- Audi is updating the Q4 e-tron partway through the 2024 model year, with the new Q4 55 e-tron model about to replace the Q4 50 e-tron in April.
- The 55 model now produces 335 horsepower, 40 more than before, via a revised permanently excited synchronous motor on the rear axle.
- The motor also improves efficiency, allowing the 77.0-kWh battery to propel the Q4 55 e-tron for 258 miles before running out of juice, a 22-mile bump.
You won’t be able to tell from just looking at it, but the Audi Q4 e-tron luxury electric SUV is undergoing substantial revisions for 2024. During the model year, the Q4 50 e-tron—the more powerful all-wheel-drive variant—will see its name changed to the Q4 55 e-tron as it gains 22 miles of driving range, a tweaked suspension, and a rear electric motor with extra oomph. The updates apply to both the traditional SUV-shaped Q4 e-tron as well as the sloped-roof Sportback. Audi had previously revealed changes to the Q4 e-tron for Europe, but has now confirmed similar updates for the U.S. market.
The updated 2024 Q4 55 e-tron now makes 335 horsepower thanks to a beefed-up permanently excited synchronous motor on the rear axle. That’s an increase of 40 ponies over the outgoing Q4 50 e-tron, with no changes to the asynchronous front-mounted motor. Audi claims the extra muscle shaves 0.8 second off the time to 60 mph, putting the figure at a claimed 5.0 seconds. Considering we tested the Q4 50 e-tron at 5.6 seconds, the upgraded model may drop into the 4.0-second range once we get our hands on one.
The new motor is also more efficient, so while the Q4 55 e-tron’s 77.0-kWh battery doesn’t change in size, the EPA-estimated range is up by 22 miles to a total of 258 miles. The efficiency benefit comes from improved thermal management, thanks to revised geometry and arrangement of the gear wheels in the transmission as well as a water-cooling jacket on the outside of the motor’s stator.
Audi has also optimized the cell chemistry, which allows the maximum DC fast-charging capability to rise from 150 kW to 175 kW. Audi says the Q4 55 e-tron can now go from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 28 minutes. The route planner will also prioritize public DC fast-charging stations and will precondition the battery before you arrive, as well as now post-conditioning the battery by cooling it if the temperature exceeds a certain level during driving or charging.
The Q4 55 e-tron also gains new suspension tuning and improved steering, which Audi says brings more “harmonious damping, improved steering response, and tighter load control.” A new 21-inch wheel is also offered, which comes shod in 235/45 front and 255/40 rear all-season tires.
The revised Q4 55 e-tron is due to reach U.S. dealerships by April, and surprisingly the upgraded equipment doesn’t bring an increase in price. The Q4 55 e-tron will start at $56, 395 for the standard SUV body and $59,395 for the Sportback model, the same as the outgoing Q4 50 e-tron models.
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.