Audi and SAIC Group have released the first electric vehicle under China’s local “AUDI” brand (written in capitals without the four-ring emblem). Called the E5 Sportback, it will start from 235,900 Yuan and reach 319,900 Yuan with most options selected.
The car measures 4,881 x 1,960 x 1,479 mm large with 2,950 mm between the axles. The base powertrain consists of just one motor driving the rear axle with 299 PS (295 hp / 220 kW) and a 76-kWh battery pack. A car with this motor needs 6.1 seconds for the standard sprint and runs out of charge after 618 km (384 miles), CLTC-rated.
A superior alternative has 408 PS (402 hp / 300 kW) heading to the rear end and 100 kWh of battery capacity. It can cover 773 km (480 miles) per charge.
The affordable AWD spec makes 525 PS (518 hp / 386 kW) and covers up to 623 km (387 miles) on an 83-kWh battery. The flagship spec commands 787 PS (776 hp / 579 kW), but runs out of charge after just 647 km (402 miles) despite having the biggest 100-kWh pack. On the upside, it sprints 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds.
A look inside the cabin reveals an original squared steering wheel and a rather laconic dashboard overlapped with a giant 59-inch display spanning its entire width. The infotainment system on board runs on Audi OS and Snapdragon 8295 hardware. ByteDance provides its own voice assistant. The ADAS package comprises 27 different sensors.
SAIC-VW will handle the production of the AUDI E5 Sportback in Shanghai, China using mostly local parts. For one thing, the company boasts that it can get most drivetrain components directly from the SAIC Group. What remains unknown is whether the five-door liftback ever makes it outside of China.
