Audi is gearing up for an all-out war in the electric executive segment, taking direct aim at the upcoming BMW i3 Sedan and Mercedes-Benz EQC-Class with an all-new A4 E-Tron — a car that promises to be nothing short of transformative. Due around 2028, this won’t just be another A4 with batteries. It’s the spearhead of Audi’s “Radical Next” era: a complete reset of the brand’s design language, technology stack, and corporate DNA.
At the heart of this ambitious project lies a new SSP (Scalable Systems Platform) — the Volkswagen Group’s all-electric architecture of the future — and a software system co-developed with Rivian. Together, they form the backbone of what Audi CEO Gernot Döllner calls “the biggest change in the history of the company.”
From Familiar to Fearless
The A4 nameplate has long been Audi’s bread and butter, its global best-seller for decades. But the A4 E-Tron won’t simply replace the current A4 or A5; it will redefine the compact executive segment altogether.
Drawing its aesthetic cues from the Concept C sports sedan, Audi’s new electric star will introduce the ‘Radical Next’ design philosophy to production — all clean lines, tight surfacing, and aerodynamic minimalism. Expect a vertically oriented grille, ultra-slim LED signatures that echo the four rings, and proportions that prioritize efficiency without sacrificing stance. Think TT-inspired athleticism scaled up for the Autobahn.
This design is more than skin deep. Audi’s engineers are crafting the A4 E-Tron from the ground up to compete head-on with the next-generation BMW 3 Series EV and Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV, both of which are poised to arrive with cutting-edge architectures and 500-mile range targets. The A4 E-Tron will need to match — or exceed — those figures to remain competitive.
Built on the Future
The shift to the SSP platform is what sets the A4 E-Tron apart from Audi’s current electric models like the A6 E-Tron. Whereas that car rides on the older PPE architecture co-developed with Porsche, SSP represents a new level of integration — faster computing, leaner development, and smarter energy use.
According to Döllner, SSP will debut across the Volkswagen Group in 2028, underpinning everything from the next Golf to a new Skoda Octavia and Cupra SUV. Audi’s A4 E-Tron will be among the first to harness its full potential.
But perhaps the most revolutionary element is invisible: software. Thanks to a partnership with Rivian, Audi’s future EVs will adopt a software-defined vehicle architecture — capable of over-the-air updates, modular functions, and real-time diagnostics.
“We’re already building test mules with the Rivian-Volkswagen joint venture,” Döllner said. “It means leaner development, less complexity, and faster processes. Over-the-air updates are just the beginning.”
This system won’t debut before 2028, but Audi intends for the A4 E-Tron to be one of the first vehicles to fully integrate it.
Digital Power, Analog Soul
Interestingly, even as Audi embraces the digital future, it’s also rediscovering its tactile past. Döllner emphasized that the Radical Next design doesn’t mean abandoning physical buttons or material richness.
“Customers want specific functions with direct access,” he said. “Less virtual, more haptic. That’s how we bring emotion and authenticity back into the cabin.”
Expect a return of solid metal switchgear, precision feedback, and that unmistakable ‘Audi click’, layered over a central computing unit that quietly manages everything behind the scenes.
Strategic Reset
The A4 E-Tron’s importance to Audi can’t be overstated. Amid job cuts, model consolidation, and global cost pressures, this car will be a litmus test for the brand’s reinvention. With U.S. import tariffs, sluggish EV adoption, and surging R&D costs, Audi’s leadership knows the next few years will be defining.
Döllner remains optimistic. “I’m quite positive looking ahead,” he said. “By 2026, we’ll have a complete lineup — and from there, more interesting products will come as we roll out Radical Next design.”
When it finally lands, the Audi A4 E-Tron won’t just mark the end of combustion for Audi’s most iconic nameplate — it’ll signal the beginning of a software-driven, design-forward, and emotion-rich new era for the four rings.
If the Concept C is any indication, this A4 will blend aerodynamic purity, digital intelligence, and human-centered design like no Audi before it. The electric 3 Series and C-Class may have a head start, but Ingolstadt is preparing to strike back — not just with another EV, but with a redefinition of what an Audi can be.
Source: Audi