Audi entered China in 1988 and didn’t face competitors from BMW for an additional six years. Since then, the 2 have battled fiercely for market share, and now, Audi is bringing in reinforcements. Discover how we wrote the model’s identify in all caps within the headline? That’s as a result of the E5 Sportback isn’t an Audi, it’s an AUDI. Allow us to clarify.
AUDI is a newly launched sub-brand created by way of a partnership between Audi and its Chinese language ally, SAIC. It forgoes the enduring 4 Rings and goals to draw “younger, tech-savvy clients” in China, the place the E5 Sportback will likely be offered completely.
So, what precisely is the E5 Sportback? Like all future AUDI-badged fashions, it’s absolutely electrical. Its physique model sits someplace between an SUV and a wagon, although it leans extra towards the latter. With out the all-caps branding, we’d battle to inform whether or not this automotive is an AUDI, an Audi, or one thing else totally.
This can be a huge automobile. It stretches 4,881 mm (192.1 in) in size, spans 1,959 mm (77.1 in) in width, and stands 1,478 mm (58.1 in) tall. In comparison with the BMW i5 Touring, it’s 179 mm (7 in) shorter, 59 mm (2.3 in) wider, and 37 mm (1.4 in) decrease. Nevertheless, it’s value noting that the electrical 5 Collection wagon just isn’t offered in China.
Though the E5 doesn’t carry the acquainted Audi design language, we’re informed that the agency’s R&D heart in Germany tuned the automotive. It’s provided in 4 energy outputs: 295 hp, 402 hp, 570 hp, and a whopping 776 hp. The highest-tier mannequin sprints from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in simply 3.4 seconds. Chinese language patrons can select between rear- and all-wheel drive variants.
The E5 Sportback encompasses a hefty 100-kWh battery, delivering as much as 770 kilometers (478 miles) of vary, although that’s most likely primarily based on the extra beneficiant CLTC testing cycle. Because of its 800-volt quick charging functionality, it will probably regain 370 kilometers (230 miles) of vary in simply 10 minutes.
Inside, the E5 Sportback seems to be nothing like an Audi we’re used to. A large 27-inch 4K show dominates the dashboard, described as “gorgeous” and “spectacular,” although some may discover it overwhelming. A touch-operated management bar sits beneath the principle display screen, flanked by two smaller shows that present feeds from exterior cameras, changing conventional mirrors.
The five-seat cabin affords an almost flat flooring, made potential by a devoted EV platform. Like many fashionable Chinese language EVs, bodily controls are practically nonexistent. In China’s 2025, nearly all the pieces is screen-based or touch-operated. Different options embody a 50-watt wi-fi charging pad with lively cooling and audio system constructed instantly into the headrests.
The E5 Sportback launches in China this summer season, with two extra AUDI fashions set to comply with in 2026 and 2027.
Photographs: AUDI
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