The Audi Q4 e-tron is finally coming to Australia.
Following the reveal of an updated version overnight, Audi Australia has confirmed the electric SUV – sized similarly to its popular Q3 SUV – is coming Down Under in mid-2024.
The updated SUV will come here in both regular and Sportback body styles, with pricing and model grades to be announced closer to launch.
Audi Australia says it didn’t delay the Q4 e-tron’s local launch to coincide with the update, with product planning manager Peter Strudwicke saying: “It kind of worked out nicely for it.”
“We’ve been putting in business cases and so on and there’s been some issues in the early days of production; it was very, very limited to those markets that really prioritised CO2 emissions and so on, and so Australia initially wasn’t part of that rollout program,” he added.
He said supply for Australia will be at a “decent level”.
“It’s not going to be a small trickle, we’ve got some reasonable volumes,” he said.
As part of an update for 2024, it’s receiving retuned suspension, increased efficiency, and more standard equipment.
All Q4 e-tron models use a 77kWh battery (usable), with DC charging power now increased to 135kW in rear-wheel drive models and 175kW in all-wheel drive models.
Range has been improved. Audi says the Q4 Sportback 45 e-tron boasts a range of 562km on the WLTP cycle. Previously, the highest range figure was 528km for the 40 wagon.
A new permanently excited synchronous electric motor for the rear axle now features on all Q4 e-tron models, promising higher efficiency and greater power.
The rear-wheel drive 45 models produce 210kW of power, with a 0-100km/h time of 6.7 seconds. With all-wheel drive, there’s an identical power output but a slightly quicker sprint time: 6.6 seconds.
Edition S line
Finally, the all-wheel drive 55 models produce 250kW and boast a 0-100km/h time of 5.4 seconds.
All models now have a top speed of 180km/h.
The entire range, regardless of whether they have standard, sport or adaptive suspension, feature revised damper control and tuning. The steering has also been tweaked for greater response.
A lane-change assist function is now available with the adaptive cruise control, allowing the vehicle to tackle lane changes itself at speeds above 90km/h.
This system displays white arrows in the instrument panel and augmented reality head-up display to indicate when it’s safe to change lanes. You just need to tap the indicator stalk, and the car will complete the lane change.
All models now feature heated front seats, a 10.25-inch virtual cockpit digital instrument cluster, and a power tailgate with an available hands-free function.
A new Edition S line trim comes with 21-inch alloy wheels in a bronze matte design and darkened headlights and tail lights, the former with matrix LED technology. The Audi logos are also finished in bronze.
Also new is an optional “character sound”, or artificial engine sound that is emitted via two exterior speakers at the rear and two inside the cabin in the rear doors.
The Q4 e-tron will soon be produced alongside the Q8 e-tron at Audi’s Brussels, Belgium plant; it’ll also continue to be built in Zwickau, Germany.
It first went on sale around 18 months ago in Europe, but as with other MEB-based Volkswagen Group vehicles like the Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5, we’ve had to wait to get our hands on it.
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