Audi AG Unveils AUDI E5 Sportback at Auto Shanghai 2025

Ingolstadt/ Shanghai- Audi AG., has officially launched a new chapter in its history with the debut of the AUDI E5 Sportback at the Volkswagen Group Media Night, ahead of Auto Shanghai 2025. Marking the first production model of Audi’s premium New Energy Vehicle (NEV) brand, this move symbolizes a bold entry into the rapidly transforming global automotive landscape. The AUDI E5 Sportback is set to redefine luxury and performance with a fully electric fastback design aimed at meeting the evolving demands of the Chinese market.

The AUDI E5 Sportback is a striking four-door vehicle with dynamic proportions. With a length of 4,881 millimeters, a width of 1,959 millimeters, and a height of 1,478 millimeters, the fastback offers exceptional aesthetics alongside impressive performance. It boasts an impressive power output of up to 579 kilowatts and can achieve a maximum range of 770 kilometers. The vehicle’s acceleration from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour takes just 3.4 seconds, ensuring an exhilarating driving experience. It features four distinct powertrains, including rear-wheel and quattro drive options, providing flexibility and dynamic handling. Built on the newly developed Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP), the AUDI E5 Sportback is equipped with cutting-edge vehicle technology and over-the-air updates for all systems. Market introduction is expected to begin in summer 2025.

This introduction of the AUDI E5 Sportback marks a pivotal step for Audi in China, signaling a new era for the brand. The new AUDI brand—distinctly spelled in capital letters without the iconic four rings—focuses on rapid adaptation to local market demands. Audi’s strategy in China, shaped by over three decades of successful presence, leverages the brand's strong engineering pedigree and deep market insights. The collaboration with SAIC has led to the co-development of the Advanced Digitized Platform, cutting down development time by 30 percent for the AUDI E5 Sportback.

Audi’s commitment to designing for Chinese consumers is reflected in the AUDI E5 Sportback’s unique design elements, integrating the brand’s signature athletic proportions and bold wheel arches with Chinese preferences. The design features reinterpretations of Audi’s heritage, including circular wheel arches and the new AUDI Light Frame. The exterior design balances minimalist elegance with dynamic emotion, enhanced by functional lighting graphics, an assertive silhouette, and aerodynamic elements like the floating front spoiler and rear wing.

Inside the AUDI E5 Sportback, the design merges luxury with cutting-edge technology. The interior is crafted with horizontal layers of luxurious materials and features intelligent air vents, immersive speakers, and natural ambient lighting. The cabin provides intuitive touchpoints for connectivity, offering a panoramic display and wireless charging capabilities. Audi’s commitment to innovation is evident in the design, which includes modern, eco-friendly materials such as three-dimensional wood inlays and a dimming panoramic glass roof.

The AUDI E5 Sportback is equipped with Audi’s innovative AUDI OS, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 automotive chipset. This high-performance operating system offers an intuitive user experience, including a stunning 27-inch 4K display and a customizable interface. The car also integrates a facial-recognition-enabled in-app store and a digital companion, AUDI Assistant, that personalizes the driving experience.

The AUDI E5 Sportback promises exhilarating driving dynamics, with a maximum power output of 579 kilowatts and a 100-kilowatt-hour battery capable of achieving 770 kilometers of range. The car features advanced suspension systems for a refined ride and ultra-fast 800-volt charging, allowing a 370-kilometer charge in just 10 minutes.

Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with an array of advanced safety features, including the LiDAR-based AUDI 360 Assisted Driving system and the Adaptive Cruise Assist. These systems are tailored for Chinese driving scenarios, ensuring enhanced safety and convenience.

The AUDI E5 Sportback is just the beginning of Audi’s ambitious electric future in China. Following this, two more all-electric models will be introduced by 2027, as part of Audi’s largest-ever product initiative. The launch of the AUDI E5 Sportback marks a significant step forward, embracing the brand’s vision of “Vorsprung durch Technik” and highlighting Audi’s commitment to sustainable and innovative mobility.

Mr. Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, said, “With our new China-only brand AUDI, we are continuing to push boundaries. The E5 Sportback offers the very best qualities of Audi, reimagined for and tailored to customers in China.”

Mr. Fermín Soneira, CEO of the Audi and SAIC Cooperation Project, said, “The AUDI E5 Sportback is our first model based on the Advanced Digitized Platform, and it delivers on our brand promise: the best of both worlds. Audi’s DNA and engineering excellence is blended with China’s digital ecosystem and innovations, specifically tailored for our tech-savvy customers.”