Audi's first model built exclusively for China has made its public debut - and it's very powerful

By: Volodymyr Kolominov | 23.04.2025, 07:31

The new AUDI sub-brand - spelt in capital letters, without the famous four rings - unveiled its first production model at the Auto Shanghai 2025 motor show in China. The novelty was named AUDI E5 Sportback.

Here's What We Know

In terms of dimensions, the five-door station wagon E5 Sportback is close to the European A6 Avant - its dimensions are 4,881 × 1,959 × 1,478 mm. However, it's not just a renamed e-tron. The model is built on a new platform developed in co-operation between Audi and China's SAIC, with the aim of combining German engineering school and Chinese technological innovation.

On the German side, the focus is on design and engineering, while SAIC was responsible for the digital ecosystem and innovative solutions. In this way, Audi effectively recognised that Chinese buyers expect cars with the level of technology that has become the norm for local brands.

At the heart of the digital architecture is the new AUDI OS operating system, powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8295 in-car platform. A giant 27-inch 4K display occupies most of the front panel in the cabin.

The car supports facial recognition technology and is connected to an app shop. The latter is fully integrated into China's digital ecosystem, including local payment services and messengers.

The voice assistant created by ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, is also available. The peculiarity of the assistant is that it is able to change the "manner of behaviour" thanks to the Behavior Select function, bringing communication as close to human as possible.

Autonomous functions are another important factor for premium models in the Chinese market. The AUDI E5 Sportback is equipped with a set of LiDAR sensors adapted to the complexities of Chinese city streets. The system, for example, recognises tricycles and couriers on two-wheeled vehicles. The car is also equipped with a parking assistant that can memorise routes inside multi-storey car parks and self-park into the right spot.

While exact specifications have not yet been revealed, it is known that the E5 Sportback will be offered in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions. Power levels:

  • 220 kW (299 hp).
  • 300kW (407bhp)
  • 425 kW (578 hp)
  • 579 kW (787 hp).

The top version accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds. The largest battery - at 100 kWh, provides a range of up to 770 kilometres on the CLTC cycle. The car will also get air suspension and all-wheel steering as an option.

The AUDI E5 Sportback will go on sale in the summer of 2025. Two more models of this range are expected in 2026 and 2027.

Source: Audi