Audi Q4 e-tron: smarter than the space shuttle

Exciting insights into the SUVs that stand out between the seasons. Audi says it is a compact SUV. But at a height of just under 4.60 meters, the Q4 e-tron is confidently knocking on the door of the middle class. At least according to the classic definition. But when it comes to electric cars, we have to rethink. The MEB architecture opens up possibilities completely different from those of the combustion engine. Wheelbase of 2.76 meters is roughly the same as that of the Q5. In addition, there are very short overhangs and a flat car floor without a cardan tunnel. The lush distance is 1.83 meters from the pedals to the rear seat, so the front and back space is well ventilated. More like upper class than middle class – and certainly not pressurized. The luggage compartment holds 520 to 1,490 liters, while the Q4 e-tron Sportback, which will be launched shortly thereafter, will hold from 535 to 1,460 liters.

In addition, Audi creates ample storage space for all kinds of odds and ends that come in the daily life of a car. In general, the compartments have a volume of 24.8 liters (including the glove box), and the cabin space between the front seats alone is 4.4 liters. All door panels have practical 1 liter bottle holes in the armrest area.

Many new yet familiar

Usually the design in the Q4 is an Audi. Tidy, clear, yeah, even here in the pre-series car it’s really good quality and well made. Anyone who knows their way around the Ingolstadt-based company instinctively takes the right approach. Much has changed visually. First of all, there’s a new four-spoke steering wheel. The rings are now flat in the shock shell (Audi speaks of a flat design), and the steering wheel rim is flush at the top and bottom. In the overhead speakers, Audi installs elegant touch surfaces in the blackboard optics, in which the functional areas are illuminated from the back, and only the currently active buttons are displayed. These can be slid and pressed. Rudders who offend this steering wheel can still order a round rudder.

Also shown are the floating center console and the more angular cockpit box, which has been slightly diverted towards the driver. It houses a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster available in three versions. In the higher version, “classic”, “sport” and “e-tron” formats can be displayed.

To the right of this is the MMI touch screen, optionally 10.1 or 11.6 inches – thus the largest in the Audi lineup to date. As a designer cover, there is inlay on top, optionally covered in limestone, aluminum, or recyclable hybrid fabric. In general, however, Audi has significantly reduced the inflationary number of additions. 80% of individual items should be removed and / or combined into packages. However, with the Q4 e-tron there are still nine different sets of equipment.

Augmented reality in the windshield

As a precise technical measure, Audi is introducing a head-up display with an augmented reality function for the first time. In the (field of view) area, which roughly corresponds to a 70-inch screen, the content is more or less superimposed on the reality of the outside world. Sounds complicated, and it is. In the lower third, the status area, the system displays the speed, traffic lights, or help icons as normal. In addition, we see content such as dangerous moments, cars ahead or target points floating at a virtual distance of about ten meters from the driver shown on the screen. This is especially impressive when on the move. Here there is a type of drone in the form of a flying arrow always in front of the car and it shows the road early and in a truest sense of the word. This is really helpful.

The brave new virtual world is made possible by the so-called Image Generation Unit (PGU) and the supermind behind it, AR Creator. According to Audi, its program should contain about 600,000 lines, about half more programming code than the first space shuttle’s full control system. Not only can the new Q4 e-tron fly, we can really reveal that much.