Audi is getting ready to unveil a concept that will preview a new all-electric SUV sometime early next year, before it goes on sale in the international market at a similar time to the e-tron GT in 2020. The SUV will be based on VW’s MEB platform, which underpins VW’s ID range of electric vehicles. The zero-emission model will sit between the Q2 and Q3 in terms of size.
The small EV will, in all likelihood, become one of Audi’s highest-selling electric vehicles when it arrives, as it will be the most affordable EV in its line-up. It will sit alongside the e-tron SUV, upcoming e-tron Sportback, as well as the flagship e-tron GT, which was recently revealed in concept form.
Audi’s design boss Marc Lichte has confirmed that some of the design cues of the e-tron GT, such as the shoulder line, inverted grille and air intakes, are the same for the upcoming small SUV.
The German brand is going to use a number of different platforms for its electric vehicles. Audi’s modular longitudinal platform (MLB) will be used by the e-tron and e-tron Sportback, while the e-tron GT will be based on the J1 architecture, which is the one used in the upcoming Porsche Taycan EV. However, Audi will use the MEB architecture (a VW Group EV platform) for the small SUV that will ensure the car is more affordable than its bigger electric siblings.
Last year Audi announced that it will launch 12 electric models by 2025. Five more SUVs will be introduced alongside the aforementioned models.
For our market, the Audi e-tron slated for India launch in late 2019, though has not revealed if this new small SUV will be brought here.