The electric ones are the future of mobility and the most dazzling present. All brands are launching their first units on the market. They come in many shapes and sizes, but few are as spectacular as the Audi e-tron, the Ingolstadt firm's first 100% electric vehicle. A product that starts an era and that at the end of 2022 was renamed Audi Q8 etron.
We have tested this car:
Test Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron (408 CV)Test Audi e-tron Sportback 55 S line 408 hp and 95 kWhTest Audi e-tron 55 quattro 95 kWh and 408 CV Edition OneTest Audi e-tron 55 quattro 408 CV Edition OneIn 2015, Audi He already announced that he was working on the development of an electric SUV. At the Frankfurt Motor Show that year they presented the e-tron quattro Concept. It advanced many lines and concepts of the final production unit, which would be Officially presented in 2018 at the Paris Motor Show. A very spectacular first model although not entirely effective for an electric one.
With the expansion of the e-tron range, Audi had to face a denomination problem for future launches, so in November 2022, taking advantage of the mid-cycle renewal, the e-tron becomes be officially named as Q8 e-tron. In addition to the name change, other novelties are introduced in its two bodies: SUV and Sportback with a partially coupé line.
Technical characteristics of the Audi Q8 e-tron
The Audi e-tron is the forerunner of a new era not only in the brand with the four rings but also in the Volkswagen Group. It is the first model that will really exploit the electric vehicle segment. Everything has been new to him. Its development has been carried out from scratch to house exclusively electrical mechanics. It uses the group's MLB-Evo platform, the same one that uses the Sportback body, a modified version of the one we see in other models such as the Volkswagen ID.3, For example.
The platform is designed to house the largest electrical units in the conglomerate, which in the case of the Audi e-tron leads us to measures that are not at all discreet. 4,91 meters long, 1,94 meters wide and 1,63 meters high (1 centimeter less for the Sportback). To these external dimensions must be added a wheelbase of 2,93 meters, which translates into an approved interior space for a maximum of five passengers.
The e-tron Sportback will be the most limited in habitability due to the shape of its silhouette. Rear passengers will have generous legroom, but a bit more limited in height. The trunk volume is also affected. The standard body e-tron enjoys 569 liters of minimum capacity, while the Sportback stands at 529 liters. To these volumes we must add a small front trunk with a fixed capacity of 62 additional liters.
Mechanical range and gearboxes of the Audi Q8 e-tron
One of the fundamental bases of the renewal of the Q8 e-tron in the fall of 2022 focuses on expanding the mechanical offer. The entire range revolves around 100% electric versions, with three different units: 50 e-tron, 55 e-tron and SQ8 e-tron. The offer includes different combinations of motors and battery sizes to achieve different levels of performance and autonomy. All versions come standard with an all-wheel drive scheme.
The offer starts with the variant 50 etron. It features two electric motors, one front and one rear, connected to a lithium-ion battery with a net capacity of 89 kWh. Delivery 340 horsepower, 664 Nm of torque and an approved autonomy of up to 501 kilometers. Just above is the Q8 55 e-tron with dual motor and 106 kWh net capacity battery. Offers 408 horsepower, 664 Nm of torque and an approved autonomy of up to 595 kilometers in a combined cycle.
The most extreme version of the range is the SQ8 e-tron. With a total of three motors, two on the rear axle and one on the front, it offers a maximum output of 504 horsepower and 973 Nm of torque. It has the largest battery in the range with 106 kWh of net capacity with which it manages to announce a autonomy of up to 483 kilometers. For recharging, high-power systems between 150 and 170 kW in direct current and up to 22 kW in alternating current are chosen.
Equipment of the Audi Q8 e-tron
As a good electric car that it is, the Audi Q8 e-tron has positioned itself as a technologically advanced model. Its usual buyer seeks a more complete technical and technological level, and for this reason the firm with the four rings presents extensive equipment. Its interior is not only brimming with technology, but also quality thanks to excellent materials and a careful adjustment and manufacturing process. All this raises the feeling of comfort that, being an electric, is already high.
As is customary at Audi, the range of equipment is staggered into different levels. Each of them adds more base equipment, specific design details and also limits the mechanical range to which you have access. From lowest to highest endowment and price the levels are: Advanced, S Line and Black Line Edition plus the specific finish of the SQ8 version. To say that the Q8 e-tron arrives lightly equipped as standard, and that to include more it will be necessary to dust off the checkbook since nothing comes cheap.
But with this it is possible to include the most complete and advanced technology of Audi and the Volkswagen Group. Everything you can imagine has it, including the digital rearview mirrors. External cameras collect the images that are projected on the interior screens. In addition to that we can add: LED matrix headlights, digital instrument panel, HUD, connectivity for smartphones, multimedia system with touch panel, four-zone climate control and more than 40 assistants and driving aids with level 2 autonomy.
The Audi Q8 e-tron on video
The Audi Q8 e-tron according to Euro NCAP
At the moment the Q8 e-tron has not been analyzed in the usual European safety tests, so it continues to present the same ratings as the already outdated Audi e-tron. Euro NCAP certifies it as a five-star safety vehicle, the highest possible score. The protection percentages are as follows. Protection for adult occupants, in the event of an impact, is 91 percent. In the case of children, it settles for 85 percent. In the event of a collision with pedestrians or cyclists, the protection is 71 percent. Finally, in driving assistants it reaches 76 percent.
The Audi Q8 e-tron of Km 0 and second hand
Electric vehicles are the future of mobility, there is no doubt about that, but for the time being they are inaccessible to most drivers. High prices reduce sales, with many buyers turning to secondary sales channels. In them, at least for the moment, a large number of units for sale are not observed, just a few dozen. The depreciation value is low as it is a premium electric with a high quality of finishes.
The line that separates the second-hand market from the Km 0 market is very poorly defined. Having such low mileage it is difficult to segment. Prices can start in amounts close to 55.000 euros for 2020 models with access mechanics and intermediate finish. On the contrary, the most expensive options can exceed 90 thousand euros. The Km channel is practically non-existent as all dealers await the arrival of the new version in early 2023.
Audi Q8 e-tron rivals
The Audi e-tron sits in the premium E-SUV segment. However, due to its technical and electrical mechanical complexity, there are few rivals against which it has to compete in the market. Nevertheless, As the months go by, this category will be completed with new models.. By technical concept and positioning the most similar are the Tesla Model X, Jaguar I-Pace, Mercedes EQE-SUV, Skoda Enyaq IV, Volkswagen ID.4, Lynk & Co 01, Ford Mustang Mach-e and BMW iX3, among others. All of them have the same SUV configuration with 100% electric mechanics. The differences can be notable in finishes and prices, although the Audi does not stand out for its electric autonomy or its low consumption.
Highlight
- High technological level
- equipment possibilities
- Quality
To improve
- Set weight
- Price
- High consumption
Audi Q8 e-tron prices
If we add Audi on the one hand and electric on the other, it is easy to imagine that the cost of the product is not cheap, and it is. The starting price of the Audi Q8 e-tron is 84.610 euros, without offers or promotions. That value corresponds to a base finish unit with the 50 horsepower 340 e-tron variant. The most expensive at the moment is the Q8 55 e-tron with 408 horses and 595 kilometers of autonomy. Its price starts at 94.610 euros. The Sportback body represents an additional increase of 2.500 euros.
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