum.

The German maker has just revealed its new small Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback SUVs, which will be the brand’s cheapest electric vehicles yet.

Due to go on sale in Europe this June the Q4 e-tron is unlikely to make it to Australia in 2021 and are likely to cost more than $80,000 when they arrive.

Currently, Audi only sells the larger e-tron and e-tron Sportback in Australia with prices starting from around $150,000.

The Q4 e-tron is designed as a compact SUV for the urban commuter and will compete against the coming Mercedes-Benz EQA and Tesla Model Y.

Both Audis will be built on the company’s modular MEB platform that will underpin future Volkswagen and Porsche SUVs, too.

Despite its compact size the Q4 e-tron will have a spacious interior according to Audi. This is because electric cars don’t need as many mechanical elements as petrol cars allowing brands to push the wheels to the vehicle’s corners and have shorter front and rear overhangs.

There will be three variants available.

The base Q4 35 e-tron will use a smaller 52kWh battery combined with a 125kW/310Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels. It has a range of up to 341km.

Next up is the Q4 40 e-tron that uses a larger 77kWh battery and 150kW/310Nm motor driving the rear wheels. It has the best range in the line-up at 520km.

The range-topping Q4 50 e-tron uses the 77kWh battery but adds a front mounted motor for all-wheel drive ability.

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Both motors combine for 220kW/460Nm and can move the EV from 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds on the way to an electronically limited top speed of 180km/h. It has a range up to 497km.

The smaller battery can accept a 100kWh charge via a direct current (DC) high-performance charger and the larger one up to 125kWh. This means both should be able to go from zero to 80 per cent charge in about half an hour.

Sustainability is front of mind in the Q4 e-tron with several elements made from recycled materials. Audi claims that its seat upholstery can contain about 26 recycled 1.5-litre plastic bottles.

There are several hi-tech features including an augmented reality head-up display that will display navigation directions onto the road in front of you.

The EVs will be equipped with the brand’s digital cockpit, which combines a central touchscreen and a fully digital instrument display. The Q4 e-trons will also feature Sonos sound systems.



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