- The new AUDI E5 Sportback features up to 776 HP and 478 miles of range.
- AUDI is a new brand created by Germany’s Audi and China’s SAIC.
- The new car is tailored for the Chinese market, featuring exclusive tech.
Audi has officially unveiled its first-ever production model under its new AUDI sub-brand, the E5 Sportback. And no, that’s not a typo; it’s AUDI (all caps, without the four rings) and it’s a new venture entirely, created in partnership with China’s SAIC. This China-exclusive car follows on from last year’s E concept and it designed to fit into a rapidly growing market with some interesting features.
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(function() {
if (adpushup.config.platform !== “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“0f7e3106-c4d6-4db4-8135-c508879a76f8”);
} else {
adpushup.triggerAd(“82503191-e1d1-435a-874f-9c78a2a54a2f”);
}
});
Launched at the Shanghai Auto Show, the all-new five-door wagon is an electric-only offering available in both rear- and all-wheel drive configurations, with a quoted maximum range of 770 km (478 miles). The new car will be available on Chinese forecourts in the summer.
AUDI By Audi, With A Dose Of Chinese Tech
Although it’s similar in size to the A6 Avant, measuring 4,881 mm (192.2 in) x 1,959 mm (77.1 in) x 1,478 mm (58.2 in), the AUDI E5 Sportback is more than just a rebadged e-tron. It’s built on a platform developed through collaboration between Audi and SAIC, with the aim of combining the best from Germany and China.
Read: Audi Launches New AUDI Brand Without Four-Ring Logo In China
On the Continental side, Audi touts design and engineering excellence, while SAIC’s contribution is described as being found in the E5’s digital ecosystem and innovation. “It delivers on our brand promise: the best of both worlds,” says Fermín Soneira, CEO of the new venture.
There’s a lot of talk about carrying forward the Audi DNA, and it’s clear that the German side is doing much of the heavy lifting in the branding department‚ despite claims that there’s a clear differentiation between Audi and AUDI (really?)
A Digital Ecosystem Tailored for China
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(function() {
if (adpushup.config.platform !== “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c”);
} else {
adpushup.triggerAd(“9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751”);
}
});
However, it’s also a tacit admission that Chinese consumers want the kind of advanced technology that is not only commonplace among homegrown brands but also tough for foreign brands to deliver. The backbone of this is the new AUDI OS. The system runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 automotive chipset and is displayed on a massive 27-inch 4K screen that spans the entire breadth of the cabin.
It features facial recognition and an app store that is “fully integrated into the digital world of China.” Or, in other words, it’s tailored to China’s unique ecosystem of advanced, homegrown apps, ranging from payment gateways to messaging services.
Of course, there’s also a voice assistant, which TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has developed. The focus has been on making the virtual assistant as human-like as possible, with the ability to change its “demeanor” using something called Behavior Select.
Localized Self-Driving Tech
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(function() {
if (adpushup.config.platform !== “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“b25ecba7-3bbb-4ea7-a3a8-dbea91695c07”);
} else {
adpushup.triggerAd(“e46c436a-adeb-4b5e-a2c7-56bc36561c10”);
}
});
Another significant yardstick by which premium cars sold in China are judged is their autonomous driving capabilities. The AUDI E5 Sportback features a suite of LiDAR sensors, which have been specifically trained for the unique challenges of urban roads in China. For instance, the system can supposedly detect tricycles and two-wheeled delivery riders.
The AUDI also features a parking assistant that can memorize paths across multi-story car parks and navigate to a specific spot before parking itself — a nifty feature for those living in the concrete jungles of China.
What’s Under The Hood
The tech specs and options of the AUDI E5 Sportback bear several similarities to entries we’ve already seen in Audi’s lineup. It features 800-volt charging architecture that can get you 370 km in just 10 minutes, similar to that found on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) that underpins the A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron.
Although the exact technical specifications of each mode are yet been released, we know that the E5 Sportback will be available in four variants. Available in both rear- and all-wheel drive, customers will be offered outputs of 220 kW (295 HP / 299 PS), 300 kW (402 HP / 407 PS), 425 kW (570 HP / 578 PS) or the range-topping 579 kW (776 HP / 787 PS) — that’s Audi e-tron GT territory.
The top-spec E5 will get to 62 mph (100 km/h) in as little as 3.4 seconds. The largest battery on offer will be 100 kWh, with a maximum driving range quoted as 770 km (478 miles) on the CLTC test cycle. The E5 will ride on air suspension and will also have the option of all-wheel steering.
The E5 Sportback will go on sale in Summer 2025, and will serve as the cornerstone of the AUDI brand. Expect two more AUDI models to be revealed in 2026 and 2027.