What: Audi E concept
Model Family: AUDI (China-exclusive brand)
Production: Concept (2024)
Assembly:
Class: Fully electric Sportback concept
Body style: 5-door Sportback
Layout: Dual-motor, all-wheel drive
Debuted: Shanghai (July 2024)
Year: 2024
Registration Plate(s): N/A
Number Produced: 1 (concept)
Status: Audi / AUDI brand owned
Model / Generation Code(s):
Chassis / Platform: Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP)
Battery Capacity: 100 kWh
Architecture: 800-volt
Motor Configuration: Dual electric motors (front and rear axle)
Drivetrain: quattro all-wheel drive (electric)
Power output: 570 kW
Torque: 800 Nm
Weight: unknown
Acceleration (0–100 km/h / 62 mph): 3.6 seconds (estimated)
Top Speed:
Range: 700 km (CLTC)
Length: 4,870 mm
Width: 1,990 mm
Height: 1,460 mm
Wheelbase: 2,950 mm
Exterior Paint Color:
Wheels:
Tires:
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The Audi E concept is a fully electric Sportback concept car unveiled in July 2024 in Shanghai, China. Developed jointly by Audi AG and SAIC Motor, the vehicle serves as the inaugural concept model for the new China-exclusive brand AUDI, written in capital letters and presented without Audi’s traditional four-ring logo. The concept previews a new generation of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) tailored specifically to the Chinese market and based on the Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP).
The Audi E concept provides a technical and design preview of three forthcoming production models scheduled to launch from mid-2025 in China.
BACKGROUND
Audi entered the Chinese market in 1988, becoming the first premium automotive brand to establish a local presence. In 2024, Audi announced the creation of the new AUDI brand in cooperation with SAIC Motor, marking a strategic shift aimed at younger, more technology-focused Chinese customers.
The new brand emphasizes intelligent connected electric vehicles developed specifically for China. According to Audi, the collaboration integrates German engineering and premium vehicle development with SAIC’s software ecosystem, local market expertise and accelerated development processes.
The Audi E concept was jointly developed by teams in Germany and China under the leadership of Fermín Soneira, former Head of Product Line for Electric Models at Audi.
PLATFORM AND POWERTRAIN
The Audi E concept is built on the Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP), a new architecture developed through the Audi–SAIC partnership. The platform is designed exclusively for the Chinese market and supports next-generation intelligent connected electric vehicles.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Body style | 5-door Sportback |
| Length | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,990 mm |
| Height | 1,460 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,950 mm |
| Power output | 570 kW |
| Torque | 800 Nm |
| Drivetrain | Dual-motor electric, quattro all-wheel drive |
| 0–100 km/h | 3.6 seconds |
| Battery capacity | 100 kWh |
| Range (CLTC) | 700 km |
| Charging architecture | 800-volt |
| 10-minute charge | ~370 km range (CLTC) |
The dual-motor configuration delivers power to both axles, incorporating Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system adapted for electric propulsion. The 800-volt architecture enables rapid charging, with approximately 370 kilometers of CLTC range added in 10 minutes under optimal conditions.
EXTERIOR DESIGN
The Audi E concept features a minimalist yet distinctive design language tailored to Chinese preferences. Its proportions emphasize a flat roofline and elongated Sportback silhouette, combining aerodynamic efficiency with interior space.
A defining feature is the “black loop” design element at both the front and rear. This continuous dark panel integrates lighting units, sensors and aerodynamic elements into a single visual and functional module. The approach reflects Audi’s focus on merging minimal design with high functional density.
Wrap-around lighting graphics, smooth wheel arches and a clean surfacing treatment characterize the vehicle’s exterior identity.
INTERIOR
The interior was developed with significant input from Audi’s Beijing Design Studio. It combines premium materials with a digitally focused user experience.
A curved, pillar-to-pillar 4K touch display spans the dashboard, integrating driving information, infotainment and digital exterior mirror feeds. The center console includes open storage for two smartphones and features contextual touch controls via the “AUDI Control” bar.
The cabin incorporates illuminated wood and microfiber in a three-dimensional lamella structure within the doors. The design draws inspiration from contemporary architectural elements and emphasizes the fusion of natural materials with digital interfaces.
DIGITAL SYSTEMS
The Audi E concept introduces AUDI OS, a newly developed operating system tailored to Chinese digital ecosystems. The system supports:
- Integrated app store functionality
- Facial recognition-based personalization
- Seamless smartphone integration
- AI-based user assistance
An AI avatar known as the AUDI Assistant provides voice and touch interaction. The assistant delivers visual feedback within the central display environment and adapts to user inputs.
The concept also features China-specific advanced driver assistance systems, including automated highway driving, urban traffic assistance and automated parking functions designed for megacity environments.
SIGNIFICANCE
The Audi E concept represents Audi’s strategic repositioning in China amid the rapid transformation toward electrification and digitalization. It establishes the technological and design direction for the AUDI brand and its upcoming production models in the mid-size and full-size segments.
By combining Audi’s engineering expertise with SAIC’s innovation speed and local integration, the concept signals a new chapter in Audi’s presence in the world’s largest electric vehicle market.
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