Audi Q4 e-tron

The Audi Q4 e-tron is a battery electric compact luxury crossover SUV produced by Audi. It is based on Volkswagen Group's electric MEB platform and is the fourth fully-electric model in the Audi e-tron series after the Audi Q8 e-tron (formerly Audi e-tron), e-tron GT and Q2L e-tron. Production began in March 2021, with the production version being unveiled in April 2021.

The Q4 e-tron is also notable for being the first Audi to be produced in Zwickau since the pre-war era of the company; the town being the original founding location of both the historic Audi company and its predecessor - Horch - before they were merged into Auto Union in 1932.

Overview
The Q4 e-tron was first shown as a near-series concept vehicle at Geneva Motor Show in 2019. Positioned in what Audi calls the "heart of the market", the compact SUV segment, its length of 4.58 m is slightly shorter than that of the Audi Q5, although Audi claims that the Q4 e-tron offers comparable interior space. With 86 cm, the front overhangs are relatively short, allowing for a wheelbase of 2.76 m while maintaining more compact overall dimensions.

Much of the exterior design such as the spoilers in front of the front wheel arches, the rear spoiler or the bars below the headlights was introduced with vehicle aerodynamics in mind. The Q4 e-tron achieves a drag coefficient of 0.26 in the Sportback version, which is worsened to 0.28 for the regular roofline model. Wheel sizes between 19 and 21 inch are offered.

Optional features include an augmented reality head-up display and an 11.6 in infotainment screen, which can be controlled via voice commands.

The boot (trunk) holds 520 L of space, which is extended to 1,490 L when folding down the second row seats (40:20:40 split) whereas the Sportback versions obtain 535/1,460 L.

Europe
The market launch in Europe is to begin in June 2021, with prices in Germany starting from €41,900 for the base Q4 35 e-tron. The 40 trim is priced beginning from €47,500 and the Q4 50 e-tron quattro from €52,900. In July 2021, Audi began offering a less powerful all-wheel drive version, the 45 e-tron quattro. Sportback models will arrive in late summer and be priced around €2,000 higher.

Two dedicated "Edition" models are available at launch in all drive variants for €6,195 more respectively, offering a blue or grey paint as well as additional exterior changes.

North America
The Q4 e-tron is set to arrive in the US in late 2021 for the 2022 model year, with prices beginning from under $45,000. In the US, the entry model will be the Q4 40 e-tron - as such exclusively models using the larger 77 kWh battery pack will be offered in the American market.

The EPA estimated range for the dual motor Q4 50 to be 241 mi with a combined highway/city rating of 95 MPGe.

China
For the Chinese market, the Q4 e-tron will be assembled at the FAW-Volkswagen plant in Foshan. The Q4 e-tron Sportback had started production at the Foshan factory in November 2023.

Powertrain
Rear wheel drive (RWD) models make use of a water-cooled brushless permanently excited synchronous motor positioned along the rear axle, producing up to 150 kW of power and 310 Nm of torque and rotates at a speed of up to 16,000 rpm. The motor is coupled to a 1-speed transmission with a fixed gear ratio of 13:1 and typically operates with "substantially greater than 90 percent" efficiency.

The motor, transmission, and power electronics (DC/AC converter) together form a compact drive unit that weighs around 90 kg.

For the all-wheel drive quattro model, a further asynchronous motor is positioned at the front axle, providing an additional up to 75 kW of power at a speed of 14,000 rpm when required. In most situations, the front motor is not activated in order to increase overall efficiency. Its 1-speed gear is fixed at a ratio of 10:1 while the rear motor in AWD models operates at a ratio of 11.5:1.

During braking, the rear-wheel drive models can recuperate energy up to forces of 0.15 g and up to 0.3 g in the all-wheel drive models, which equates to up to 145 kW of power. When driving, the vehicle by default is set to coast, with recuperation up to 0.15 g being optional.

The motors rotor and stator are produced at the Volkswagen Group Components plant in Salzgitter and are assembled in Kassel, where the 1-speed transmission is built as well. For the Chinese market, the electric drive components are produced in Tianjin.

Battery
The battery consists of a liquid-cooled Lithium-Ion battery pack which houses either 10 or 12 modules containing the individual battery cells in an aluminium casing. The smaller battery holds an energy content of 55/52 kWh, while the larger pack comes in at 82/77 kWh and weights of 350 kg and 500 kg, respectively.

Whereas the battery system is assembled at Volkswagen Group plants, the Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery cells are obtained from suppliers such as LG Energy Solution and CATL. For the Zwickau plant, battery cells pre-assembled into modules at LGs Wrocław plant are delivered by train to be assembled into batteries in Braunschweig.

If charged at a public DC fast charger at a rate of 125 kW under ideal conditions, Audi claims that the 82/77 kWh battery pack can charge from 5 to 80 percent in 38 minutes.

Audi Q4 e-tron

Suspension
The Q4 e-tron uses a MacPherson front and five-link rear suspension.

Towing
The RWD models can tow up to 1,000 kg and the AWD up to 1,200 kg braked with an optional trailer hitch.

Reviews and reception
In December 2022, Bloomberg named the Audi Q4 e-tron as a great alternative to the Model Y from Tesla for consumers upset with Elon Musk.

Sustainability
According to Audi, it is using exclusively "eco-electricity" during production of the Q4 e-tron for Europe and the US in Zwickau, and demands the same from its suppliers. Audi also claims that what it considers "unavoidable" emissions during production are mitigated through purchasing carbon offsets and, based on this, markets the Q4 e-tron as a "net zero carbon emissions" vehicle when handed to European and American customers.

The "Dinamica" microfibre and "Puls" fabric interior options consist of 45 and 50 percent recycled materials, respectively.