Audi AG, a Bavaria (Germany) based luxury automotive manufacturer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG (Volkswagen Group), the Germany automotive group. Audi manufacturers across nine production facilities globally. In Germany, the company’s manufacturing facilities are based in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. The Audi e-tron family is series of electric and hybrid cars introduced since 2009. The first e-tron concept car was introduced at the 2009 International Motor Show (Germany). The Audi all-electric e-tron portfolio of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) includes:
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
Overview Audi AG, a Bavaria (Germany) based luxury automotive manufacturer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG (Volkswagen Group), the Germany automotive group. Audi manufacturers across nine production facilities…
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The Audi Q4 e-tron electric compact crossover SUV is based on the Volkswagen MEB bespoke EV platform (the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4 uses the same platform). Production of the Q4 electric SUV commenced in March 2021 and the production Q4 e-tron version was unveiled in April 2021.
However, the Q4 e-tron was first shown as a concept vehicle in 2019 at the Geneva Motor Show. The Q4 e-tron is available in the SUV and Sportback body styles.
For those seeking a sportier exterior styling, the coupé-SUV roofline of the Q4 e-tron Sportback will appeal. Of course, given the sleeker roof, headroom is compromised in the cabin and rear-view visibility impacted. However, in return, the aerodynamics and efficiency of the electric vehicle is improved, compared to a more traditional SUV body style.
The Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron is available in two EV battery sizes: 55 kWh and 82 kWh. The 55 kWh EV battery has a claimed zero-emission electric range up to 211 miles (WLTP), sufficient for most day-to-day driving needs. Do keep in mind that most daily commutes are short distances, and usually below 12 miles.
The 211 miles pure electric range is also sufficient for motorway driving. For those families and company-car drivers keen on more electric range, the 82 kWh EV battery offers a range up to 320 miles on a full charge.
Of course, the real-world EV range will be impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, weather conditions, road surface, tyre size, passenger load, onboard services used etc. Expect the 55 kWh EV battery to deliver an electric range closer to 180 miles and the 82 kWh closer to 270 miles.
The electric vehicle (EV) offers DC charging capability up to 135 kW, with 80% charge achieved in 36 minutes. The entry-level Q4 35 e-tron can be DC charged up to 110 kW and has a 7.2 kW onboard charger. The higher specification Q4 40 e-tron and Q4 50 e-tron offer DC charging up to 135 kW as standard and incorporates a 11 kW onboard charger.
For single-phase home charging, expect a fully charged battery in 11 hours and 30 minutes. We at e-zoomed recommend charging an EV overnight, when the electricity tariff rates are cheaper.
The all-wheel drive capability is only available on the highest trim, the 50 e-tron, while the other two trims offer rear-wheel drive as standard. The Q4 50 e-tron achieves 0-62 mph in 6.2 seconds and has a 111 mph top speed (torque: 460 Nm).
The Q4 40 e-tron achieves 0-62 mph in 8.5 seconds and has a 99 mph top speed. The entry-level Q4 35 e-tron achieves 0-62 mph in 9 seconds and has a 99 mph top speed.
The exterior of the Audi EV is attractive and the interior does not disappoint in terms of quality and layout. The standard equipment includes: Audi virtual cockpit; MMI navigation plus with a 11.6″ touchscreen, lane departure warning, cruise control with speed limiter, swerve assist and turn assist, Audi pre-sense front and more.
In terms of practicality, the headroom for rear seat passengers is less compared to the Q4 standard SUV. Moreover, the rear-view visibility is also impacted. The boot size on offer is useful (535 L) and slightly larger than the standard SUV body style (520 L).
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet. You can lease electric vehicles (EVs) via e-zoomed at very competitive prices!
The All-Electric Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron (credit: Audi)
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