Audi’s electric SUV range has a new face
It was only a matter of time before Audi India made a national comeback. The company’s retail sales recently increased by 97%, fueled by consumer sentiment driven by a booming stock market and expanding economy.
So, it’s no surprise that Audi, which launched the country’s first electric supercar, would update its electric lineup with a revamped version of its flagship electric SUV, the Q8 e-tron.
With the ‘e-tron’ suffix now being applied to all electric products, Audi decided to further differentiate its electric SUVs by prefixing them with the letter ‘Q’, the same as SUVs with internal combustion engines. The Q8 e-tron is, therefore, Audi’s flagship electric SUV, as is the Q8, which is at the top of the internal combustion SUV line-up.
However, it’s not just the nomenclature that has changed. Far from it. The upgraded Q8 e-tron has a fresh look and, most importantly, a longer range. Available as an SUV and a Sportback, this redesigned facelift version has been tweaked in several ways to compete with its battery-powered brethren.
Q8 e-tron: what’s special about it?
Style
This is a nice looking machine. Unlike the clumsy BMW iX, the Audi Q8 e-tron follows logical aesthetic principles without being too bombastic or experimental.
SUVs and Sportback have aesthetically pleasing proportions and exquisite details. Unlike the previous model, the new model has a glossy black border around the hexagonal grille, flanked by larger and more prominent air deflectors.
The grille adopts an innovative honeycomb structure instead of the previously characteristic and clinical lines. Audi logo appears two-dimensional in front of the radiator grille. Alloy’s design has also changed, from an edgy industrial design to his 5-spoke look on the new 20″.
The rear bumper has also been redesigned, with Q8 e-tron branding visible on the tailgate and B-pillar. Charging ports are located on both sides of the front fender. A simple click gently lowers the CCS Type 2 inlet cover.
As far as visuals are concerned, this pretty much sums up the changes. The Q8 e-tron is recognizable by its overall profile, as both the SUV and Sportback have identical shapes. The relatively low seating position makes it more like a city SUV than a pure off-roader, unlike the Audi Q8 petrol equivalent.
The interior remains the same: Audi sticks to the ‘don’t fix what’s not broken’ philosophy. The cockpit is completely drenched in fine gravy, which is undoubtedly an advantage Audi has over its rivals.
All the corners, crevices, and contours are nicely done, but the three screens prioritize form over function. The smooth, tactile response of touchscreen buttons may not be better than tactile buttons for some. However, it adds a futuristic flair to the cabin that most cabins lack.
Most car features are covered between the 10.1-inch infotainment screen and the 8.6-inch screen below. In the instrument cluster, you can see Audi’s virtual cockpit. It provides just the right amount of visual feedback on any road without being distracting or overwhelming.
In addition, a 360-degree camera with ventilated seats and a 3D car model is also available. It also has an excellent 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, eight airbags, an Audi-developed parking assist package, a panoramic sunroof, and everything that makes the Q8 e-tron a leading electric SUV (except wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto).
Substance
A more substantial, more effective change comes in the form of a redesigned battery. With the 95kWh battery removed and a more densely packed 114kWh battery installed, the WLTP’s total range reaches 600km.
Audi has done this without increasing the battery’s dimensions, so it doesn’t take up space for other components. Instead, battery density has increased by 20%.
The battery supports 170kW fast charging, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a DC charger capable of delivering that voltage. Audi claims the DC charger can quickly charge the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. The 22kW self-installed charger charges in 6 hours.
Q8 e-tron driving experience
Despite being based on an existing MLB platform designed for fuel-consuming vehicles, the Q8 e-tron somehow stays lighter than its predecessor. Once upon a time, breaking hard pushed the overwhelming reality of its pure dynamics to the forefront. This showed the limits of a non-electric chassis.
But the Q8 e-tron is much more confident. This is even more pronounced when the Q8 is switched to “dynamic” mode. Audi has worked on its Q8 e-tron’s steering setup so it feels more balanced. It’s not a minor change that draws as much attention as the increased range. However, it makes the 2.5-ton car feel significantly lighter in corners, with slightly more steering feedback.
Thanks to Quattro AWD (it has dual engines, after all) and its low center of gravity, the Q8 feels solidly grounded. The air suspension also allows the vehicle to be raised by 76 millimeters when switched to off-road mode, allowing the Q8 e-tron to easily overcome rough and uneven surfaces.
Consumers will be excited about what comes next with the Q8 e-tron.
VW Group’s famous all-electrified MEB platform has attracted attention internationally and is touted as a Tesla killer. Future models in Audi’s EV range, such as the Q4 e-tron, will show how efficient a pure electric car can be. Until then, it’s up to the Q8 e-tron to demonstrate Audi’s ability to build a smooth, quiet electric car.
Because even regenerative braking isn’t strong enough to induce single-pedal driving, Audi doesn’t want combustion-powered drivers to completely recalibrate their driving inputs when switching to electric vehicles. This speaks to its fascination with the Q8 e-tron. It has the luxury and robustness of a traditional SUV with the practicality and majesty of a new-age EV.
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