It should come as no surprise that electric and hybrid cars will be the way of the future for the automotive world. The Volkswagen Automotive Group set its sights on this goal early by proposing that they will be adding 30 new models by the year 2025.

We think it’s a lofty goal, however, they seem to be making the wheels move on this project by producing electric cars like the Audi Q4 E-Tron, which is set to be the most affordable luxury crossover to be produced by the brand.

What is the Audi Q4 E-Tron?

The Audi Q4 E-Tron will be a luxury crossover that will be sold alongside Audi’s current e-Tron SUV and forthcoming E-Tron GT sedan. It’s set to go on sale in 2021 and will be the first electric vehicle to be based on the Volkswagen group’s MEB modular platform.

The Q4 E-Tron will compete with Tesla’s Model Y and the Volvo XC40 Recharge when it comes out.

What we know so far

The Q4 E-Tron will be the bran’s smallest all-electric offering to date and size-wise, it should be bigger than a Q3 and smaller than a Q5.

The concept car for it was shown at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show and from what we can see so far, it looks like a sleeker and more revised version of Audi’s current E-Tron SUV. However, the LED head and taillights, bold wheel arches, and large fan-blade looking wheels will most likely make it into production.

On the inside, the Q4 E-Tron will encompass all of Audi’s latest tech gadgetry just as the E-Tron did when it came out. By the looks of the concept car’s interior, the dash layout will be vastly different and much more driver-focused with the large touchscreen being angled more towards the driver.

A push-button shifter arrangement adorns the floating center console area while Audi’s Virtual Cockpit sits front and center in the driver’s line of sight.

The total interior volume should be similar to the current Q5 and we suspect that all of the same driver safety aids that are in the current Audi lineup will be present.

Electric powertrain

Just like the current E-Tron SUV, the Q4 E-Tron is slated to have a dual-motor setup, with one motor between each axle. This setup makes up the vehicle’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system for maximum grip while providing the snappy acceleration we have come to expect from electric cars.

Combined, the electric motors should have a total power output of 225 kW and produce about 300 horsepower. With this type of power, we should expect to see 0-60 times of about 6.3 seconds.

The motors will be powered by an 82-kWh battery pack and provide a range of up to 280 miles. According to Audi, the battery pack should reach an 80 percent charge in about 30 minutes and support charging for up to 125-kW.

Additionally, the Q4 E-Tron will likely be available with the adaptive air suspension just like others in the lineup.

Pricing

While we don’t have official word on pricing just yet, Car and Driver reported that we should expect to see the Audi Q4 E-Tron priced around $45,000 to $55,000 depending on the trim level and options.

For reference, Tesla’s Model Y is currently selling between $50,000 to $60,000 before any eligible rebates or savings, so the Audi Q4 E-Tron should prove to be a formidable contender in the segment.