New flagship electric SUV replaces the Audi e-tron and offers up to 372 miles of range
- Larger battery with up to 372-mile range
- Refreshed styling with front light bar
- First deliveries due March 2023
Since its debut, the Audi e-tron has been repeatedly overshadowed by rivals such as the Jaguar I-Pace, BMW iX and now, the Mercedes EQE. However, for 2023 Audi’s flagship electric SUV has undergone a radical makeover and name change to become the new Audi Q8 e-tron.
Boasting new technology, refreshed styling and a larger battery with more range, the new Audi Q8 e-tron is due to go on sale towards the end of 2022, with the first cars arriving in showrooms in March 2023. Pricing for the new car is yet to be announced, but expect the electric Q8 to start from slightly more than its e-tron predecessor’s circa-£60,000 base price.
2023 Audi Q8 e-tron: design and interior
As you can see from Audi’s images, the new Q8 e-tron looks similar to the original e-tron that it replaces. Once again available in both standard SUV and coupe-SUV Sportback forms, the electric Q8 benefits from a host of subtle styling tweaks including a front LED light bar and a redesigned grille-shaped trim piece. New designs for the alloy wheels incorporate aerodynamic slats to help reduce drag and increase efficiency.
On the inside, little has changed for this new model. The Q8 e-tron retains the original e-tron’s dual-screen infotainment system setup which comprises an 8.6-inch touchscreen for the climate controls, sitting below a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen for the sat-nav and multimedia functions. These are bolstered by Audi’s Virtual Cockpit screen behind the steering wheel, which alongside speed and engine readouts can also be configured to display sat-nav directions and/or your current media playback.
Of course, buyers will be able to tell the difference between the all-new Q8 e-tron and the car it replaces thanks to a smattering of model-specific badging; Audi’s EV lineup has greatly expanded since the original e-tron was introduced back in 2019, so this new name ties the updated model in with other cars in the range such as the smaller Q4 e-tron SUV.
Electric motors, range and charging
Perhaps the biggest change for the Q8 e-tron is a new larger battery. The outgoing e-tron was available with battery sizes up to 95kWh (89kWh usable), providing a maximum range of 278 miles on a single charge. The new electric Q8 is now available with a larger 114kWh battery – badged Q8 55 e-tron – which provides a range of up to 372 miles in the Sportback model, falling slightly to 361 miles for the SUV. This is paired with a 355bhp dual-motor setup, which offers all-wheel-drive and a ‘Boost’ mode which adds an extra 48bhp of punch for eight seconds.
The 95kWh option remains available in the entry-level Q8 50 e-tron model. Thanks to a host of small aerodynamic and technical upgrades, range has increased to 313 miles for the Sportback model and 305 miles for the standard SUV. Like its more-expensive counterpart, the Q8 50 e-tron also gets two electric motors, however, these are slightly detuned to produce a still-respectable 308bhp (335bhp in Boost mode).
At the other end of the spectrum is the range-topping SQ8 e-tron; this uses the same 114kWh battery as the Q8 55 e-tron, but with a more-powerful tri-motor setup that produces a muscular 496bhp. As a trade-off for the extra power, the SQ8 has slightly less range than its more conventional siblings, with the Sportback and SUV needing to be plugged in after 318 and 306 miles respectively.
As standard, the Audi Q8 e-tron is compatible with 150kW fast charging, allowing for a 10-80% top-up in around 35-40 minutes when connected to a compatible public rapid charger. Even better, Q8 55 and SQ8 models get faster 170kW charging, cutting the waiting time down to just 31 minutes for a 10-80% charge.
Keyword: 2023 Audi Q8 e-tron squares up to the BMW iX