Audi presents the Q5 e-tron exclusively for China

Audi presented the production version of the all-electric Q5 e-tron for the Chinese market at the Guangzhou Auto Show. The electric SUV is based on the MEB and is built by the SAIC Volkswagen joint venture.

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Despite the similarity in name to the MLB-based internal combustion SUV built in Mexico, the technical relationship to another model from the VW Group is much closer: just as the VW ID.4 and the Audi Q4 e-tron are built together in Zwickau, the VW ID.6 X and the Audi Q5 e-tron come off the production line together in Anting, China.

The Q5 e-tron will be offered with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive, and both variants will be equipped with an 83.4 kWh battery pack. With a length of 4.88 metres and a wheelbase of 2.97 metres, it significantly exceeds the corresponding figures of the Q4 e-tron available in Europe – the latter is almost 30 centimetres shorter at 4.59 metres and has a wheelbase of 2.77 metres.

In terms of looks, the relationship to the Q4 e-tron is clear: the front is characterised by the closed, grey single-frame grille and the twin headlights. Inside is a digital cockpit, an 11.6-inch touchscreen for infotainment and the e-tron-typical four-spoke steering wheel. A special feature: like the ID.6 X, the Q5 e-tron is also a seven-seater with a third row of seats. However, there is also a six-seater version with two individual seats in the second row.

In Guangzhou, the Q5 40 e-tron was presented as a rear-wheel drive car and the Q5 50 e-tron quattro as an all-wheel drive car. Despite the slightly larger battery (83.4 kWh instead of the usual 77 kWh), the power of the rear-wheel drive is still stated at 150 kW and that of the all-wheel drive at 225 kW. The ranges are 560 kilometres (Q5 40 e-tron) and 520 kilometres (Q5 50 e-tron quattro) – but both figures are according to NEDC. A leak also showed a Q5 35 e-tron, which is supposed to have the 132 kW variant of the rear engine and also a smaller battery (63.2 kWh) – but this variant was not shown at the show.

While Volkswagen is considering importing the ID.6 to Europe, this seems to be out of the question for the Audi Q5 e-tron: In this country, Audi already offers the Q4 e-tron including Sportback and the e-tron quattro including Sportback built in Brussels. In addition, there will be the Q6 e-tron based on the new PPE electric platform, which is to be built in Ingolstadt from 2023.

Update 23 February 2022

Audi and its joint venture partner SAIC have opened pre-orders for the all-electric Q5 e-tron presented in November 2021 for the Chinese market. As a result, the prices have also been revealed: The Audi Q5 e-tron will be offered in nine equipment variants at prices ranging from 395,500 yuan (approx. 55,175 euros) to 510,000 yuan (approx. 71,148 euros).

Update 18 May 2022

The Audi Q5 e-tron has now officially been launched on the Chinese market. The electric SUV, which is based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform and built by the SAIC Volkswagen joint venture, will be offered at prices ranging from 376,500 to 479,500 yuan (equivalent to around 53,000 to 67,500 euros at present), depending on the variant.

carscoops.com, insideevs.com, csvw.com, gasgoo.com (update), cnevpost.com, gasgoo.com (both update II)