Audi has officially launched a bold new era in China with the debut of its first model under the country-specific premium EV brand, AUDI (in all caps and without the traditional four rings), unveiling the fully electric AUDI E5 Sportback at Volkswagen Group Media Night ahead of Auto Shanghai 2025.
Marking a major evolution for the automaker, this sleek fastback blends Audi’s iconic engineering and design with next-generation tech developed specifically for Chinese consumers, leveraging a brand-new Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP) co-developed with SAIC.
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This move signals Audi’s sharpened focus on China’s fast-growing electric vehicle market, one that’s shaping global auto trends. The E5 Sportback is a sleek, powerful four-door coupé with dimensions geared for comfort and style, boasting up to 579 kW of power and a maximum range of 770 kilometers.
With four distinct powertrains, including rear-wheel and quattro all-wheel-drive, the EV rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds. Thanks to 800-volt ultra-fast charging, drivers can recover 370 kilometers of range in just 10 minutes.
Inside and out, the E5 is a celebration of Audi’s heritage reimagined for China. Its minimalist yet expressive exterior design—featuring a black loop that unifies lights, sensors, air curtains, and more—offers a bold new interpretation of Audi’s visual language.
Illuminated logos and Matrix LED lights create a signature nighttime presence, while customizable animations pay tribute to Audi’s roots and China’s urban culture.
The interior delivers immersive luxury, built around layered horizontal design, high-quality materials, and smart digital touches.
A sweeping 27-inch 4K display, shared by driver and passenger, pairs with digital mirrors and intuitive tech, including 50-watt wireless charging and ambient features like headrest speakers, a fragrance diffuser, and panoramic roof dimming.
Audi has also introduced natural materials like 3D wood inlays and architectural lighting that elevate the cabin experience.
Central to the E5’s innovation is AUDI OS, a lightning-fast operating system powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8295 chipset. It supports smooth connectivity, app integration, facial recognition, and personalization through a deeply adaptive UI.
At the heart of it all is the AI-driven AUDI Assistant, a responsive digital avatar that allows for human-like interactions via voice, touch, and even mood-based personalization.
On the road, Audi’s signature dynamics are intact, now fully electrified. Adaptive air suspension with damping control and progressive all-wheel steering offer a smooth ride with sports-car agility.
Meanwhile, the LiDAR-powered AUDI 360 Assisted Driving system brings robust autonomous features, from traffic light recognition to bike and delivery rider detection—critical in China’s dense, high-speed traffic.
The car’s safety and assistance suite includes 29 hardware units for precise 360-degree perception and specialized features tailored to China’s urban chaos, like memory parking and enhanced child and two-wheeler detection.
Looking ahead, two more fully electric AUDI models are slated for release in 2026 and 2027, continuing the company’s most ambitious product rollout to date. This marks a bold leap not only in mobility but in localized innovation, reaffirming the brand’s commitment to “Vorsprung durch Technik” for a new generation of Chinese drivers.
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