The move places Audi back into the electric luxury sedan segment, where Mercedes and BMW are already pushing ahead with electric rivals. For now, Audi is watching from the sidelines as the electric Mercedes C-Class and BMW i3 compete in that space.
The future A4 will not simply be an electric version of the former gasoline-powered sedan. The long-running nameplate is being repurposed for a new kind of vehicle, separate from the A5, which replaced the combustion-powered A4 a couple of years ago.
A New Design Language for a Mass-Market Audi
Audi Chief Technical Officer Rouven Mohr confirmed that the electric A4 will be among the first mass-produced models to adopt the brand’s new design direction. The style was introduced by the Concept C in 2025 and is described by Audi as a “strive for clarity” approach.
The Nuvolari will arrive before the A4, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027, but that model will be limited to 499 units. A production version of the Concept C is also due before the A4 returns, though it will remain a niche electric targa sports car based on the Porsche Boxster/Cayman EV.
That makes the 2028 A4 EV likely to be the first four-door Audi to carry this new visual identity into a higher-volume segment. It is a notable shift for a model name that has long been central to Audi’s sedan lineup.
Audi Wants Better Interiors and Fewer Screen-Heavy Cabins
Audi is also reworking its interiors after acknowledging that cabin quality has slipped in recent years. The Concept C points to that change, with improved material quality and a return to more physical controls.
The company is also moving away from the screen-heavy layouts that have become common in modern cars. This criticism applies not only to Audi, but also to the wider industry.
The change matters because Audi built much of its reputation on cabin quality, materials, and fit and finish. The future A4 EV is expected to reflect that renewed focus, rather than continuing the current trend of glossy black plastic and large digital displays dominating the cabin.
The Electric A4 Will Use Volkswagen Group’s Ssp Platform
In an interview with Australian magazine GoAuto, Rouven Mohr also confirmed the platform for the future A4 EV. The sedan will be among the first Volkswagen Group products to use the Scalable Systems Platform, known as SSP.
The Volkswagen Group has been discussing SSP for years as a more advanced architecture than its current MEB and PPE platforms. Audi is expected to use it as part of a broader effort to improve its electric vehicle lineup.
Mohr also said he wants the Avant wagon body style to continue into the electric A4 era. “If you ask me, I fully agree that an Avant is part of the Audi DNA. Audi made, I think, the station wagon cool – we should continue this,” he told GoAuto.
The return of the A4 as an EV will mark a major change for one of Audi’s best-known nameplates. With the Concept C, the limited-run Nuvolari, and the future A4, Audi is preparing a design reset that will gradually spread across its lineup by the early 2030s.
