Audi E-Tron concept teased – UPDATE: Leaked images have surfaced

UPDATE, April 17: The upcoming new Audi E-Tron concept has surfaced online early, ahead of an official debut set to occur in Shanghai next week.

We've added a pair of images below, and the rest of the leaked marketing shots can be seen by clicking our gallery above.

Watch for more to come, in higher quality and with more detail, on Monday.

Mike Stevens

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The story to here

Louis Cordony

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April 16: Audi has hinted a new E-Tron concept will debut at the Shanghai Auto Show next week after it uploaded a teaser to its global media database.

The image is a sketch of what is speculated to be an EV concept the brand promised for the show. It is plausible, since Audi has titled the image "World Premiere: Audi at Auto Shanghai on April 19".

As for what the concept car will be, it’s clear that it won’t be an SUV. The cropped-in sketch shows a long front bonnet hunkered down on low-profile wheels, suggests front-engine sedan, wagon or coupe proportions.

The E-Tron treatment in the front lower grille points towards it finding its way into the brand's EV range, which consists of the E-Tron SUV that is already on sale and will soon welcome a pair of SUVs known as the Q4 (pictured above) and Q4 Sportback.

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Above: the new Q4 E-Tron

However, large brake calipers pictured within this concept’s wheels also set sporty pretensions for the concept. Like the E-Tron GT, a Taycan-based rival on its way to Australia, this new concept flanks its front grille with two sizeable air guides.

Maybe, a new E-Tron GT variant is on its way. However, thin headlights and a fully enclosed grille with black surrounds contradict this.

What platform resides under this concept would reveal a lot about what it is. Audi has developed the E-Tron GT on the J1 platform, its new Q4 SUV on the MEB platform and outlined a new premium vehicle PPE platform.

Whatever platform this concept will use, it underlines the commitment Audi made to launch 20 electric vehicles by 2025 is progressing at a rapid pace. Stay tuned for more next week.

NEXT: Electric vehicles on the way for 2021