Audi Reveals Q4 Sportback e-tron Concept with Coupe-Like Styling

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

German automakers are credited with introducing the concept of two-door sedans that combine the sporty design of two-door coupes and blend them with the versatility of a traditional sedan. More recently, automakers have carried this concept to SUVs. Unsurprisingly, Audi did this with its all-electric e-tron SUV and its e-tron Sportback counterpart. Now, Audi is doing the same thing with the Q4 e-tron Sportback, which it unveiled earlier this week.


Design Or Versatility?


Based on the Q4 e-tron that made its debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the all-electric Q4 e-tron Sportback has a sportier design and less cargo space. Other than that, the SUV will utilize Volkswagen's electric MEB platform and come with a similar powertrain as the one that's found in the Q4 e-tron.


While SUVs with a coupe-like roofline may seem odd, Audi claims the design actually results in a more aerodynamic vehicle. The brand states that the Q4 e-tron Sportback has a drag coefficient of 0.26, which is 0.01 lower than the regular Q4 e-tron. OK, so that's not a whole lot better. And neither is the range, as the more athletic vehicle will have a similar range of roughly 280 miles based on the European WLTP standard as the Q4 e-tron. A rear-wheel-drive variant will be available that will supposedly have a range of 310 miles.


Other specifications for the Q4 e-tron Sportback will mirror the regular Q4 e-tron. That means an 82.0-kWh battery pack will be standard, as will two electric motors (for all-wheel-drive versions). Power will be rated at 300 horsepower and the SUV is expected to have a zero-to-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds. Flat out, the SUV will be able to reach 111 mph.


Sporty Design Will Come At A Price


On the inside, the Q4 e-tron Sportback features a massive 12.3-inch touchscreen that's slightly angled toward the driver. The rest of the cabin is mostly digital with minimal buttons and traditional dials. The gauges in the instrument cluster have been replaced with a configurable display, leading us to believe this SUV will come with Audi's Digital Cockpit system when it goes on sale.


If you like the way the Q4 e-tron Sportback looks, there's some good news. Audi claims the exterior design of the SUV is almost finished. So, the finished product that arrives in showrooms next year should look nearly identical to the one in the photos. Unfortunately, while one would assume that having less cargo space would mean a smaller price tag, that's not exactly how German automakers do things. The 2019 e-tron, for example, is $2,500 cheaper than the 2020 e-tron Sportback. So, we expect the Q4 e-tron Sportback to be slightly more expensive than its regular Q4 counterpart. With the Q4 e-tron expected to start at $45,000, the Sportback variant could be closer to $50,000.


Audi claims that a production version of the Q4 e-tron Sportback will begin to be delivered next summer.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods