Say hello to the Audi Q8 e-tron
Posted by Tejas Kokcha on Mar 14, 2023
Audi has revealed its flagship electric SUV in the UAE - the Audi Q8 e-tron. With the EV revolution in full swing, Audi is electrifying its whole lineup with most of its cars having electric siblings with the suffix ‘e-tron’. The Audi Q8 e-tron means that the German marque’s flagship SUV has gone electric and looks to whisper onto the UAE roads.
The Q8 e-tron marks the beginning of a new corporate identity and design language for Audi with its singleframe mask, inverted grille, and blade above the redesigned rear diffuser. The Q8 e-tron is also the first model to carry Audi’s two-dimensional logo. The German brand looks to carry forward this new identity onto the electric era.
Two drivetrains are on offer with two different variants of the Q8 e-tron. The Q8 55 e-tron and Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron are powered by two motors that produce 300 kW in boost mode and 664 Nm of torque. Both models boast ranges of up to 582 and 600 kilometres, respectively.
The top-of-the-range *hold your breath* Audi SQ8 Sportback e-tron is the one that looks to bring some real EV performance to the party with its three motors generating 370 kW in boost mode and 973 Nm of torque. Being the most sportier of the lot comes with a trade-off as the SQ8 Sportback e-tron offers a range of up to 513 kilometres.
The Audi Q8 e-tron comes with the Plug & Charge function, as standard and Audi states that at a fast-charging station, the maximum charging performance of the Q8 55 e-tron jumps to 170 kW. For those who don’t understand this much science, us included, this translates to the battery being charged from 10 to 80 percent during a 31-minute charging stop and giving up to 420 kilometres of range.
Moving onto the interior, one which has been described by Audi as “luxury-class”. The cabin gets four-zone automatic climate control and optional extras like air quality package, three-stage ventilation, massage seats, contour seats, ambient lighting package and an optional glass panorama roof.
Decorative inlays of porous wood veneers (such as grainy ash and sycamore, or aluminium), light brown walnut wood, and a sustainable technological material created largely from recycled PET bottles are all available as interior options.
Overall, the Audi Q8 e-tron looks to provide all the opulence that its petrol-powered sibling offers coupled with an extra layer of luxury and, of course, eco-friendly silence. The SUV will become available in showrooms across the Middle East in the second half of 2023.