Currently reading: Audi developing dramatic A5-sized luxury electric coupé

Sleek four-door is set to showcase premium PPE platform co-developed with Porsche

The first Audi model to be built on the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, co-developed with Porsche, is set to be a low-slung Audi A5 Sportback-sized four-door coupé. 

The dramatic new Audi  model, first reported by Autocar in March, previewed in images released by the German company showcasing its electric car strategy, which includes the launch of 20 EVs using four different platforms by 2025. 

The PPE platform is designed for Audi and Porsche’s full-size luxury models – both traditional cars and SUVs – and can be adapted for models of different lengths and track width. It features an 800V system capable of 350kW charging, and can accept different sizes of battery – with the larger offering a claimed range of more than 300 miles. 

Platform

The platform has been designed with a rear-mounted motor as standard, with the possibility to add a second electric motor on the front axle offering all-wheel drive. The architecture can also accept systems such as torque vectoring and all-wheel steering that don’t feature on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, on which Audi is also developing models. 

Audi hasn’t given performance details of the new PPE platform, but says it is “generally similar to that of the MEB”. 

The new four-door coupé previewed by the firm is roughly Audi A4-sized, with styling similar to the swooping Audi A7 Sportback, and a front grille and bumper design that echoes the Audi E-tron GT

Audi wouldn’t confirm that it would reach production in this form with the PPE platform, though designer Parys Cybulski said the brief was for it to be a “statement”. 

He added that the model was still in the early design stages, and that it “could be the most important car on this platform”, because it would help show the direction future models could take.

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The company said PPE cars would start to be produced from early in the next decade with the Sportback model set to be a showcase for the architecture, which has been developed to cover the “upper medium-size class to the luxury class”. It will be used as the basis for crossovers, SUVs, Sportback models and estates. That suggests it will eventually be used for EV equivalents of higher-level models such as the A6 Avant, Audi A7 Sportback, Audi A8, Audi Q7 and Audi Q8

The PPE models will be joined by cars built on three other EV platforms. The already launched Audi E-tron uses a modified version of the MLB Evo platform. An Audi E-tron Sportback will be launched soon, and Audi has hinted a third variant could follow, although they were tight-lipped on what form it would take. 

The forthcoming E-tron GT will be a sister car to the Porsche Taycan, using that firm’s J1 architecture designed for high-performance models. 

Audi will also develop high-volume models on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, which is also being used by Volkswagen , Seat and Skoda. Audi’s first MEB model, due in 2020, will be the Audi Q4 E-tron.

Q4 etron

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Audi plans to launch A4-sized electric saloon in 2023

James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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starjackioaz 4 October 2019

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FAKAZAVIBES1 10 January 2020

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rhwilton 4 October 2019

Economies of scale

This is why BMW & JLR are now working together. Reinventing the car is an expensive business.

FRI2 4 October 2019

Come on Attwood, admit that

Come on Attwood, admit that you and your Autocar cohorts are on the VAG payroll. This crap of a “review” in reality is nothing less than a paid advertisement for VAG. What a piece of garbage. Next thing you know this guy is going to write about the virtues of Dieselgate and how it made VW a model citizen. What a dork. 

JMax18 4 October 2019

Wow, good comment FR12

Wow, good comment FR12

Yes, I agree. Its clear to see from the way he metioned the words 'Volkswagen Group' in the last paragraph, and from the way he reported that it is using 'Volkswagwen group's MEB platform' that he is undoubtably paid by VAG to say such biased things.

I have never seen such a partisan article in all my days.

Cenuijmu 4 October 2019

FRI2 wrote:

FRI2 wrote:

Come on Attwood, admit that you and your Autocar cohorts are on the VAG payroll. This crap of a “review” in reality is nothing less than a paid advertisement for VAG. What a piece of garbage. Next thing you know this guy is going to write about the virtues of Dieselgate and how it made VW a model citizen. What a dork. 

Got Tesla shares I assume ... 

:whistles:

Dieselgate has actually prompted VAG to move beyond diesel to a large extent to an EV world ironically.   I'm still amazed they can afford the fines which are still adding up and go EV.

 

Nubian 5 October 2019

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone

Oh no someone says something positive about VAG and the hobbyists are out of traps to counter