Audi Q4 e-tron 2022: tech-packed all-electric medium SUV teased

John Law

Contributor

Audi has given us a first glimpse of the forthcoming Q4, focusing mainly on the car’s groundbreaking cabin technology.

The 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron has been on the cards for some time, and as Audi expands their electric line-up, it only makes sense for them to offer a medium SUV.

After all, it’s a segment that is experiencing massive growth at the moment. Audi has not revealed details of battery size, range or power for the new Q4 e-tron yet.

Audi Q4 e-tron 2022-5 — Audi has revealed the all-new Q4 e-tron in camouflage, but it already looks handsome.

Seen here in digital camouflage, its clear that the Q4 e-tron will adopt contemporary Audi styling cues. We’ll have to wait a little longer for the car’s full reveal to comment, however.

Instead of range and power, Audi are touting advances in cabin technology and architecture possible with a dedicated EV platform.

More details will come to light shortly, but Audi’s new Q4 e-tron will slot below the current e-tron in the range and compete directly with the Mercedes-Benz EQC and BMW iX3.

Audi Q4 e-tron 2022-7 — Medium outside, large inside, that’s what Audi says the Q4 is all about.

The all-new Q4 measures 4,590mm long with a 2,760mm wheelbase, putting it squarely in the medium segment. The size is near identical to the Audi Q5 (4,663mm), though the Q5’s wheelbase is slightly longer at 2,819mm.

Audi claims that the Q4 is a more spacious vehicle with no transmission tunnel impacting the floor height and more generous headroom than an ICE SUV.

Audi’s claims mirror those of the new Hyundai Ioniq 5, an SUV that is medium-sized outside with a capacious cabin.

Audi Q4 e-tron 2022-2 — Audi has implemented plenty of storage cubbies for bottles, odds and ends.

The minimised mechanicals have allowed nearly 25L of cabin storage with large cubbies dotted around the interior.

Audi was one of the first to nail the digital cockpit; the new Q4 e-tron carries the torch forward with an innovative augmented reality (AR) system that measures 11.6-inches in size.

The new AR display can project navigation directions onto the windscreen which appear around 10 metres ahead of the car – though this varies with speed – to give the driver a clearer picture of where they should be headed.

Audi Q4 e-tron 2022-6 — A new augmented reality system will feature in the all-new Q4.

According to Audi, the Q4 e-tron’s operating system is 50 per cent more complicated than that of the Space Shuttle and projects info in front of the driver at 60 frames per second.

The Q4 e-tron will feature more conventional tech like a customisable 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and a 10.1-inch touchscreen with haptic feedback as standard. Audi will offer a more generous 11.6-inch touchscreen that will become the largest touchscreen ever fitted to a product out of Ingolstadt.

Audi offers a raft of customisation for the new Q4’s interior with the choice black, Pergament Beige, Santos Brown and Steel Grey leathers. There are also many material choices, including Nappa leather, Dinamica, made from 45 per cent recycled materials with other sustainable options offered.

Audi Q4 e-tron 2022-4 — Inside it’s very much Audi, though the flat-edged steering wheel is interesting.

At this time, Audi has not confirmed any mechanical details of the new Q4 e-tron, but it’s likely to sit on the VW group MEB platform – as the concept did – which currently underpins the Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq.

The largest battery pack currently fitted to an MEB platform vehicle is an 82kWh item (77kWh usable capacity) which sees maximum WLTP range claims of around 500km.

We will have more details on the Q4 e-tron shortly, including Australian information and pricing.