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Sharing its underpinnings with an MG model, the AUDI E5 Sportback is tasked with winning back the hearts and minds of Chinese consumers.
Audi’s Chinese sub-brand AUDI has lifted the silk on its first model, the sleek E5 Sportback electric car, as it aims to regain a strong footing in the world’s largest car market.
With premium brand sales in China tumbling due to home-grown competition from the likes of Zeekr, Yangwang, and others, Audi’s new move to catch the eye of Chinese buyers is teaming with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) for its range of new AUDI vehicles.
The first of which, coming to market later this year, is the E5 Sportback electric vehicle (EV), which shares the same Advanced Digitized Platform as the IM L6 – or the IM Presented by MG Motor IM6 as it will be sold in Australia.
Measuring 4881mm long, 19959mm wide, and 1478mm tall, the AUDI E5 Sportback is a five-door all-electric wagon sized similarly to an Audi A6, making it a natural competitor for the BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE.
Four outputs have been confirmed – 220kW, 300kW, 425kW and a flagship 579kW version that can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.4 seconds.
All versions – like Australia’s IM6 – will feature a 100kWh battery pack, which AUDI says is good for up to 770km of driving range, though which test standard used is unclear.
Other features in the AUDI E5 include an 800-volt architecture that can add 370km of range in 10 minutes with the right charger, and adaptive air suspension to maximise occupant comfort.
Standing apart from Audi’s traditional models offered globally, the E5 Sportback features rounded wheel arches instead of the usual bulging flares on quattro models, while a new light-up grille also features.
As previously reported, the AUDI brand has dropped the traditional four-ring logo and its script is all capitalised.
Complimenting the new grille are slender Matrix LED headlights, while the rear mirrors the front with its tail-light arrangement.
Inside, the E5 Sportback boasts high-end features such as ambient lighting, a fragrance diffuser, and headrest speakers.
Tech is also a point of pride for the E5 Sportback, with AUDI fitting a single, curved panoramic display measuring 27 inches that encompasses the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system.
With a 4K output, the screen is underpinned by AI features and accepts both voice and touch inputs, while dual wireless smartphone chargers with active cooling and a 50-watt output can also be found in the cabin.
The AUDI E5 Sportback will be followed up by another two models launching in 2026 and 2027 respectively, but all models are likely to remain exclusively for China.
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
