Audi e-tron & e-tron Sportback

Audi E-tron prototype previews next generation models

Electric SUV shows off new look, and is set to get a bigger battery, better electronics and more efficient motors

Audi plans to upgrade its E-tron and E-tron Sportback SUVs with a new-generation battery, affording them longer ranges, as part of their facelifts during the latter half of 2022.

Shown off in near-complete prototype form by the German brand, it is aiming to extend the shelf life of the flagship siblings until at least 2025, when they’re set to be replaced by an all-new SUV, possibly called the Q8 E-tron.

Both variants of the updated E-tron – the SUV and rakish-roofed Sportback – will also get subtly overhauled styling, with a new-look grille, revised bumpers and redesigned headlight clusters among the updates.

Along with the new battery, the E-trons are earmarked to receive more efficient electric motors and an upgraded electronics system that will enable greater energy recuperation among other enhanced functions.


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E-tron prototype signals middle-life upgrades for electric Audi SUV

Audi took the wraps off its E-tron Prototype during the German E-Cannonball rally. Despite the car having “prototype” plastered all over it, according to the sources from Audi - this is a production-ready preview of the updated Audi e-tron. The visual changes are only a small part of the mid-life update, though, far more important things are happening underneath the refreshed body.

Audi e-tron was introduced to the market in 2019 and it was followed by the e-tron Sportback in 2020. Although two years doesn’t seem like much, in reality the EV technology has moved on a lot. Audi is facing new competitors with Mercedes EQE SUV and EQS SUV being a more up-to-date choice, BMW has the iX and iX1. The progress in EV technology is relentless.

So Audi decided to give the e-tron and Sportback an early update even though they will be replaced by 2025 with brand new electric SUVs based on a dedicated EV platform.


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Audi Q8 e-tron quattro

New face, new name, new corporate identity

By calling this model the Q8, Audi is making a clear statement that the Audi Q8 e-tron is the top model among its electric SUVs and crossovers. The Audi Q8 e-tron and Q8 Sportback e-tron are immediately identifiable as fully electric models at first glance. This is thanks to the new front and rear designs with the characteristic Singleframe mask, the inverted grille, and blade above the redesigned rear diffuser, which systematically carry Audi's electric design language forward. An exclusive highlight on the edition S line package is the Singleframe grille, which is finished in body color.

As a prestigious electric SUV model from Audi, the Q8 e-tron ushers in the new corporate identity with a two-dimensional design of the four rings on the exterior. In order to elevate the family logo as a central element, Audi highlights the vehicle's face with the projection light Singleframe. Additionally, the Q8 e-tron is the first model to feature the new model badge with Audi lettering on the B-pillar.


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Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron quattro


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2023 Audi Q8 E-tron facelift gets range boost and name change

Electric SUV gains styling updates, increased range and will follow Q8 nameplate

Audi has unveiled face-lifted versions of the E-tron and E-tron Sportback, bringing a longer range and more efficient battery.

The models will also carry the Q8 nameplate to position them as the brand’s new flagship SUVs. As well as technical upgrades to their drivetrains, the two electric-powered SUVs receive a series of subtle exterior and interior styling changes.

The line-up stays the same, offering 50, 55 and S models, the latter of which continues to develop 496bhp and up to 717lb ft of torque.

Among the styling changes made to the three-year-old car is a new-look grille featuring Audi’s two-dimensional ring emblem and altered electronically controlled cooling ducts. It is set within a re-profiled bumper and is bookmarked by headlights with new functions, including an orientation light for country roads and a lane light with a direction indicator. At the rear, there are new tail-light graphics and a revised bumper.

The German car maker has also added new spoilers within the underbody to smooth airflow around the wheels, helping to reduce drag coefficient by a factor of 0.2.

 
The Audi e-tron is now the Audi Q8 e-tron

Audi’s big, plush electric SUV gets more range, more design and the obligatory SQ8 e-tron fast version

The Audi e-tron is dead. Long live the Audi Q8 e-tron, which becomes the company’s new range-topping electric SUV. There’s an ‘S’ version too of course, surprisingly called the SQ8 e-tron.

More on that later. The standard Q8 e-tron – which we shall refer to as eQ8 because it’s simpler – wears its new nameplate atop a subtly redesigned body, notable via the new front and rear. We’re told it wears a new ‘corporate identity’: a 2D imprint of those famous four rings. Handsome, for something like this.

As before, it comes in either regular SUV shape or Sportback (the coupe-fied one). Measuring just under 5m long like the car it replaces (just shy of a Merc S-Class, for context), it features a twin-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain producing 335bhp in the ‘50’ e-tron, or 403bhp in ‘55’ e-tron. Nope, still no sense.

Each motor now packs an additional pair of coils – 14 rather than 12 – which apparently allows them to kick out more torque from less electricity. Every eQ8 comes with air-suspension able to adjust body height by 76mm, while the ESC system has been calibrated for “more adjustability, especially in tight corners”.

 
2023 Audi Q8 E-Tron: This Is It

Audi's top-dog electric crossover offers up to 718 lb-ft of torque, or 373 miles of battery range.

 
Audi Q8 E-Tron Range Revealed for 2023

The Audi E-Tron SUV range has become the Q8 E-Tron. Here’s all you need to know about the new electric SUV from the Ingolstadt-based brand.

If you’re confused, don’t panic as we were too initially. Essentially, the E-Tron SUV range has been renamed Q8 E-Tron and based on that numbering system, it would be fair to assume there’s going to be a Q6 E-Tron in the new future as there’s already a Q4 available in some markets overseas.

It’s not just a name change either, with numerous upgrades in terms of efficiency, technology and design applied across the range. Speaking of, the Q8 E-Tron will be available in your standard SUV shape, as well as the more aggressive-looking Sportback shape. There’ll also be performance-biased S-badged models too.

Visually, there’s a radical change to the nose with new lamps, illuminated parts of the grille and there’s a revised Audi logo. Some work has been done to the aerodynamics of the car to make it cut through the air with less resistance, and Audi claims its drag coefficient has been reduced.

The range will feature three powertrains and two battery sizes. In base trim, the Q8 50 features an electric motor on each axle producing 250 kW and 664 Nm. This battery has 89 kWh (95 kWh gross) and is said to provide a range of 491 km for the SUV and 505 km for the Sportback. This model is said to sprint to 100 kph in just 6 seconds.

Next up is the Q8 55 E-Tron which has 300 kW and 664 Nm from a bigger 104 kWh battery (114 kWh gross). A range of 582 km is being claimed, with 600 km for the Sportback. This is fractionally fatser with a claimed sprint time of 5.6 seconds to 100 kph.

 
Audi Q8 e-tron revealed: flagship EV gets a refresh for 2023

This, folks, is the new Audi Q8 e-tron SUV and Sportback and if you think it looks familiar, don’t worry, your eyes are not deceiving you.

These are, in fact, updated versions of the vehicles that were until now simply known as the Audi e-tron and e-tron Sportback, and the German carmaker has now decided to give them Q8 badging to help us better understand where they fit into the line-up, which is right at the top, of course.

It’s not just a name change, though, as for 2023 the e-tron models receive updated styling as well as increased battery capacity and better charging performance.

In profile the models retain their familiar appearance, with the regular Q8 e-tron shaped like a normal SUV and the Sportback flaunting a more coupe-like sloping rear section, but Audi has freshened the front and rear styling as well, and there’s a new two-dimensional Audi badge.

Customers can choose from three powertrains, all of which are dual-motor, all-wheel drive set-ups. The base Q8 50 e-tron models offer 250kW and 664Nm, while the mid-range 55 e-trons are good for 300kW, with torque remaining at 664Nm. At the peak of the range is the SQ8 e-tron, which produces 370kW and 973Nm, allowing for a 4.5 second 0-100km/h run (versus 5.6 seconds for the 55 model and 6.0 seconds for the 50 e-tron).

 
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.

 
2023 Audi SQ8 E-tron tops line-up at £115,000

Tri-motor performance EV caps updated E-tron line-up, which opens at £68,000

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2023-audi-sq8-e-tron-tops-line-£115000
 
Presenting the Q8 E-Tron, Audi’s flagship EV SUV

 
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