Discover the Pioneering Car That Isn't Really an Audi But Could Change Everything

Audi has recently unveiled its initial production vehicles at the Shanghai Auto Show. Puzzled? These represent the first models from Audi, the carmaker. a new subsidiary brand from Audi that was unveiled in the previous year . My apologies, that’s AUDI, the sub-brand created specifically for the Chinese market under the Audi umbrella.

The AUDI E5 Sportback will be the brand's inaugural model, and it bears little resemblance to other Audis like the Q5 The electric Sportback model was crafted collaboratively by Audi designers based in Germany and engineers in China, resulting in an extended-rangeEV for the company. aligns better with that market's requirements for advanced technology and sophisticated fashion.

The AUDI E5 Represents the Debut of a New Brand

Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management at AUDI AG, states, 'With our exclusive Chinese brand AUDI, we continue to break barriers.' He adds, 'The E5 Sportback embodies all the hallmarks of an Audi, thoughtfully redesigned and customized specifically for Chinese consumers.'

The E5 marks the debut of AUDI as something distinct from just Audi, and it’s also the initial model utilizing the brand's latest Advanced Digitized Platform. This particular model closely mirrors the dimensions showcased in the concept car presented by AUDI last November, measuring 192 inches in length and standing 58 inches high.

Audi plans to provide four different engine options for this model, featuring both rear-wheel drive and their distinctive quattro all-wheel drive with twin motors. Although the Audi won’t display four rings on the front grille, it can generate as much as an astounding 776 horsepower through its electric propulsion setup. Additionally, the vehicle boasts a remarkable maximum driving distance of 478 miles. WLTC test.

Audi executives discuss how the company has incorporated design elements tailored for Chinese tastes, which feature unexpected references to local preferences. These preferences encompass circular wheel arches and a grill distinctively divergent from the conventional Audi single-frame style.

The E5 introduces a distinctive China-specific lighting design that serves as the car’s grill. This feature comprises over 1,000 separate light elements offering exact beam management along with adaptive brightness zoning capabilities for enhanced night-time driving safety.

The Interior Exudes Significantly More Classic Luxuriousness Compared to Audi

On the inside, the E5 features immersive speakers, hidden air vents, and a fragrance diffuser meant to offer calm in a Chinese megacity. It's a much softer and more inviting cabin than we've seen from other Audi models. One that, frankly, seems more luxurious than any Audi.

Once more, this version emphasizes advanced technology within, featuring a new AUDI OS for entertainment systems. Audi boasts about its speed due to the integration of a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon car processor capable of executing up to 30 billion computations each second. It also includes a large 27-inch 4K screen which offers high customization options. Additionally, customers will have access to ongoing software upgrades via wireless transmission along with an expansive application library accessible using facial recognition technology.

The drive experience and handling are the result of Audi's German engineers. It offers four-wheel steering and an adaptive air suspension, and the company says it "embodies Audi’s legendary driving dynamics."

Driver assistance includes a LiDAR-based suite With 29 sensors, this system is tailored for intricate urban navigation. Audi claims it can manage the nation’s disorderly environment filled with motorcycles and delivery couriers. Additionally, it offers advanced parking aid features, such as remembering routes through garages, eliminating the need to repeat these steps every time.

Following the E5, anticipate another Audi model launching in 2026 and an additional one in 2027. According to the manufacturer, this represents their biggest-ever product offensive for the Audi brand.

At the 2025 Auto Shanghai event, Audi unveiled an additional four models. These included extended versions such as the A5L and A5L Sportback, along with the Q5L and A6L e-tron. Each of these vehicles features varying degrees of elongation: the A5 series has a slightly increased length of about 3 inches compared to their standard counterparts; the Q5 model extends by roughly 4.9 inches; meanwhile, the A6 version stretches out by around 5.2 inches. This added internal volume caters particularly well to Chinese consumers who often prioritize having ample passenger space within their cars.

Seeing this AUDI E5 prompts us to ask only one question: why isn’t Audi bringing the E5 here rather than focusing on launching a new brand? ho-hum e-tron models it does bring.