Audi has revealed the interior of its entry-level all-electric vehicle ahead of its imminent debut.
The Audi Q4 E-Tron will debut the MEB all-electric platform underpinning the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4 for the Audi brand.
While the interior looks like the typical Audi cabin, there are some clever inclusions.
A 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster is standard, as is a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system for which you can use “Hey Audi” as a voice prompt for questions like “Where’s the nearest charging station?”
An 11.6-inch screen is optional, as is a new augmented reality head-up display that superimposes details of the driver assist systems as well as turn-by-turn navigation instructions ahead of the driver.
This information is at a visual distance of 10m from the driver, while traditional head-up display inclusions like the vehicle’s speed are at a visual distance of 3m.
If you’re using the navigation, a floating arrow will first appear to notify you of an upcoming turn before a dynamic arrow appears and “steers” you into the turn.
Likewise, instead of simply displaying an animation when you cross a lane marking like in current Audis, the Q4 E-Tron’s augmented reality display can superimpose a red line on the lane marking.
Each door also has an “ergonomic” bottle holder located halfway down the door trim instead of at the very bottom, making it easier for you to reach your drink.
Perhaps the most dramatic visual difference from other Audi interiors is the floating platform that juts out from the centre stack and is home to the start button, drive selector and gear shifter.
Beneath this platform is a storage recess, along with a 12V outlet, two USB-C outlets and two cupholders. A wireless charging pad and two additional USB-C outlets are optional.
The steering wheel features touch surfaces finished in gloss black, which provide soft haptic feedback when pressed.
Upscale models feature a steering wheel with a flat top and bottom, heating, and paddle shifters.
The company promises interior space comparable to a full-size SUV despite its small SUV dimensions.
The Q4 E-Tron measures 4590mm long, 1865mm wide and 1613mm tall with a 2760mm wheelbase.
In comparison, a Q3 wagon is 4485mm long, 1849mm wide and 1640mm tall with a 2677mm wheelbase.
The rear seats are almost 70mm higher than those in the front, while the lack of a centre tunnel aids legroom.
There’s 520L of luggage space, increasing to 1490L when you fold down the 40:20:40 split-fold rear seats. The load floor also has two different heights.
Available inlays for the interior include open-pore lime wood, aluminium, plastic, and a “technical hybrid fabric” made partially from recycled material.
Interior colourways are black, steel grey, brown and beige, while there are both regular and sports seats available up front.
In the event of a crash, a centre airbag deploys from the bolster of the driver’s seat to prevent front seat occupants from crashing into each other.
S line models offer features like illuminated aluminium sill plates and stainless steel pedals, while other options include colour-adjustable ambient lighting.
Dinamica upholstery is optional, with leather accenting, and looks and feels like suede but is made of 45 per cent recycled polyester sourced from textiles and PET bottles.
Puls upholstery is another option, with up to 50 per cent of the textile used made from old PET bottles which are transformed into yarn. In a set of seats for a Q4 E-Tron, 26 recycled 1.5L bottles are used.
As is common for Audi SUVs, the Q4 E-Tron will also spawn a sleeker Sportback version.
The line will give Audi a rival to the upcoming BMW iX1 and Mercedes-Benz EQA and EQB.
