Audi A4 EV returns: SSP platform, AWD, 400–500 hp, 2028–2029

For North America, this year effectively marks a farewell tour for the Audi A4: the gasoline version has been retired, and the compact sedan slot now goes to the new A5. That shift followed Audi’s recent naming logic, where even numbers were meant for electric models. Yet the company now concedes the A4 badge will return—just not right away and in a different guise.

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner has previously confirmed that the next A4 is being developed as an EV, tying the project to a major overhaul within the brand. Its foundation is Volkswagen Group’s SSP platform. That architecture was supposed to arrive sooner, but software setbacks pushed the timeline. The first SSP-based models aren’t expected before late 2027, with a broader wave to follow in 2028.

Given where the A4 traditionally competes, all-wheel-drive versions with two electric motors and output around 400–500 hp look like the baseline, with headroom for more performance in hotter variants. Battery specs and range remain under wraps, but SSP is designed for rapid charging and a modern 800-volt setup. On paper, the ingredients suggest the right pace and efficiency, provided the software piece lands as intended.

In the U.S., the electric A4 could arrive toward the end of 2028 or in 2029. Pricing is likely to sit alongside the next generation of premium competitors—another sign this won’t be a mere nameplate save, but a repositioning aimed squarely at the heart of the segment.