Audi kicks off production of the AUDI E5 Sportback in China
The AUDI E5 Sportback unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in April offers a 76 kWh battery as standard, which achieves a range of 618 kilometres of range (in the Chinese CLTC). The electric car is powered by a 220 kW rear-wheel drive.
The first model from the China-specific AUDI subsidiary uses the Advanced Digitised Platform (ADP) developed with joint venture partner SAIC. Audi has built a production facility in Anting, on the existing SAIC-VW factory site, where the Cupra Tavascan is also built. According to Audi, production in Anting is characterised by “a high degree of automation, state-of-the-art technologies – including machine learning for quality monitoring – and a fully digitalized production management system.” 700 employees will initially manufacture the E5 Sportback, with two further AUDI models to follow in the next two years.
In its relatively brief announcement about the start of production and pre-sales, Audi provides only a few details about the AUDI E5 Sportback that were not already known, and does not even mention the pre-sale prices. However, these have been revealed by Chinese media: Audi is offering the E5 Sportback at prices ranging from 235,900 to 319,900 yuan, which corresponds to 28,200 to 38,200 euros.
For 235,900 yuan, you can get the E5 Sportback Pioneer with the aforementioned drive combination on the 76 kWh battery and 220 kW rear motor. Audi had not previously announced this battery variant, but had only mentioned a 100 kWh battery. This battery is used in the Pioneer Plus, in combination with a 300 kW rear-wheel drive. This variant, which costs 269,900 yuan in pre-sales, offers the highest range of 773 CLTC kilometres. There are three battery variants, as the 386 kW Pioneer Quattro (from 269,900 yuan), an all-wheel-drive model, has an 83 kWh battery for a range of 623 kilometres. Above that is only the E5 Flagship Quattro with the announced 579 kW drive of the top model, again with the 100 kWh battery for a range of 647 kilometres.
According to CarNewsChina, the 76 kWh battery is an LFP cell battery manufactured by a joint venture between SAIC and battery giant CATL. The 100 kWh battery, on the other hand, uses NMC cells from CATL. No information is available about the mid-range 86 kWh battery. SAIC-Volkswagen manufactures the body, while the electric motors come from SAIC subsidiary Huayu Automotive Electric Systems.
| E5 | Drive | Battery | Range (CLTC) | Power | Price (Yuan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer | RWD | 76 kWh | 618 km | 220 kW | 235,900 |
| Pioneer Plus | RWD | 100 kWh | 773 km | 300 kW | 269,900 |
| Pioneer Quattro | AWD | 83 kWh | 623 km | 386 kW | 269,900 |
| Flagship Quattro | AWD | 100 kWh | 647 km | 579 kW | 319,900 |
The 4.88-metre-long E5 Sportback features a lidar sensor on the roof and 26 other sensors for the semi-autonomous driver assistance system, including three radar units, twelve ultrasonic sensors and eleven cameras. This data is processed by Orin X chips from Nvidia, with software from Momenta. The infotainment system on the 59-inch display in the interior is based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 cockpit chip.
It is interesting that AUDI has chosen a station wagon or Sportback for its first model, rather than an SUV. Recently, however, several popular estate models have also been launched in China, such as the Zeekr 007 GT (from 202,900 yuan), the Nio ET5 Touring (from 298,000 yuan) and, most recently, the Stelato S9T (from 328,900 yuan). AUDI plans to deliver the first E5 Sportback in September.
0 Comments