The All-New Audi Q8 E-tron: A Major Upgrade
The latest version of the Audi Q8 E-tron is a major upgrade from the previous iteration that was tested by WIRED over five years ago. The new Q8 has been redesigned with improvements in technology, external visual changes, and dynamic upgrades. Although the Q8 E-tron is built on the same platform as the fossil fuel-powered Q7 SUV and the related Porsche Cayenne, both from the Volkswagen family, significant technological upgrades have been implemented to the latest version.
External Design Changes
The new Q8 E-tron has received a facelift that introduces some EV-ness to Audi’s increasingly expressive design language, such that even non-brand aficionados should be able to tell the change is afoot. There is a new grille, the Audi logo is more prominent, and the front and rear bumpers have been redesigned. A light bar now runs between the headlights, and there’s a new alloy wheel design. The SUV comes in two versions, including the regular version and the Sportback. However, the elongation of the Sportback’s rear end might appear to be a style statement, but it reduces the regular car’s versatility.
Technological Upgrades
Battery: Five years in the world of electrification is a long time, and the energy density of batteries is always improving. The entry-level 50 version of the Q8 E-tron sees its usable capacity increase from 71 to 89 kWh. The 55 model has an increased usable capacity from 89 to 106 kWh, which is likely to be more than that of the Kia EV9. The battery will charge from 10 to 80 percent in 31 minutes.
Engines: The engines have also been revised, and the car’s aerodynamic efficiency has been further optimized. The 55 has a total of 402bhp and 490lb-ft of torque.
DC Charging Speeds: DC charging speeds have been improved from 150 to 170 kW, but that’s still far from the 240 kW limit enjoyed by the excellent Genesis GV70 and others.
Range: The Q8 E-tron has a range of up to 330 miles.
Dynamic Upgrades
The Q8 E-tron also received some dynamic upgrades. The steering is quicker and more alert, and the suspension has been refined (all versions work with air springs), while the stability and traction control algorithms have been tweaked. Meanwhile, the 55 sits between the 335bhp 50 version and the 496bhp SQ8, with 402bhp and 490lb-ft of torque.
Additional Piece:
The car market is filled with electric vehicles, petrol cars, and hybrids. People are gradually aware of the environmental impact of their cars, thus adding electric cars to their lists of needs. However, the fact that internal combustion engine cars are likely to become extinct in the near future reshuffles the cards and makes people question their view of what a car should do. Cars provide freedom and transportation. But, first and foremost, cars provide a sense of independence. Being able to get around the city without depending on anyone is essential.
Unfortunately, the quest for independence comes with a significant downside: carbon emissions from the internal combustion engines. The carbon emissions add to the impact of climate change, and in effect, the quest for independence gets blended with the need for an Earth-friendlier worldview. This is where electric vehicles come in, and brands like Audi are gradually upgrading their models to suit the needs of the market while still providing the expected independence.
A significant factor to consider when purchasing an electric vehicle is the range of the car: how long can the car go before needing a charge? With the new Q8 E-tron, the answer is up to 330 miles. This range is perfect for long distances and daily commuting while offering nice acceleration and a quiet cabin. In the Q8 E-tron, the comfort of internal combustion engine cars is present, but with the added benefit of lower CO2 emissions and no noise pollution.
With the upgrades in technology and design, electric cars like the Audi Q8 E-tron are moving closer to closing the gap between the traditional internal combustion engine car and electric cars. For car purchasers, the options are starting to draw closer to the standard features of the conventional vehicle, with improved technology continually being developed, enhancing driving experience and the need for independence while reducing carbon footprints.
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maybe it’s the nature of technology and the pressure of change, but electric vehicles they seem to age more rapidly than their now-convict ICE ancestors. Can it really have been five years since WIRED first tested the Audi E-tron?
Almost. So it’s time for a major upgrade, something this big Audi could really use as key rivals like the bmw ix and Mercedes EQE have since entered the fray. Keep in mind that both are purpose-built clean-sheet electric vehicles that share little to nothing in terms of their architecture with their existing combustion-engined siblings.
However, while the Q8 E-tron is renamed to cement its status at the top of an EV lineup that includes the Q4 Etron and the starter Q6 E-tronit’s still built on the same platform you’ll find beneath the fossil fuel-powered Q7 SUV and the related Porsche Cayenne, both from the vw family.
The external visual changes introduce some EV-ness to Audi’s increasingly expressive design language, to the point that even non-brand aficionados should be able to tell the change is afoot. There’s a new grille, the Audi logo is more prominent, and the front and rear bumpers have been redesigned. A light bar now runs between the headlights and there’s a new alloy wheel design.
The E-tron is also available as a Sportback, though I can’t help but think that all SUV-coupes are a bit of a gimmick. WIRED wouldn’t trade the longer rear end and greater versatility of the regular car for this supposed style statement.
five year service
Photo: AUDI AG
More important are technological upgrades. Five years is a long time in the world of electrification, and the energy density of batteries is always improving. The entry-level 50 version sees its usable capacity increase from 71 to 89 kWh, while the 55 model (and the performance-oriented SQ8 E-tron) jump from 89 to 106 kWh, which may be more than the next. KIA EV9. Now we are talking.
The engines have also been revised and the car’s aerodynamic efficiency has been further optimized. Audi claims a range of “up to 330 miles” for the 55, and DC charging speeds are also improved. These have gone from 150 to 170 kW, though that’s still far from the 240 kW limit enjoyed by the excellent Genesis GV70 and others. The battery will go from 10 to 80 percent charge in 31 minutes, but this time around that can’t beat the EV9’s 800V electrical architecture, which can do the same thing in less than 25 minutes.
The Q8 E-tron also got some dynamic upgrades. The steering is quicker and more alert, the suspension has been refined (all versions work with air springs), and the stability and traction control algorithms have been tweaked. The 55 has a total of 402bhp and 490lb-ft of torque, and sits between the 335bhp 50 version and the 496bhp SQ8. That one wins a third engine.
Imperious, not interactive
Photo: AUDI AG
The twin-engine 55 is a car that has an imperious feel without being what might be called interactive. But then, no electric SUV really delivers on a mission statement to entertain, especially since regardless of the chassis wizardry or engineering savvy at play, the E-tron weighs in at over 2.5 tons and the physics at work is immutable.
https://www.wired.com/review/review-audi-q8-e-tron/
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