The all-electric AUDI E7X prepares for its big debut

German car giant Audi is doing something very different in China. Instead of using its famous four-ring logo, the company has launched a new brand simply called AUDI that uses four capital letters and focuses entirely on electric cars. The latest model to hit the streets for testing is the AUDI E7X, a large and powerful electric SUV that looks like it came straight from the future.

Car fans around the world know Audi by its rings, but the company realized that young buyers in China want something fresh. Audi teamed up with a Chinese company SAIC, and together, they created a "sister brand" that mixes German engineering with Chinese tech. The AUDI E7X is the second car from this partnership, following the E5 Sportback, which arrived last year.

The all-new E7X was spotted without the usual camouflage during cold-weather testing in the snow. Dressed in a deep purple paint job, the SUV looked quite striking against the white background. It keeps almost all the cool features from the concept car shown a few months ago. The front end has an illuminated AUDI badge instead of the rings, and the lights stretch all the way across the face of the car.

The EVs from this new brand do not look like the traditional Audi models you see in the United States or Europe. They have very smooth sides with "hidden" door handles that pop out when you need them. Even the wheels are special; they have little weights on the center caps so the AUDI name always stays upright - a small detail borrowed from Rolls-Royce, but it shows the company is trying hard to impress.

2026 AUDI E7X - source: MIIT China

This is not a small vehicle. The E7X is a full-size SUV designed to carry families in comfort. It is 198.8 inches long, 78.6 inches wide and stands 67.3 inches tall. With a wheelbase of over three meters, there is a lot of room between the wheels. This usually means the people sitting in the back will have plenty of legroom. The car is almost as long as an Audi Q7, but the floor is flat, making the inside feel even bigger.

When it comes to performance, the new AUDI offers two main choices. If you want a simple and efficient ride, the base model comes with a single motor at the back. This version delivers 402 hp (300 kW). The Quattro version offers two electric motors for all-wheel drive and has 671 hp (500 kW).

With the big motor setup, the SUV can reach a top speed of 143 mph. That is very fast for a heavy electric vehicle, though most drivers in busy Chinese cities will likely spend more time sitting in traffic than racing on the highway.

There are two battery sizes to choose from - 100 kWh or a larger 109.3 kWh. Depending on which motor and battery you pick, the driving range is quite impressive, from around 382 miles all the way to 467 miles. Since the car uses a very modern 800V system, it can charge very quickly. If you find a powerful fast-charger, you can add about 199 miles of range in just ten minutes.

AUDI E SUV Concept - source: AUDI

Inside, the E7X is expected to look a lot like the E5 Sportback. This means a giant 27-inch 4K screen that covers most of the dashboard. There is also an AI assistant that can talk to the driver and passengers. To make things even more futuristic, you can choose "digital mirrors" that use cameras to show you what is behind the car on small screens inside the doors.

The AUDI E7X is finishing its final tests to make sure it can handle extreme heat and cold. It will make its official public debut at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, which starts on April 24. While this car is made specifically for the Chinese market, there are rumors that Audi might eventually bring it to other parts of the world.

Via