Designed With One Market in Mind
This is not a preview of the upcoming Audi A9 flagship SUV, but an all-electric model that will not be sold anywhere else in the world except China. The AUDI E7X has officially been launched at Auto China 2026 in Beijing as the brand’s second production model, following the E5 Sportback.
AUDI, mind the capitalization, is a joint venture between Audi and Chinese automaker SAIC. It aims to meet demand for luxury SUVs in China, a strategy similar to the one Porsche is pursuing. According to Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, the new E7X – which measures close to the Q7 at 5,049 mm (198.8 inches) long – draws on Audi’s design heritage while incorporating futuristic details, which may explain why it looks familiar yet new.
What the E7X Brings to the Table
However, the E7X is underpinned by the Advanced Digitized Platform, which uses a 900-volt architecture, rather than the Premium Platform Electric platform found in vehicles like the Q6 e-tron. Still, the new AUDI EV packs plenty of punch, offering either 300 kW (402 horsepower) or 500 kW (670 horsepower). The latter comes with quattro all-wheel drive and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque, enough to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds.
The 900-volt architecture also enables 4C fast charging, which can replenish the battery from 10% to 80% in just 13 minutes. The EV is available with either a 100-kWh or 109-kWh battery pack, with the larger unit capable of delivering up to 750 km (466 miles) of range on a single charge based on CLTC standards.
That cannot be directly compared with EPA estimates used in the U.S., but at least on paper, it edges past the U.S.-spec Q6 e-tron’s EPA-estimated range of around 325 miles. The Q6 e-tron is Audi’s largest electric SUV in the U.S. following the discontinuation of the Q8 e-tron last year.
Built for More Than Driving
The new AUDI E7X is also equipped with a plethora of advanced technologies to cater to evolving Chinese lifestyles, including a 21.4-inch rear-seat entertainment screen, a 27-inch AUDI Panoramic Display integrated into the dashboard, and a 26-speaker Performance Series Bose sound system. It is available in both five- and four-seat configurations, with the latter tailored for executive use.
Again, the E7X will be offered only in China, so getting behind the wheel of one can be a long shot. But as a sign of the brand’s early promise, its E5 Sportback sibling won the 2026 China Car of the Year award. The E7X is set to launch in the first half of 2026, with a third AUDI model, an all-electric sedan, expected to debut in 2027.
