Unveiled: Audi Q4 e-tron concept with 450 km range

ABU DHABI: It has been a long time coming, and Audi has finally given us more details about its all-electric Q4 e-tron. The car is still in the early concept stage, but it is evident that there are some similarities with the original Audi e-tron. The Q4 e-tron will be a compact 4-door SUV measuring in at 4.59 metres.

Looking at the exterior design, the front end is dominated by a closed Singleframe grille with slim Matrix LED headlights on either side. Underneath the headlights, you have large inlets that extend down to the front apron, which is used to provide cool air. When viewed from the side, the large 22-inch wheels along with the muscular wheel arches and slanting roofline give the Q4 e-tron a sleek body line that aids aerodynamics. The drag coefficient is said to be 0.28 Cd. A signature e-tron feature is the accentuated rocker panel area between the axles where the battery rests. Moving over to the rear you get conjoined taillights reminiscent of modern Audi cars with graphics similar to the one found on the e-tron.

On the inside, the layout is familiar but a bit less cluttered compared to the original e-tron. The centre is dominated by a large 12.3-inch touchscreen slanting slightly towards the driver, below the screen are the controls for the HVAC. Just under these controls is a ‘floating’ piano black panel that houses the buttons for the gear selector. The absence of a gear lever frees up more space for stowage compartments with room for a mobile charging station. Other features showcased in the Q4 e-tron concept include Audi’s virtual cockpit, large head-up display with augmented reality function, and a hexagonal steering wheel.

Now, let’s get into the heart of the matter. The Q4 e-tron uses Audi’s modular electrification platform (MEB) with electric motors on both axles. The nifty thing is that there is no mechanical connection between the axles; you have an electronic control system that continuously monitors torque distribution. This helps to get the optimum traction in varying weather/road conditions. Most of the time only the rear wheels are being driven in the Q4 e-tron, with the front wheels only coming into the picture when more performance/traction is needed. The motor at the rear makes 204 PS and 310 Nm of torque while the front unit makes 102 PS and 150 Nm. Combine the two, and you get 306 PS, powered by 82 kWh batteries. All this means that a range of 450 km is possible while taking 30 minutes to reach 80% charge.

Performance numbers include a 0-100 kmph time of 6.3 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 180 kmph. For superior handling, the axle load distribution is a near perfect 50:50. Suspension duties are taken care of by MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear (with separate springs). Adaptive dampers are a standard affair. While the Q4 e-tron is still an early concept, a majority of the elements should be carried forward to the production version with some changes here and there. It ushers in a new age for Audi by offering a premium and somewhat affordable mainstream all-electric vehicle.