In 2018, Audi created a sensation with the e-tron, the brand’s first electric vehicle. Equipped at the time with a battery with a gross capacity of 95 kWh, the Audi e-tron 55 Quattro was to boast 417 km of autonomy. An optimistic forecast on paper, but denied on the road when we made the trip Paris-Angers-Île de Ré…
Aware of the constraints of its 2.49 t empty pachyderm including 700 kg of battery, Audi had rectified the situation in December 2019 with a technical update. This had made it possible to increase the useful capacity of the battery from 84 to 86.5 kWh for the 55 Quattro version (95 kWh gross) against 64.7 kWh (71 kWh of total capacity) for the 50 Quattro version. The result is a WLTP range of 336 km for the Audi e-tron 50 Quattro, and 436 km for the 55 Quattro version, i.e. 25 km more than before.
Today, this symbol of Audi’s first electrification is undergoing a few changes, starting with the name, which becomes Q8 e-tron. In no case is it the electric version of the Q8 thermal coupe SUV, which will a priori also benefit from its own electric version.
The first change concerns the design, and more specifically the aerodynamics, with drag coefficients going from 0.28 to 0.27 for the SUV version and from 0.26 to 0.24 for the Sportback. These values have been achieved in particular thanks to the radiator grille fitted with electric shutters which open and close automatically, thus making it possible to control and optimize the flow of air. Added to this are spoilers on the front wheel arches placed very low at body level, which help deflect air around the wheels.
Note that the Sportback version benefits from the same front and rear appendages. Said grille displays a new 2D logo while the light signature uses Digital Matrix LED headlights (optional) capable of indicating to the driver his position in the lane.
The passenger compartment undergoes only a few transformations. There are two touch screens of 10.1 inches (diagonal of 25.65 cm) for the top one and 8.6 inches (diagonal of 21.84 cm) running under the house operating system MMI. Obviously, the Virtual Cockpit HD (combined digital instruments), hallmark of Audi, is required. It can be accompanied by a head-up system or Head-up display (HUD) in English, for a fee. The navigation (MMI Navigation Plus) has been revised and improved to take into account the autonomy depending on the destinations. The Audi connect Navigation and Infotainment package includes Car-to-X services that allow the vehicle to “talk” to connected infrastructures or vehicles.
Increased charging power and range
But the main improvement concerns the capacity of the battery and its autonomy. Exit the 71 kWh battery that fitted the old e-tron 50 Quattro. It is replaced by a 95 kWh battery (useful capacity of 89 kWh), the same perhaps as on the old e-tron 55 Quattro. The latter powers two electric motors with a total power of 250 kW (torque of 664 Nm – maximum speed of 200 km/h).
Audi announces a range of 491 km for the Q8 50 e-tron SUV and 505 km for its Sportback version. As for the charging power, it is 150 kW.
The Q8 55 e-tron, whether SUV or Sportback, also incorporates two electric motors with a total power of 300 kW for a torque of 664 Nm. The battery capacity reaches 114 kWh (106 kWh net) for a autonomy (WLTP cycles) of 582 km for the SUV and 600 km for the Sportback. The charging power at 170 kW makes it possible to go from 10 to 80% in 31 minutes. On the other hand, the times lengthen with the 11 kW on-board charger or the optional 22 kW one: 11 h 30 min and 6 h.
In any case, and given the figures announced by the manufacturer, it would be interesting to know the excess weight that such battery capacities generate to determine whether their capacity is consistent, or not, with the autonomy announced.
The Q8 e-tron is fitted as standard with Plug & Charge technology, which allows the vehicle to be automatically recognized at the terminal provided it is compatible with this system.
Audi SQ8 e-tron: three electric motors or nothing
There remains the high-end and sporty version with the Audi SQ8 e-tron and the Audi SQ8 Sportback e-tron, whose particularity is due to the presence of three electric motors. Peak power is 370 kW for a torque of 973 Nm (maximum speed of 210 km/h). The battery is identical to that of the Q8 55 e-tron.
The new Audi Q8 e-tron and Q8 Sportback e-tron will be available for pre-order from mid-November 2022 for delivery estimated at the end of February 2023. The entry ticket is €86,700. For comparison, the base price of the Audi Q8 e-tron in Germany is €74,400.