Audi’s Chinese arm, SAIC Audi, has officially revealed its Q5 e-tron electric SUV at the 2021 Guangzhou motor show.
Spied and leaked earlier in 2021, the Q5 e-tron was first previewed by the aptly-named Shanghai Concept at the 2021 Shanghai motor show.
The Chinese-only Q5 e-tron uses the familiar MEB architecture, like the Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback, and shouldn’t be confused with the upcoming Q6 e-tron that’ll use the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture that’s also set to be used in the next-generation Porsche Macan.
The Q5 e-tron is a more upscale counterpart to the also Chinese-only Volkswagen ID.6 revealed earlier in 2021.
The ID.6 X in particular is built by the same joint venture between SAIC Motor and the Volkswagen Group.
At the motor show reveal, SAIC Audi chose to only detail three variants of the Q5 e-tron, including the Q5 40 e-tron, Q5 50 e-tron quattro, and a special launch edition Q5 50 e-tron quattro Edition One.
Initial pricing for the three trim levels of the Q5 e-tron are as follows:
- 2022 Audi Q5 40 e-tron: ￥400,000 (A$86,440)
- 2022 Audi Q5 50 e-tron quattro: ￥500,000 (A$108,050)
- 2022 Audi Q5 50 e-tron quattro edition one: ￥520,000 (A$112,372)
The limited-run 50 Edition One comes with an exclusive ‘Big Saint Red’ exterior paint colour with a black interior.
Pictured: Dr Jia Mingdi, SAIC Audi marketing general manager
According to the leak from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information and Technology website, there’s going to be an entry-level Q5 35 e-tron model as well that’s expected to produce 132kW of power from its single rear electric motor.
In this same leak, it shows the 40 bumps the power from the single electric motor up to 150kW.
Power for 50 variants is a total system output of 225kW, which SAIC Audi claims is good for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.7 seconds.
Details are a little unclear, but the entry-level 40 variant is expected to get a smaller battery pack, whereas the 40 and 50 variants will receive an 83kWh battery pack.
SAIC Audi claims the Q5 e-tron has an electric range of up to 560km, although it’s not certain which variant the company is referring to with this figure.
A large three-row electric SUV with either six or seven seats, the Q5 e-tron measures in at 1860mm wide, 1675mm tall, and 4876mm long with a 2965mm wheelbase.
This is exactly the same vehicle length and wheelbase as the Volkswagen ID.6.
The design of the Q5 e-tron is traditional Audi in style and follows the existing elements of the e-tron range.
One element that’s different though are the matrix LED headlights, which have a different lighting signature to other Audi models.
The Q5 e-tron will be available in a choice of seven exterior colours, eight upholstery colours, as well as a range of 19- to 21-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, the interior appears to be very similar to the Q4 e-tron and features a ‘Virtual Cockpit’ digital driver’s display, 10.25-inch infotainment display, head-up display and ambient lighting.
This Q5 e-tron isn’t the only model that SAIC Audi has on sale.
The company is a long-wheelbase sedan version of the Audi A7, called the A7L, which is due to begin Chinese deliveries in early 2022.
