Facelifted flagship electric SUV replaces the Audi e-tron and offers up to 343 miles of range
- 2023 Audi Q8 e-tron: design and interior
- Electric motors, range and charging
- New Audi Q8 e-tron UK trim levels and options
- Larger battery with up to 343-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. It costs from £67,800, but prices stretch up to £117,000 for the range-topping SQ8 e-tron in Vorsprung trim.
Boasting new technology, refreshed styling and a larger battery with more range, the new Audi Q8 e-tron is on sale now, with the first cars arriving with customers from April 2023.
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 343 miles in the Sportback model, falling slightly to 330 miles for the SUV. It costs between £77,800 and £99,800 depending on specification, with £2,500 added on for the Sportback. 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, costing from £67,800 in Sport trim and up to £89,800 for Vorsprung in SUV guise. Thanks to a host of small aerodynamic and technical upgrades, range has increased to 290 miles for the Sportback model and 281 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 £97,500 SQ8 e-tron; this uses the same 114kWh (106kWh usable) 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 295 and 284 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.
New Audi Q8 e-tron UK trim levels and options
The Q8 e-tron SUV and Sportback will be available in four trim levels: Sport, S Line, Black Edition and Vorsprung. Even as standard it’s well-equipped, coming with adaptive air suspension, all-wheel drive and a new progressive steering system to boost its agility.
Comfort and convenience items include heated front seats and an acoustic windscreen to improve cabin refinement. There’s also keyless entry, dual-zone climate control with remote preconditioning. The latter can be controlled via the myAudi app and owners can heat or cool their car, and activate the heated and ventilated seats.
Safety systems include a reversing camera, lane departure warning, front and rear parking sensors and Matrix LED adaptive headlights. Digital Matrix LEDs are reserved for the top Vorsprung trim.
Options have been simplified into packs. The £2,995 Technology Pack brings a Bang & Olufsen sound system, multi-colour ambient lighting, a head-up display, 360-degree camera view, and semi-autonomous parking which sees the car maneuver into spaces while the driver holds down a button. Upgrade to Technology Pack Pro (£5,995) and you can add grille illumination, four-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, USB-C rear charging, heated rear seats and an advanced key to the list.
The Tour Pack (£1,995) has been carried over from the outgoing car, with features like adaptive cruise control and other safety features geared towards motorway driving, along with the City Assist Pack that warns you if you’re about to open a door into traffic or reverse into the path of a vehicle. Audi’s virtual door mirrors (replacing traditional glass with rear-facing cameras) cost £1,750.
Keyword: New Audi Q8 e-tron on sale now from £67,800