Forbidden to the West: 'secret' 776 hp model created with SAIC beats competition and takes top prize in 2026
The AUDI E5 Sportback has been named China’s Car of the Year 2026, in a victory that signals the German automaker’s reaction in the world’s largest and most competitive electric vehicle market. The award puts the model ahead of strong local competitors, in a scenario where Chinese brands, such as BYD, have already surpassed Western giants in global sales volume.
The award carries an important symbolism: the vehicle is marketed under the new sub-brand “AUDI” — written in capital letters and without the iconic logo of the four rings. Developed exclusively for the Chinese public in a joint venture with SAIC, the E5 Sportback represents the debut of this new identity, which seeks to decouple the technology of the new electric era from the company’s traditional combustion models.
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Technically, the car distances itself from the brand’s global portfolio. The model uses the unprecedented Advanced Digital Platform (ADP), created specifically for China’s demands, differing from the PPE base used in electric vehicles sold in Europe and the Americas, such as the Q6 e-tron. However, it maintains the expected engineering refinement, with an 800-volt electrical system that guarantees ultra-fast recharges.
With a shooting brake body (which refers to the shape of a sports station wagon), the E5 is offered in Quattro rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations. In its top-of-the-line version, the performance justifies the title: there are approximately 776 hp, capable of taking the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds. The autonomy, depending on the battery chosen, can reach 770 km by the local cycle.
In addition to the main trophy, the Chinese jury awarded the AUDI E5 awards in the categories of best design, drivability and popularity in the premium segment, validating the brand’s commitment to “nationalize” its production and style to survive in Asia.
