New Audi Q5 e-tron leaked

The all-new pure-electric Audi Q5 e-tron has been unmasked via images leaked from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Created to sit above the smaller Audi Q4 e-tron that was revealed in April this year, early reports indicate the 2022 Audi Q5 e-tron will measure 4876mm long, stretching 286mm further than the Q4 e-tron and 195mm more than the regular petrol or diesel Q5.

That means it will be a similar size to the Volkswagen ID.6.

Instead of sharing the Volkswagen Group's MEB platform that also underpins the Q4 e-tron, some reports suggest the Q5 e-tron will sit on the new PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture that has been created specifically for larger and higher-riding vehicles.

That suggests, like the upcoming Q6 e-tron, the Q5 e-tron could be another sister car for the Porsche Macan EV that also arrives in 2022.

Spotted testing in the snow last year, the first uncloaked images shown here suggest the bigger Q5 e-tron will trade some of its smaller sibling's sportiness for greater practicality. It's possible a seven-seat version will also be offered.

Inside, expect the Q5 e-tron to get a more spacious cabin that features a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and an 11.6-inch touch-screen infotainment system.

The leaked images suggest the Q5 e-tron will come with three powertrains – a single-motor 35 e-tron that will produce 125kW/310Nm, a 40 e-tron that musters 150kW/310Nm and dual-motor all-wheel drive 50 e-tron that punches out 220kW/460Nm.

All are tipped to come with a 77kWh lithium-ion battery that should provide for a range of around 500km.

There is no word yet on whether the Q5 e-tron will be a China-only model, or shipped to other markets including Australia.

There is a chance we'll miss out on the Q5 e-tron altogether, with Audi preferring to focus on the introduction of the far sportier Q6 e-tron that will also sit on the PPE platform and has already been confirmed to go on sale in Europe and elsewhere in the second half of 2022.