Audi has confirmed it is putting an electric version of its Q7 large SUV into production under the Q7 e-tron badge—and the new model will arrive sooner than expected.
Speaking with Chasing Cars on the international preview drive of the forthcoming third-generation combustion Q7, recently appointed chief technical officer Rouven Mohr said the Q7 e-tron electric luxury SUV will beat 2028’s A4 e-tron to market.
Pictured: A speculative render of what Audi’s Q7 EV could look like
The Q7 will become the first mainstream Audi model to wear the brand’s “Radical Next” design language, which was debuted by last year’s Concept C two-door concept and rolled out on the Nuvolari supercar in recent weeks.
Q7 product manager Wolfgang Carl said that the Q7 e-tron will “look quite different” to the conventionally styled combustion version driven for the first time this week. Expect slimmer headlights, a thinner, vertical grille, and clean surfacing.
There will also be a major change inside, with the Q7 e-tron becoming one of the first production Audi models to score the brand’s new cabin concept which ditches the ‘Digital Stage’ screen introduced in 2023—and used by the new ICE Q7—for a more elegant design.
Above: Audi Nuvolari’s radical new interior design…
…in contrast to the forthcoming third-generation Audi Q7’s interior
With the Q7 e-tron being developed via Audi’s new “Project House” vehicle development concept, which sees a wealth of experts dedicated to just one model with direct approvals access to CEO Gernot Döllner and the board, a plan has been hatched to hasten it to market.
Instead of waiting for the fully-fledged version of the Volkswagen Group’s new SSP platform, the Q7 e-tron will instead use a blended platform that picks up some aspects of SSP and an “early version” of the zonal electrical architecture developed in concert with Rivian, according to Carl.
A unified battery, which is intended to be part of the “full potential” of SSP—and will be used by the 2028 A4 e-tron model—will probably not feature on the new Q7, but a large battery pack promising 700km-plus of range is still widely tipped.
Pictured: Forthcoming third-generation Audi Q7
Buyers are expected to be given a choice of power outputs (and potentially battery sizes) but all versions are expected to use Quattro AWD with dual motors.
While the regular Q7 may receive a visual update in line with the BEV model’s arrival, the Q7 e-tron will stand apart with different mechanicals under the skin to the PPC-based ICE models, which continue to feature six-cylinder diesel and petrol power—plus a PHEV option.
When it lands globally in late 2027 or early 2028, the Q7 e-tron will target a different set of rivals, including the forthcoming BMW iX5, the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Polestar 3, Kia EV9 and Volvo EX90.
As the first three-row Audi to offer the choice of an electric powertrain, the Q7 e-tron will be an important element of Audi Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) strategy.
