The new AUDI E5 is not an Audi, and this sleek shooting brake is not for Europe
The AUDI E5 Sportback has been unveiled as the first production model from the new China-specific sub-brand of Audi, packing up to 580kW (776hp) and a range of 770km (478 miles).
Described as having been developed “in China for China”, it is an electric car based on new underpinnings developed in collaboration with MG owner SAIC.
Its design is a faithful translation of the E Concept that was shown last year, diverging almost completely from the design language used by the brand’s previous models. It completely dispenses with the four-ring logo, for example, and is much more minimalist in its surfacing.
It is positioned roughly in line with the combustion-engined Audi A5, but is slightly longer and wider, most likely to meet Chinese-market expectations for interior space.
Inside, a 27in display screen spans the full width of the dashboard. Its software is said to place the critical functions in the top level of its menus at all times, and there is an app store that is accessed using facial recognition technology.
The E5 will be offered with four battery electric powertrains with outputs of 295hp, 402hp, 570hp and 776hp. The range-topper has four-wheel drive, while the entry-level car uses a single rear-mounted motor.
The most potent version is capable of dispatching the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.4sec.
A range of up to 770km (478 miles) is yielded by the car’s 100kWh battery pack, which is said to be rechargeable for the equivalent of 370km (230 miles) of range in 10 minutes.
The car also majors on autonomous driving capabilities, offering the ability to take control in both motorway and urban driving. A combination of a roof-mounted lidar box, three long-range radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and an array of cameras allows it to “predict tricycles and delivery riders like a veteran of Beijing’s hutongs”, Audi claimed.
Production of the E5 Sportback will begin later this year, though there are no plans for it to be sold in Europe. It will be followed by a saloon and SUV due in 2026 and 2027, respectively, with each using the same platform as the E5.
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