Audi's First China-Only Car Has Huge Power

The E5 Sportback is the first new all-electric model from Audi's China-specific sub-brand, AUDI.

Audi E5 Sportback

Photo by: Audi

Christopher Smith

By: Christopher Smith

Apr 22, 2025 at 3:30pm ET

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We've seen teasers from all-caps AUDI for several months. Now, the first car from the new China-specific version of Audi is here. Say hello to the E5 Sportback, an electric-only four-door hatch available with up to 776 horsepower. And you won't see it anywhere else in the world.

There aren't a ton of specs available at this time, but we have a few. The E5 is just over 16 feet long, 77.1 inches wide, and 58.1 inches tall—slightly bigger than an A5 Sportback. It exudes more of a crossover vibe with a taller backside, and it rides on a new Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP) developed with SAIC. Audi says this platform will underpin future AUDI models, but won't be utilized outside China.

Audi E5 Sportback

Photos by: Audi

The styling is described as minimalistic. It's certainly a departure from Audi's European design language, incorporating slim headlights in a rectangular face largely devoid of vents or angled features. A similar theme exists at the back, including the prominent AUDI logo where you'd expect to see the Four Rings. That will be the case for all AUDI models going forward, further differentiating this China-focused brand from OG Audi in Germany.

This is an entirely electric brand, and the E5 Sportback comes out of the gate swinging. Details on the motors or the battery pack aren't mentioned, but buyers can choose between rear-wheel drive or Quattro all-wheel drive versions. There are four power levels as well, starting with a modest 295-hp version. The next step up is 402 hp, followed by 570 hp. The range-topper belts out 776 hp, enabling a zero to 60 mile-per-hour sprint of 3.4 seconds.

As for the battery, Audi only mentions "a battery capacity of up to 100 kilowatt-hours" for the E5 Sportback. A maximum range of 478 miles is listed, though it's unknown if this is a manufacturer estimate or an official China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) number. The ADP architecture supports 800-volt charging, with Audi claiming 230 miles of recouped range taking just 10 minutes.

The architecture also supports a bevy of modern automotive technology. The E5 Sportback has a LiDAR-based driver-assist system incorporating 29 various hardware components to "see" around the car. Audi stops short of ranking the system as a Level 2 or Level 3 setup, but it's been engineered specifically for "complex urban driving conditions" where navigating around delivery riders on bikes and tricycles is necessary. Take that as you will.

Audi E5 Sportback

Photo by: Audi

Inside, the driver and front-seat passenger face a customizable 27-inch 4K display. AUDI OS is the operating system running it all, aided by a Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive chipset that can perform 30 billion operations per second.

The digital system is fully connected and capable of over-the-air updates, all installed in a minimalistic cabin almost completely devoid of physical controls. Automakers tell us this is what buyers in China prefer. AUDI serves it up in abundance here.

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“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," says Fermín Soneira, CEO of the Audi and SAIC Cooperation Project. "Audi’s DNA and engineering excellence is blended with China’s digital ecosystem and innovations, specifically tailored for our tech-savvy customers."

Two additional AUDI models will launch in 2026 and 2027. For now, the E5 Sportback can be seen at Auto Shanghai running from April 23 through May 2.

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