New Audi e-tron Gets Reinvented & Updated To Audi Q8 e-tron

The Audi e-tron was Audi's first foray into the all-electric SUV market. It's now evolving to become the Q8 e-tron, Audi's flagship electric SUV.

The Audi e-tron has been one of the best electric SUVs available in the past few years. As part of a mid-life update, Audi has decided to update the car's branding to become the flagship Audi Q8 e-tron. They're keeping the spacious SUV and swooping Sportback body types and a couple of powertrain options.

The entry-level Audi Q8 e-tron '50' comes with a 95kWh battery that offers 305 miles of range for the SUV and 313 miles for the slightly more aerodynamic Sportback. The mid-tier '55' model uses a larger 114kWh battery which gives you 361 miles in the SUV and 372 miles in the Sportback. 

The top-of-the-range Audi SQ8 e-tron will have just 306 miles for the SUV and 318 on the Sportback. But it will come with more power than the 50 and 55 variants thanks to its three electric motors offering up to 503PS and 973 Nm of torque. Top speed for the SQ8 will be limited to 130mph.

The main advantage of the new Q8 e-tron over the previous standard e-tron is the increase in range across all the variants. Audi says this is possible thanks to "achieving optimised battery cell chemistry" with tweaks to the software, coils and packaging of the cells.

Charging-wise, the 50 model has a maximum charge rate of 150kW, while the 55 and SQ8 variants will have up to 170kW rapid charging capacity. Charging from 10% to 80% on the 50 variant will take roughly 28 to 31 minutes on the maximum of 150kW charge. 

Charging the Q8 e-tron with a standard home 11kW AC charger will take around 9 hours for a full 0% to 100% charge. 

Audi hasn't only just improved range and charging times but added some extra features to the car to help it drive better in all situations. They have modified the air suspension, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and enhanced the progressive steering to improve the car's agility and driving response. They have also added more rigid suspension bearings in the front axle to help the car maintain stability.

Audi has tweaked the styling of the new Q8 e-tron to ensure it fits in with the rest of their modern electric range (like the Q4 e-tron). The car is slightly more aerodynamic for both the SUV and Sportback. With the SUV drag coefficient dropping from 0.26 to 0.24Cd and the Sportback dropping from 0.28 to 0.27. 

The front end has been adjusted with a new grille that has been inspired by the wicked-fast e-tron GT. Surrounding the entire central grille area is a gloss black panel and the digital Matrix LED cluster has been revised slightly. You also get a LED strip light running across the grille above the Audi badge.

Boot space remains unchanged from the previous variants, with you getting 569 on the SUV and 528 on the smaller Sportback. Both cars have a 62-litre front boot or "frunk" as it is often called.