SHANGHAI: At Auto Shanghai 2025, the E5 Sportback made its debut as the first production model for Audi’s China-only premium New Energy Vehicle brand AUDI.
The premium German automaker says the new brand AUDI – spelled in capital letters, without the four rings – stands for a shared DNA but clear differentiation.
"It marks the beginning of a new era for the company in China, ensuring rapid response to the evolving demands of the Chinese market," says Audi.
A global team of Audi and SAIC Motor Corp engineers had worked simultaneously in Germany and China, and cut the development time of the E5 Sportback, by 30%.
“With our new China-only brand AUDI, we are continuing to push boundaries,” says Audi AG chairman Gernot Döllner.
Following the E5, two more all-electric AUDI models will be launched in 2026 and 2027.
“The AUDI E5 Sportback is our first model based on the Advanced Digitized Platform. Audi’s DNA and engineering excellence is blended with China’s digital ecosystem and innovations,” says Audi and SAIC Cooperation Project CEO Fermín Soneira.
The four-door E5 Sportback is an all-electric fastback with dynamic proportions (length: 4,881 millimeters, width 1,959 millimeters, height 1,478 millimeters).
Accelerating from 0 to 100kph in as little as 3.4 seconds, the E5 is available in four all-electric variants featuring either rear-wheel or quattro all-wheel drive at power outputs of 220, 300, 425, or 579kW.
Progressive all-wheel steering is supported by adaptive air suspension with Continuous Damping Control (CDC) for a smooth, refined ride.
A battery capacity of up to 100kWh enables a range of 770km; thanks to ultra-fast 800-volt charging, the car can replenish 370km of range in just 10 minutes.
Advanced safety technology includes the LiDAR-based AUDI 360 Assisted Driving system, Adaptive Cruise Assist, Active Safety and Parking Assistance which supports multiple types of parking spaces (vertical, diagonal, parallel parking).
Additionally, cross-floor memory parking assists drivers in maneuvering the vehicle to a memorized parking space and then parking the vehicle.
The E5 Sportback features Audi’s signature Matrix LED headlight technology.
In the cabin, the curved AUDI panoramic display is integrated with the digital exterior mirrors, while the center console offers open storage for two phones and 50-watt wireless charging with active cooling.
The elegant and comfortable seats feature headrest speakers.
The panoramic glass roof features automatic dimming.
There is also an immersive 27-inch pillar-to-pillar 4K display and AUDI OS - an intuitive, lightning-fast operating system aided by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 automotive chipset.
