In 2021, when the ZEEKR 001 made its debut, rumors suggest that Audi executives were profoundly impressed by this electric vehicle with its distinctive European aesthetic design, recognizing that to compete with Chinese automakers, they would need to adopt Chinese technological approaches. On September 16, the Audi E5 Sportback officially launched, offering four variants: the Pioneer model priced at 235,900 yuan, the Pioneer Plus at 269,900 yuan, the Pioneer quattro at 269,900 yuan, and the flagship quattro at 319,900 yuan. With additional insurance cash benefits worth 10,000 yuan, the actual starting price is as low as 220,000 yuan. This pricing approach mirrors ZEEKR 001's strategy, which was a crucial factor in the latter's sales success. The entry-level version lowers the purchase threshold, the mid-tier all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive versions are priced identically, and the top-tier model establishes a benchmark for product capability. Every consumer can find their ideal choice without hesitation or regret.
Who could have predicted that a pure electric vehicle from the German luxury trio could offer such compelling pricing? Clearly, the E5 Sportback represents Audi's genuine adoption of Chinese "localization" thinking in automotive manufacturing, serving as a new weapon to directly compete with popular rivals like the Tesla Model 3, ZEEKR 001, and Xiaomi SU7.
Audi's venture into pure electric "shooting brakes" stems from the brand's wagon heritage. The Avant, allroad, and RS Avant series collectively created Audi's most illustrious wagon family, contributing significantly to global automotive culture and continuing to influence countless users today. This explains why Audi executives were deeply moved when they first encountered the ZEEKR 001 - in the electric era, competitors had claimed Audi's "crown jewel."
While the E5 Sportback appears new, it actually represents a "return" and more importantly, a "restoration of glory." The vehicle inherits classic Audi wagon design elements, measuring 4,881mm in length, 1,960mm in width, 1,479mm in height, with a 2,950mm wheelbase, combining spacious interior with a wide, sporty, low-slung stance. The front features a debut "starlight diamond grille" design that integrates aerodynamic components and sensors into a unified technological grille, maintaining Audi's reputation as a "lighting manufacturer." The all-wheel-drive variant features dual motors with peak power reaching 579kW, achieving 0-100km/h acceleration in just 3.4 seconds, with peak torque approaching 800N·m. It's equipped with Audi's quattro intelligent all-wheel-drive system, paired with Brembo four-piston high-performance braking system and CDC continuously variable damping suspension. The century-old German engineering heritage has been completely integrated into the E5 Sportback, demonstrating Audi's genuine commitment this time.
Local manufacturing with advanced intelligence represents another major feature of the E5 Sportback, embodying Audi's "building cars for China" localized approach and serving as an outstanding representative of German luxury brand electric transformation. The intelligent cabin features a 59-inch 4K ultra-wide wraparound display, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 cabin chip and the newly localized AUDI OS operating system, incorporating a deeply customized Volcano Engine large language model "Doubao," supporting multi-turn conversations and vehicle control interactions.
In terms of intelligent driving, this vehicle is the first among German luxury brands to adopt advanced driver assistance solutions from Chinese local supplier Momenta, equipped with LiDAR and NVIDIA Orin-X chips, comprehensively covering city, highway, and parking scenarios with end-to-end experience. It has developed the industry's first "German Driving DNA," offering gentle, agile, and standard driving assistance modes that blend Chinese user driving habits with authentic Audi driving dynamics. With support from Chinese suppliers including Momenta, ByteDance, Alibaba, and SAIC High-Tech, the intelligent performance of the Audi E5 Sportback has directly advanced to the domestic first tier, transforming from a weakness into an advantage and significantly surpassing other traditional German luxury models.
Whether considering appearance, space, power performance, or pricing, the Audi E5 Sportback resembles a reborn "ZEEKR 001." The latter achieved unprecedented sales success in the domestic market over the past three years, single-handedly leading the pure electric shooting brake trend. Although it attracted numerous imitators, its status and influence remain unshakeable.
However, I must admit that I am equally impressed by the Audi E5 Sportback this time. When the originator of "shooting brake wagons" takes action, perfectly融合 German core DNA with Chinese local technology, the product capability demonstrated by this vehicle is indeed highly attractive. Official data shows that within 30 minutes of launch, orders exceeded 10,153 units. This time, Audi's pure electric shooting brake may truly restore its former glory.