Exciting insights into an SUV that parks between classes. Audi says it’s a compact SUV. But at just under 4.60 meters, the new Q4 e-tron is knocking quite confidently on the door of the middle class. At least according to the classic definition. But when it comes to electric cars, we have to rethink. The architecture of the modular electric drive kit (MEB) opens up completely different possibilities than with the combustion engine (vehicle is not yet for sale, homologation pending²).
The wheelbase of 2.76 meters is almost the same as that of the Q5. In addition, there are extremely short overhangs and a flat car floor without a cardan tunnel. It is a lush 1.83 meters from the pedals to the back seat, so the space at the front and rear is accordingly airy. More like upper class than middle class – and certainly not compact. 520 to 1,490 liters of luggage fit in the trunk; the Q4 e-tron Sportback with a sloping roof, which will be launched a little later, will have 535 to 1,460 liters.
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Lush space, lots of storage space
In addition, Audi creates plenty of storage space for all sorts of odds and ends that comes along in everyday car life. Overall, the compartments have a volume of 24.8 liters (including glove compartment), the one between the front seats alone is 4.4 liters. In all door panels there are practical slots for 1-liter bottles in the area of the armrest.
Much of the layout in the Q4 is typically Audi. Tidy, clear, yes, even here in the pre-series car, it is already of high quality and well made. Anyone who knows their way around the Ingolstadt-based company instinctively takes the right approach. A lot has changed visually. First of all, there is the new four-spoke steering wheel.
New steering wheel, new center console
The rings are now flat in the impact pot (Audi speaks of flat design), the steering wheel rim is flattened at the top and bottom. In the upper spokes, Audi installs elegant touch surfaces in black panel optics, the functional areas of which are backlit, only the currently active buttons are displayed. These can be slid and pressed. Helmsmen who offend this steering wheel can still order a round valance.
The floating center console and the more angular cockpit box turned slightly towards the driver are also presented in a new form. It houses a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, which is available in three versions. In the top version, the layouts “classic”, “sport” and “e-tron” can be displayed.
To the right of this is the MMI touch display, optionally 10.1 or 11.6 inches – and thus the largest in the Audi range to date. As a design feature, there is an inlay on top, optionally covered in limewood, aluminum or recyclable hybrid fabric. Overall, however, Audi has significantly reduced the inflationary number of extras. 80% of individual items should be omitted and / or combined in packages. With the Q4 e-tron, however, there are still nine different equipment packages.
Read now: Test report Audi e-tron S Sportback
Equipment packages streamlined list of options
As a technical delicacy, Audi is presenting a head-up display with augmented reality function for the first time. On an area (field of view), which corresponds approximately to a 70 inch display, the content is superimposed on the reality of the outside world. Sounds complicated, and it is. In the lower third, the status area, the system shows the speed, traffic signs or assistance symbols as usual.
In addition, we see content such as dangerous moments, cars ahead or target points floating in a virtual distance of around ten meters from the driver projected into the display. This is particularly impressive when navigating. Here a kind of drone in the form of a flying arrow is always in front of the car and shows the way early and in the truest sense of the word. That’s really helpful.
The brave new virtual world is made possible by the so-called Picture Generation Unit (PGU) and the super brain behind it, the AR Creator. According to Audi, its software should have around 600,000 lines, about half more programming code than the entire control system of the first space shuttle. The new Q4 e-tron cannot just fly, we can already reveal that much.
Market start and prices
The new Audi Q4 e-tron will be available from German dealerships from summer 2021 and, as mentioned at the beginning, will start from 40,000 euros. The technical details of the new electric SUV from Ingolstadt will be specified in the coming days. (Text: th / sp-x, tv | Images: manufacturer)