New Audi Q8 e-tron gets bigger battery and refreshed design

Audi e-tron sold 150,000 units in 4 years since it was introduced to the market, it’s quite remarkable achievement because it has done it quietly and almost under the radar. It still looked fresh but Audi decided it was time for an update - the competition in the premium electric SUV segment is fierce.

Well, here it is - the all new Audi Q8 e-tron. Both the SUV and Sportback versions received new identities with the Q8 added for an easier identification, customers apparently were confused to which segment the car belongs and the model designation was the solution. In all honesty, family of electric Audis has grown a lot since e-tron came on the scene, back then it was the only electric Audi so it made sense for it to be called just “e-tron.”

Just as before, all models come with an AWD system courtesy of dual-motor setup or tri-motor in case of the S versions. The power figures remain broadly the same, but the rear motor on the non-S versions has been upgraded - it rocks 14 coils generating a magnetic field which means more torque and higher efficiency.

The SQ8 version comes with a 124 kW electric motor powering the front wheels while two 98 kW work the rear axle. The combined output is 370kW and 973Nm of torque which is identical to the outgoing e-tron S. The 4.5 seconds sprint from 0 to 100 km/h and top speed of 210 km/h are identical as well.

The Q8 55 e-tron again has identical performance figures as its e-tron predecessor - 300kW and 664Nm - but the first clue to a different rear motor is slightly better acceleration - 5.6 seconds instead of 5.7 seconds. You won’t probably notice that difference in everyday driving, but accelerating from 40 to 100 km/h or from 60 to 120 km/h should feel a little bit snappier.

The Q8 50 is the only model that gets a noticeable power upgrade, the total output went up to 250kW and the torque went up to 664Nm. The upgraded rear motor shows its might here with acceleration now taking 6 seconds flat while before it took 6.8 seconds to get from 0 to 100 km/h. The Q8 50 e-tron gets a higher top speed as well - 200 km/h and it matches its bigger brother, the Q8 55.

The biggest changes are happening in the battery department, where Audi now uses prismatic cells with stacking technology to considerably improve density. The SQ8 and Q8 55 will be available with the new 114kWh battery pack with 106kWh usable capacity. The Q8 50 will have to do with the smaller 95kWh battery that gives it 89kWh usable capacity. That is a huge improvement - before it was equipped with a 71kWh pack with less than 65kWh usable,so the capacity upgrade is 37%!

Finally, the electric SUV from Audi comes with a decent driving range. On top of the new batteries, the company worked hard to improve the aerodynamic performance of both versions - Q8 now has a 0.27 drag coefficient and Q8 Sportback does even better at 0.24. It means vastly improved efficiency.

The entry level Q8 50 e-tron can travel up to 491km and its Sportback sibling improves on that with 505km. That’s a whopping 150km more than the outgoing model with all numbers on the same WLTP cycle.

The Q8 55 e-tron is the king of the range, in the Sportback version the car manages to get 600 km and the traditional SUV trails just behind it with 582km. As expected, the SQ8 versions will have slightly lower range - the SQ8 Sportback will go 513km on a charge with the regular SQ8 managing to squeeze out 494km out of the new battery pack.

The charging times have been improved as well. The smallest battery in the Q8 50 e-tron can handle 150kW at a DC charger, while the Q8 55 and SQ8 can handle 170kW. The bigger battery can charge from 10 to 80% in just over 30 minutes.

At home, all the Q8 versions can charge at up to 11kW with a 22kW optional upgrade available. The smallest pack takes 9 hours and 15 minutes to fully top up, the bigger one - 11 hours and 30 minutes.

Interior improvements include higher defintion displays, natural voice control and Audi virtual cockpit. The graphics have been improved and HUD is available as well. The German customers will get the MMI Plus navigation included in all trims and LTE connection with Wi-Fi hotspot is available on all models. There is Apple Music, Amazon Alexa and Amazon Music built-in. Audi Q8 is the first production car to introduce Holoride - an augmented reality experience that combines the car movements with images displayed through a special pair of glasses.

For the first time, Audi Q8 e-tron is certified as net-carbon-neutral. That’s quite big news, it means its production process is carbon-neutral and any emissions resulting from the entire production process - that includes transport of materials - are being offset through carbon credits.

Many materials are recycled in a closed-loop process and are used for sound-proofing and carpet production. The Dinamica upholstery is made in 45% from recycled bottles in a new, solvent-free process.

The e-tron was very popular and now the Q8 e-tron makes even more sense. The car will become available to order within next week with deliveries planned for February 2023 in Germany and other European markets. The American customers should get deliveries at the beginning of April. The Q8 50 will start at €74,400 in Germany and Audi will confirm full pricing shortly.

Source 1 | Source 2 (German)