The shuffle of Audi’s naming strategy has left car enthusiasts scratching their heads. With the next combustion A4 successor now badged as A5, it seems Ingolstadt will still use the A4 nameplate for the previous mission: a fully electric entry into the mid-size segment.
TIMING AND PRICING SPECULATION
Current intel (this week via Auto Zeitung) suggests the A4 e-tron will debut in 2026, giving Audi a volume-player to sit alongside the Q6 e-tron and the bigger A6 e-tron. Pricing remains speculative, but following Audi’s current combustion-to-electric premiums, Auto Zeitung theorizes it should start around €52,000 — roughly €7,000 higher than the ICE A5.
HATCHBACK, AVANT & RS RUMORED MODELS & BODY STYLES
The A4 e-tron is said to launch initially as a Sportback hatch just like the A6 e-tron, with an Avant version locked into the product plan. That last bit should be welcome news to wagon aficionados, as Audi has been one of the few brands willing to keep long roofs alive… at least in Europe. Also rumored: a future RS 4 e-tron variant that would bring PPE’s full performance potential to the table.
PPE PLATFORM & DESIGN CUES
Like its larger sibling, the A6 e-tron, the A4 e-tron will be built on the PPE (Premium Platform Electric) developed with Porsche. Expect scalable dual-motor quattro systems, high-speed charging, and a balance between efficiency and outright pace.
Design cues are expected to echo the A6 e-tron:
- Closed single-frame grille
- Narrow, LED light units
- Freely projecting adaptive headlights
- Dimensions close to the new A5 (around 4.83 m long, 1.86 m wide, and 1.46 m tall in Avant form).
CABIN DIGITAL & AI ENHANCED
Nothing official has leaked on the interior, but Audi’s recent Q6 e-tron gives a good preview. Expect:
- Digital instruments with head-up display
- Large central touchscreen with AI-driven voice control
- Intelligent personalization that adapts settings to habits
- Optional passenger-side display for added wow factor
THE COMPETITION
Audi won’t have this segment to itself. The BMW i4, Mercedes CLA EQ, and Tesla Model 3 will all be in the mix by 2026, with Audi aiming to distinguish itself with tech-heavy interiors and its usual Avant option.
WHY IT MATTERS
The A4 has been Audi’s breadwinner for decades. As the electric era approaches, this model will play an important role as the brand pushes further into this new paradigm. The big question: can Audi’s Avant heritage and RS performance DNA give the A4 e-tron the edge in an increasingly crowded EV mid-class? Second to that: will EV skeptical Audi customers find it more approachable and thus appealing to give electromobility a try?