Audi reveals Tesla Model Y rivalling Q4 e-tron

​Audi has revealed a pair of small pure-electric SUVs to take on the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

The Q4 e-tron SUV and the more coupe-looking Q4 e-tron Sportback arrive later this year, and are tasked with making Audi's electric cars more mainstream. Up to now, Audi's pure-electric car range has consisted of the expensive e-tron and e-tron Sportback SUVs and the e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT saloons.

The Q4 e-tron and Sportback models are part of Volkswagen Group's all-out assault on the electric car market. As such it pinches VW's electric car platform (called 'MEB') as used on the ID.3 and ID.4 and the Skoda Enyaq iV, among others.

The Q4 is roughly the same size as the Q3 but has the interior space of the larger Q5

Unusually for a production car the Q4 looks largely the same as the concept car that preceded it. Like the ID.4, the Q4 gets a stubby front-end and long wheelbase thanks to that bespoke electric car platform, and it's roughly the same size as the Audi Q3 – a non-electric SUV that's powered by petrol and diesel engines. 

Special aerodynamic features like clever door mirrors and the rear spoiler on the coupe-like Sportback improve range – the latter boosts the range by seven miles – and the Q4 gets customisable LED front headlights whereby drivers can choose from four different day-running light designs. 

Again, thanks to MEB, the Q4 maybe Q3-sized on the outside but it has the interior space of the larger Q5. Rear legroom, amazingly, is on par with the Q7 large SUV and three people can just about squeeze into the back thanks to a completely flat floor.

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Speaking of space, the boot measures between 520 and 1,490 litres in the Q4 e-tron and between 535 and 1,460 in the Sportback. Up front and there's some space-boosting features like a large centre console and specially-designed door pockets that can fit 1.5-litre bottles.

The dashboard has a similar look to the Audi A3's and there are plenty of physical buttons and knobs. There's a 10.25-inch virtual cockpit for the dials, a new steering wheel with a flat Audi badge and the optional 11.6-inch infotainment screen is the largest fitted in any Audi to date. The Q4 also gets an augmented reality head-up display – a first for an Audi.

For now Audi is giving buyers the choice of two batteries. The range starts with the 35 e-tron which gets a 52kWh battery while the 40 e-tron and 50 e-tron Quattro get a 77kWh battery.

There are four different day-running light designs to choose from

The 35 is rear-wheel drive with a 201bhp electric motor and can travel up to 211 miles on a full charge. The 40 is also rear-wheel drive and gets the same 201bhp motor, but its larger 77kWh battery gives it a range of 323 miles. 

The range-topping 50 quattro gets two motors making it four-wheel drive. The rear motor develops 201bhp while the front gives 107bhp, giving a combined output of 296bhp. Total range is 308 miles. 

For charging, the 35 e-tron can charge up 7.2kW AC and 100 DC, while the 40 and 50 models can charge up to 11kW AC and 125kW DC. An overnight charge from a home wallbox takes 7.5 hours, while a 5-80% top-up from a 50kW rapid charger will take 53 minutes for the 35 e-tron and 74 minutes for the 40 and 50 models.

The Q4 e-tron and Sportback will be going on sale in the summer with prices announced nearer the time, but we would expect it to cost from £40,000 rising to over £50,000. 

We've already driven a prototype Q4 – click here to see what we thought of it.

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