Audi’s electric Porsche Macan is here!
It’s becoming a full-time job to keep up with the Volkswagen Group’s expanding EV portfolio. Audi has yet to reveal the MEB-based HTML4 E-Tron or Q4 Sportback E–Tron in production, but it is already testing a zero-emissions SUV. Our spy was in the right spot at the right moment to capture the first batch images with Audi’s next-generation Porsche Macan.
Although the prototype appears to already have all the final body panels in its place, it is missing the lower front grille. The basic taillights were only used for testing purposes. This vehicle is not only an electric vehicle because it doesn’t have any visible exhaust tips but also because the front grille is closed off.
Even though it is fully camouflaged, the electric crossover appears very different from Audi’s Q models with combustion engines. It’s being built from the ground up to be an EV, rather than the larger Etron which is based upon the MLB platform that was shared with the Q7/Q8.
The name of the vehicle will be Q5 Etron, according to logic. This name was already used by VAG in a November 2020 document. Below is a screenshot taken from that PDF. It shows that Audi plans to launch the next-gen Macan in 2022. Both will be riding on the Premium Platform Electric, (PPE), reserved to larger EVs and upper-midsize vehicles.
The Q5 E-Tron is not known much else, but the German automotive conglomerate shared some details about its PPE platform. They will be slightly shorter than similar MLB-based vehicles, but they offer more space inside due to the generous wheelbase, smart battery packaging, and absence of a central tunnel.
Audi previously stated that PPE will offer air suspension, torque vectoring and rear-wheel steering. The development of single- and double-electric motors is ongoing. The former will be available in rear-wheel drive, while the more powerful version will have AWD. For the new platform Audi is creating with Porsche, 350 kW fast-charging capability has been promised.
A report by Auto Bild states that there will be a Q6 Etron acting as a “coupe version”, but this is not yet official. It could also be called Q5 E-Tron Sportback. This is similar to the forthcoming Q4 E-Tron and Q4 Sportback E-Tron pairs, unless it has a significantly different design than the Q7 or Q8.
The next-gen Porsche Macan, which will be powered by PPE, will be unveiled. Audi’s version is not far behind, considering how both will be on sale next year.