Audi Q5 e-tron (2022). A family electric SUV for China

Audi is set to launch the Q5 e-tron in China.

The Audi Q5 e-tron reveals itself a little ahead in leaked photos. It is not the electric replacement for the current Q5, expected in Europe for 2023 under the name Q6 e-tron, but a battery-powered family SUV reserved for China.

Leaked photos from China reveal the Audi Q5 e-tron, the manufacturer’s new exclusively electric SUV before its time. But it is not the battery SUV expected in Europe to replace the current Q5 and which should be called Q6 e-tron. The latter will share its PPE platform with the second Porsche Macan of the namewhich is not the case with this Q5 e-tron.

Audi Q5 e-tron rear lights — Aerodynamically optimized rims, no exhaust: this Q5 is exclusively electric.

A family electric SUV at Audi

The Q5 e-tron in the image, produced by the SAIC-Audi joint venture and reserved for the Chinese market, is a technical “cousin” of the Audi Q4 e-tron and Volkswagen ID.6, since it shares with these models the Volkswagen Group’s MEB modular architecture. 4.87 m long, it is more family-friendly than the Q4 and offers up to seven seats like the ID.6.

Audi Q5 e-tron rear seats — The Audi Q5 e-tron can accommodate seven people.

Its style is in line with the latest Audi productions, as we could already see on the camouflaged prototype exhibited at the 2021 Shanghai Motor Show. Full light gray grille, triangular air intakes at the ends of the front bumper, LED headlights with light signature with geometric patterns, linked rear lights and curved rear are among its attributes. Inside, the instrumentation is almost entirely digital. The Q5 e-tron is to be offered in a choice of 204hp two-wheel drive or 306hp 4×4 configuration, with a promised range of over 500km in both cases.

Audi Q5 e-tron instrumentation — Two screens, a glossy black console and few buttons: the Q5 e-tron uses all the current Audi codes.

Q5 e-tron in China, Q6 e-tron in Europe

As indicated above, this Q5 e-tron should not be marketed in Europe. The second Audi Q5 of the name, launched in 2017 and restyled in 2020, should theoretically leave the catalog at the beginning of 2023. But he could last a little longer alongside his replacement, the Q6 e-tron, so that the brand can still offer a thermal SUV in this segment although the PPE platform of the future model does not allow it. The Audi Q6 e-tron is expected to enter production in March 2023 before being followed by a Sportback variant with a coupe profile, in June of the same year. The German manufacturer plans to market its ultimate thermal model in 2026 with a view to becoming a “zero emission” brand in 2023, in all its markets except China.