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Saturday 22 April 2023 9:23 am
The Audi Q8 E-tron is the German top class heed cleansing up. That’s the ambiance, keep in mind that, courtesy of its zero tailpipe emissions and the carbon-neutral Belgian manufacturing facility it’s constructed in. Nonetheless also, Audi’s mannequin title hierarchy: this electrical SUV is a revised and rechristened model of the aged Audi E-tron – since the ‘E-tron’ moniker is now utilized to every Audi EV.
Aid at the Audi E-tron originate in 2018, a pair of of us drew parallels with the fashioned Audi Quattro. Audi has made a lot of quattros, nonetheless handiest one Quattro (with a capital ‘Q’). The E-tron wasn’t correct ample to turn out to be iconic, even though. Its vary changed into once reasonably pitiful, at without distress no longer up to 200 miles, no topic its hefty batteries. No longer suave, when Tesla can offer a minimal of 50 p.c extra.
So Audi has changed into the fashioned E-tron into the Q8 E-tron, and created a brand fresh vary-topping electrical SUV in the system – reflected by costs that kick off at £67,800. The ‘55’ model I drove costs from £77,800, whereas its chief rival, the grotesque and alarmingly sick-proportioned BMW iX, starts at £69,905.
Bigger batteries
![News Audi Q8 E-Tron](https://www.cityam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/32667-Q8e-tron2023-1.jpg?w=960)
Despite and not utilizing a doubt being 5 years aged, the Q8 is a distinctive-trying machine. A hefty entrance-end overhaul supplies some added presence, helped by a corpulent-width model of Audi’s singleframe grille, an integrated gentle bar and funky 2D model of the ‘four rings’ logo.
It has a ways extra impact and becomes reasonably of a head-turner with tall alloy wheels and gloss black neat. Follow archaic door mirrors reasonably than the non-significant rear-watch cameras, even though. They are nearly ineffective: the tech simply isn’t involving yet.
Interior, it’s disguise-heavy, nonetheless Teutonically stable, despite the incontrovertible reality that the haptic touchscreens don’t acknowledge as swiftly as your smartphone, desiring extra of a finger-jab than looks polite. That now you can utilize the ‘Hiya Audi’ explain assistant, nonetheless keep in mind that, no one will.
Bigger batteries bolster the automobile’s charm. There are two sizes; the 50 E-tron (if handiest Audi could per chance presumably also shining up its weird, indecipherable numerical badges subsequent…) now has an 89kWh battery, whereas the 55 E-tron supplies a whopping 106kWh. For comparison, a standard Tesla Mannequin 3 has an estimated 58kWh battery.
News SUV or Sportback
![News Audi Q8 E-Tron](https://www.cityam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/32675-Q8e-tron2023-1.jpg?w=960)
This kind the Audi can now crawl up to 330 miles between expenses. There is a Q8 Sportback model too, with a swoopier, extra aerodynamic rear end for up to 343 miles of vary. That’s noteworthy extra cherish it. The larger battery can snappy-fee at up to 170kW as effectively, going from 10-80 p.c in 31 minutes. You’ll be inner and out of a form of cherish fresh public charging stations sooner than it.
The 2 motors of the Q8 50 E-tron invent 340hp, for 0-62mph in 6.0 seconds. All you will want? Successfully, the Q8 55 e-tron’s 408hp handiest cuts the 0-62mph time to 5.6 seconds, nonetheless it comes with that bigger battery and 50 miles of additional vary. You’ll potentially be tempted to fork out the additional £10,000 (lag, in conjunction with vary is a luxurious replace).
There’s also a shiny sooner and pricier SQ8 e-tron, with three motors and a 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds, nonetheless that’s no longer right here yet. I didn’t feel short-changed in the 55 E-tron, even though. Take care of any EVs, it hastens swiftly, nonetheless there’s an added layer of Audi sophistication right here that appeals. I’ve acknowledged sooner than that ‘Audi-ness’ will handiest be enhanced by going electrical, and right here is additional proof.
Air suspension is traditional, so the unpleasant roam once synonymous with tall-wheeled Audis is changed by fluid absorbency. But it’s no longer over-soft or squidgy and, with crisp and tight guidance, it drives in a suave and attention-grabbing scheme. It positively has extra persona than the aged Audi E-tron. Spy, EVs don’t desire to be anodyne, finally.
News Price designs
![News Audi Q8 E-Tron](https://www.cityam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/32659-Q8e-tron2023-1.jpg?w=960)
It’s a pity it aloof doesn’t seem very efficient. The vary has been improved simply by bolting in bigger batteries, reasonably than boosting how many miles it would duvet for every kWh of electricity. On a barely brisk take a look at drive, I barely managed two miles per kWh. I bustle a prolonged-term Kia Niro EV and that travels 70 p.c additional for every costly kWh of electricity.
Even so, the E-Tron goes additional between expenses than it did, and that’s what issues most. It’s miles on the total pleasant to drive, a stylish explain to roam in, and looks to be correct in a sector of decidedly blended competitors. Among these, the Jaguar I-Travel is shining nonetheless getting aged, the Mercedes-Benz EQC is also aged and feels it, the Genesis Electrified GV70 awaits a supplier community, and the BMW iX’s amazing cabin and drive are ruined by that exterior.
Will Audi shining up with the fresh Q8 E-tron? Successfully, it’ll aloof enact seriously better than sooner than. No longer least due to oldsters could per chance presumably also just now if truth be told know what it’s.
Richard Aucock writes for Motoring Examine
Audi Q8 55 E-tron
PRICE: From £77,800
POWER: 408hp
0-62MPH: 5.6sec
TOP SPEED: 124mph
BATTERY SIZE: 106kWh
RANGE: 330 miles