New Audi Q8 e-tron gets bigger battery and refreshed design

Audi e-tron sold 150,000 units in 4 years since it was introduced to the market, it’s quite remarkable achievement because it has done it quietly and almost under the radar. It still looked fresh but Audi decided it was time for an update – the competition in the premium electric SUV segment is fierce.

Well, here it is – the all new Audi Q8 e-tron. Both the SUV and Sportback versions received new identities with the Q8 added for an easier identification, customers apparently were confused to which segment the car belongs and the model designation was the solution. In all honesty, family of electric Audis has grown a lot since e-tron came on the scene, back then it was the only electric Audi so it made sense for it to be called just “e-tron.”

Just as before, all models come with an AWD system courtesy of dual-motor setup or tri-motor in case of the S versions. The power figures remain broadly the same, but the rear motor on the non-S versions has been upgraded – it rocks 14 coils generating a magnetic field which means more torque and higher efficiency.

The SQ8 version comes with a 124 kW electric motor powering the front wheels while two 98 kW work the rear axle. The combined output is 370kW and 973Nm of torque which is identical to the outgoing e-tron S. The 4.5 seconds sprint from 0 to 100 km/h and top speed of 210 km/h are identical as well.

The Q8 55 e-tron again has identical performance figures as its e-tron predecessor – 300kW and 664Nm – but the first clue to a different rear motor is slightly better acceleration – 5.6 seconds instead of 5.7 seconds. You won’t probably notice that difference in everyday driving, but accelerating from 40 to 100 km/h or from 60 to 120 km/h should feel a little bit snappier.

The Q8 50 is the only model that gets a noticeable power upgrade, the total output went up to 250kW and the torque went up to 664Nm. The upgraded rear motor shows its might here with acceleration now taking 6 seconds flat while before it took 6.8 seconds to get from 0 to 100 km/h. The Q8 50 e-tron gets a higher top speed as well – 200 km/h and it matches its bigger brother, the Q8 55.

The biggest changes are happening in the battery department, where Audi now uses prismatic cells with stacking technology to considerably improve density. The SQ8 and Q8 55 will be available with the new 114kWh battery pack with 106kWh usable capacity. The Q8 50 will have to do with the smaller 95kWh battery that gives it 89kWh usable…