The three-row, electric SUV is a lot like the smaller Q4 E-Tron.
Audi surprised many at the Auto Shanghai in April with the unveiling an electric concept car. It was called Audi Concept Shanghai. We assumed that it was a more expensive Volkswagen ID.6 with the Four Rings. However, the fully revealed images of the electric SUV were made available on the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s homologation website.
Now, it’s November 19 and Audi has unveiled the production model at Auto Guangzhou 2021. It’s called Q5 Etron and is essentially an ID.6 in a tuxedo. It may look like a larger HTML4 E-Tron. However, it doesn’t seem too bloated.
After the A7L Sedan, the new Audi electric SUV is the second model that the VW-SAIC has developed exclusively for China. The Q5 E-Tron is technically a more luxurious version of the ID.6X, as its counterpart, the ID.6Crozz, was sold by another joint venture with FAW.
The SUV, which seats seven people, measures 4,876 millimeters (192 in) long and has a wheelbase of 2,965 mm (116.7 inches). One of the official images shows that Audi plans to sell the Q5 Etron with a six-seat configuration and captain’s chairs in the second row. These images show the “40” model and “50”, both in white with rear- or all-wheel drive.
The 40-horsepower “40” comes with an 83.4-kWh lithium battery and a single electric motor at the back that delivers 201 horsepower. The “50” model has a front-mounted motor that produces 302 horsepower. It uses the same battery as the smaller version. A “35” entry-level model with 177 horsepower and a 55-kWh battery will be available.
While the Q5 Etron, which is MEB-based, will be available in China only, Europe and North America will receive the Q6 Etron. The Audi Q6 E-Tron will be revealed next year. It is the first EV to ride on the PPE platform developed with Porsche.