With the introduction of the new Audi Q8 e-tron, Audi is building on the success story of its electric pioneer, the Audi e-tron. This top-of-the-line electric SUV will impress with its optimised drive concept, improved aerodynamics, increased charging performance, battery capacity, and range of up to 582 km in the SUV version and up to 513 km in the SQ8 e-tron Sportback.
“Since the introduction of the Audi e-tron, Audi has been following a systematic electric roadmap” said Dean Sheed General Manager of Audi New Zealand. “The new Audi Q8 e-tron is a progression of the current Audi e-tron. Its improved efficiency, range, and refined design will all play a fundamental part in its success. Like all e-tron’s in our fully electric offering there is no doubt the Audi Q8 e-tron is suitable for everyday use and more” add Sheed.
New face, new name, new corporate identity
By calling this model the Q8, Audi is making a clear statement that the Audi Q8 e-tron is the top model among its electric SUVs. The Audi Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback are immediately identifiable as fully electric models thanks to the new front and rear designs that systematically carry Audi’s electric design language forward.
The Audi Q8 e-tron will be the first model to receive the new corporate identity with a two-dimensional design of the four rings on the exterior, along with the model lettering and Audi logo on the B-pillar.
Two drivetrain variants
Each variant will have its own drivetrain with electric all-wheel drive. The Audi Q8 55 e-tron SUV will generate 300 kW* in boost mode and 664 Nm* of torque. This model will offer a range of up to 582 km*, in accordance with the WLTP. The top-end Audi SQ8 e-tron Sportback will be powered by three motors which amount to 370 kW and 973 Nm of torque in boost mode. The range of the SQ8 e-tron Sportback will reach up to 513 km*, in accordance with the WLTP, with a top speed of 210 km/h.
Increased battery capacity and charging performance
The battery of the Audi Q8 55 e-tron and Audi SQ8 e-tron Sportback will have 106 net kWh. Thanks to an adjustment to the battery management system, the battery capacity usable for customers has increased. At a high-powered DC charging station, the maximum charging performance increases to up to 170 kW. The battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent during a roughly 31-minute charging stop under ideal conditions, this corresponds to a range of up to 420 km (according to WLTP). At an AC charging station or wallbox, the Audi Q8 e-tron charges at up to 11 kW, under ideal conditions this will take 11 hours and 30 minutes to reach a full charge. Audi offers an optional AC charging performance of up to 22 kW, the charge time is 6 hours.
Balancing act between comfort and sportiness
The new Audi Q8 e-tron comes standard with an air-spring suspension with controlled shock absorption. The height of the car body can be varied by a total of 76mm, depending on the driving situation. The electronic stability control (ESC) will allow for even more maneuverability– especially in tight corners. It handles these with noticeably more agility thanks to its revised progressive steering. The gear ratio of the steering system has been changed so that the steering responds even faster, especially when making delicate steering movements. The effect of the direct steering ratio is supported by more rigid suspension bearings on the front axle. All of the chassis control systems have been adjusted, but they remain balanced and perfectly attuned – true to the Audi DNA.
Further improved aerodynamics
The wheel spoilers mounted on the underbody of the Audi Q8 e-tron help divert airflow around the wheels. The spoilers on the front axle have been enlarged, and the Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron now has spoilers on the rear wheels as well.
On the SQ8 e-tron Sportback, spoilers are only mounted on the rear axle. In the area around the grille, this is the first time an Audi model has had a self-sealing system in addition to the electric shutters that automatically close the radiator. These modifications further optimise the airflow at the front of the car and prevent undesired drag.
Convenient parking with remote park assist plus
There are around 40 driver assistance systems available in the Audi Q8 e-tron. Up to five radar sensors, five cameras, and 12 ultrasonic sensors provide environmental information that’s then analysed by the central driver assistance control unit.
Something new is remote park assist plus. With its help, the Audi Q8 e-tron will be able maneuver into the tightest parking spaces. Customers can control the parking procedure through the myAudi app on their smartphones. When the car reaches its final position in the parking space, it automatically switches off, puts on the parking brake, and locks the doors. To leave the parking space, the motor is powered on through the myAudi app, then the vehicle maneuvers out enough for comfortable entry.
Luxury-class interior
The glass panorama roof makes the interior appear lighter and reinforces the sense of airiness and expansiveness. When open, the two-part glass roof improves the climate in the interior thanks to efficient ventilation. An integrated wind deflector reduces wind noise as well.
Materials from recycling processes
As part of the Plastic Loop project, Audi has worked with the plastics manufacturer LyondellBasell to establish a process in which chemical recycling will be used for the first time to reuse mixed automotive plastic waste in the series production of the plastic covers for the seatbelt buckles in the Q8 e-tron. In this process, jointly implemented with LyondellBasell, plastic components from customer vehicles that can no longer be repaired are dismantled and separated from foreign materials, such as metal clips, before being shredded and processed into pyrolysis oil through chemical recycling. This pyrolysis oil is then used as a raw material in the production of new plastics, such as the cover used for seatbelt buckles.
Audi will also use recycled materials for other components in the Audi Q8 e-tron. These materials, treated through a recycling process, reduce the number of resources used and ensure a closed, efficient, and sustainable material loop. In the interior of the Audi Q8 e-tron, Audi uses recycled materials for insulation and damping, as well as for carpeting. The decorative inlay above the display, called the Tech Layer, is available with a new material that’s partially composed of recycled PET bottles.
The new Audi Q8 e-tron and Audi SQ8 e-tron Sportback are currently due to arrive in New Zealand during the second quarter of 2023. Final pricing and specifications will be released closer to the local launch.
