Entry-level rear-drive Audi Q4 35 e-tron coming

Audi’s mid-size electric SUV, the Q4 e-tron, will soon gain a rear-drive entry-level 35 sib. It has a smaller battery and a lower starting price. Currently the least expensive option is the Q4 e-tron 40 Advanced at $99,990. The top model is the Q4 e-tron 50 quattro S line at $126,990, as reviewed here.

The Q4 e-tron Audi’s least expensive electric car but at a $100k entry point, it’s hardly everyday affordable. If the Q4 35 e-tron makes the grade you could expect it to sell in the $80k area. 

The Q4 35 e-tron launches in the UK before year end. Going up against BMW’s iX1 rival it will sit under the 45 e-tron and 55 e-tron. There were both recently rebadged from 40 and 50. That differentiates them from the odd-number ICE models. 

The new model is expected to have a range of 350km in SUV guise or 362km as a coupe-SUV Sportback model thanks to better aeros. 

The battery pack is nominally 55kWh (52kWh usable) and powers a 125kW/310Nm electric motor mounted on the rear axle. Oddly, this is only the second rear-drive Audi ever, the other being the R8 V10 RWD. This newcomer isn’t quite as fast out of the blocks though, taking nine seconds to reach 100km/h, with top whack limited to 160km/h.

It can handle a 145kW recharge so a 10 to 80 per cent top-up takes around 25 minutes. Mean power consumption is circa 17kWh/100km. Kerb weight is a claimed 1915kg, while luggage capacity is 535L. 

Not much is known about specification as yet but expect a 10.25-inch virtual cockpit screen, a powered boot lid and heated front seats. 

We have asked the Audi folk at EMD if it is likely to be added to the Q4 e-tron line-up here.