While recharging at the Electrify America station in Baker, Calif, we came across a camouflaged car that caught our attention and upon closer inspection, it revealed the outline of Audi’s logo, suggesting it could be the next-generation Audi A5 Sportback.
What we didn’t expect was that it would be joined by a few production Audis and then two more camouflaged vehicles, the Q6 E-Tron and the future Audi A4 E-Tron, both in need of charging. It’s worth noting that the Audi A4 E-Tron had a hatchback as well, indicating that it could be the A4 E-Tron Sportback with the possibility of a regular A4 E-Tron sedan.
We learned that Audi’s future naming convention will consist of odd numbers representing gasoline-powered cars and even numbers representing E-Tron electric vehicles, shedding light on the new lineup’s naming strategy.
Although the A4 E-Tron and A5 Sportback appeared to be similar in size, there were noticeable differences in their power sources and design details. For example, the A4 E-Tron sported the split front lighting arrangement characteristic of future E-Tron models and a higher, more pronounced “Bangle Butt” trunk lid. We also observed a BMW i5 M60i in the vicinity, potentially indicating benchmarking purposes for Audi.
Moreover, both the A4 and Q6 E-Trons featured a large, curved display that will likely serve as both an instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. This would mark a departure from Audi’s existing haptic touchscreen infotainment system. We anticipate it will introduce new functionality and possibly streamline climate control and other functions.
The location in Baker, Calif suggests that these vehicles may have been undergoing testing in Death Valley, and while the challenging terrain and extreme weather pose a tough challenge for any EV, the vehicles appeared to be nearing full reveal based on their complete look apart from the camo.
In summary, our unexpected encounter in Baker, Calif provided valuable insight into Audi’s upcoming electric vehicle lineup and future display technology, positioning the brand at the forefront of automotive innovation.
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