Audi's forbidden Chinese fruit: 2026 Audi E5 electric car shapes up as a tasty alternative to the BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE

Audi’s latest ride is a seriously impressive machine, but it’s all China’s for now.

The Audi E5 is the latest electric car from the German brand’s joint venture with Chinese conglomerate SAIC, which also owns MG.

The joint-venture vehicles are for the Chinese market only, at least for now, and do away with the famous four-ringed Audi logo and replace it with bold “AUDI” lettering.

Some of the eye-popping features of the E5 include a 59-inch inch panoramic 4K display inside, which runs the length of the dashboard. 

Mercedes-Benz debuted a similarly impressive feature on its EQS dubbed the Hyperscreen, but it hasn’t been a must-have feature in markets such as the US, Europe and Australia.

There are digital side mirrors and impressive lighting that has close to 500 individual LED bulbs. An AI virtual assistant  with voice commands and a wide array of driver aids with semi autonomous driving capabilities are included.

Progressive all-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension are expected to improve handling and the ride comfort of the E5.

The E5 comes in several layouts, including single motor rear-wheel drive and dual motor all-wheel drive configurations.

The headline grabbing dual motor, or Quattro in Audi-speak, can blast from zero to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds with its two motors pumping out 579kW. Other versions range from between 220kW and 425kW outputs.

A massive 100kWh battery provides a driving range of up to 770km, although this is calculated via the more lenient China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC).

Its 800-volt battery architecture can support ultra-fast charging, which Audi said can add 370km of range in 10 minutes.

The Audi E5 is slightly smaller than its nearest rivals the BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE, but it is bigger than mid-size machines such as the BMW i4 and the Zeekr 007 GT wagon.

Audi has an impressive line-up of electric cars in Australia already, with plenty more in the works, but a Chinese-sourced vehicle could give it a tech heavy and price friendly alternative to its rivals.