Electric luxury SUV gets a new name, revised suspension and a much longer range On sale Spring 2023 Price from £68,595
Darren Moss Darren.Moss@haymarket.com
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE between Peter Parker and Miles Morales? On the surface, not much. Both are alter egos of Spider-Man, both fight crime and shoot webs, and both enjoy wearing lycra. But look closer and you’ll see that, as well as having a new name, Morales wields better technology and has a sharper suit. And that, in a roundabout way, describes the new Audi Q8 e-tron.
Now, you’re probably more familiar with the Q8 e-tron than you know. When it first went on sale in 2018, it was known simply as the E-tron. But what else has changed? Well, mechanical upgrades include revised air suspension that’s designed to help the Q8 e-tron float over battered roads even better than its predecessor. At the same time, Audi has tweaked the steering in a bid to make this big, heavy car feel more agile than before.
There’s also been a significant upgrade in range.Whereas entry-level versions of the original E-tron could manage only 197 miles between charges, even the cheapest Q8 e-tron can officially travel for up to 305 miles before you need to plug it in.That’s a 55% increase and is farther than the rival BMW iX xDrive40 can manage. It’s worth noting, however, that every version of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV can travel farther, with ranges of at least 339 miles.
The Q8 e-tron line-up kicks off with the 50 model, which is powered by dual electric motors that send their combined 335bhp to all four wheels and draw energy from an 89kWh (usable capacity) battery.
Stepping up to the 55, meanwhile, brings a larger battery with 106kWh of usable capacity for an official range of up to 361 miles, as well as a power boost to 402bhp.A sporty SQ8 crowns the range, featuring a third electric motor that takes power to a heady 496bhp. Even this version – which shares the 55’s 106kWh battery – can officially cover up to 307 miles before needing to recharge.
Speaking of charging, the Q8 e-tron can accept power at rates of up to 150kW with the 89kWh battery.The 106kWh battery, meanwhile, can handle 170kW, enabling it to be charged from 10-80% in around half an hour if you use a suitably fast charger.
Like its predecessor, the Q8 e-tron is available as either a conventionally shaped SUV or a coupé-like Q8 Sportback e-tron. With its imposing size, a dominating front grille and thin LED rear lights that stretch the width of the car, there’s no mistaking it as anything other than the flagship of Audi’s electric SUV range
