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2024 Audi Q8 e-Tron: New Design and Price – Since it initially introduced the e-tron SUV in 2019, Audi has continued to expand its lineup of electric vehicles by introducing the voluminous e-tron GT sedan as well as the compact Q4 e-tron crossover. As part of a significant redesign, Audi’s first electric vehicle, the e-tron, will soon be known by a new name that will set it apart from other electric Audi vehicles.
The facelifted electric vehicle is now known as the Q8 e-tron and comes with an updated style as well as an enhanced range. Additionally, the elegant Sportback and more powerful S (now named SQ8 e-tron) versions are now available once again.
Review
When Audi first unveiled its all-electric SUV, the E-Tron, in 2018, the automotive industry was in a very different position than it is now. Both the price of gasoline and the demand for electric vehicles not manufactured by Tesla were lower. Now that the EV competition has officially begun, it seems as if every manufacturer is scurrying to provide updated and better versions of their electric cars as quickly as possible off their production lines.
Every car that Audi produces after 2026 will be an all-electric model, similar to the 2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron, which is the four-ringed marque’s new flagship electric SUV. This commitment was made by Audi, which follows the trend set by other automakers. It should be made clear that the Q8 E-Tron is not an entirely new vehicle; rather, it is an evolution of the current E-Tron SUV. It rides on a chassis that is mostly borrowed from Audi, and it has the same room for the battery pack beneath the floor of the car.
However, the Audi Q8 E-Tron 2024 has significant upgrades in several areas, most notably the battery and its range. Audi executives listened to consumers (some 150,000 people across the globe have purchased E-Trons up to this point), who stated they want (brace yourselves) better range and economy, and that is what engineers spent a significant lot of time working upon. There will be two different battery capacities available for international markets: a smaller version with 91 kWh and a bigger version with 114 kWh. The latter will be the only one available in the United States.
That translates into a range that, according to Audi representatives, will have a three in front of it, due in large part to improvements in the amount of energy that can be stored in the battery cells. How much farther can you go on a single charge than 300 miles? Audi has not disclosed this information just yet, but regardless of where it ends up, it will have a far higher range than the current 2023 E-Tron SUV, which is rated by the EPA to go 222 miles on a single charge at its maximum capacity.
The peak charging capabilities of the 114-kWh battery in the Q8 E-Tron have been increased to 170 kilowatts, thus the charging speed at a DC fast-charging station will be boosted as well. The Q8 E-Tron will be available later this year. Engineers from Audi have said that the battery has a charging curve that is flatter at every stage, which helps to maintain a rapid charge rate of 10-80 percent of capacity in as short as 35 minutes.
Although Audi did some work on the E-U.S. Tron’s lineup naming structure by giving the new models the names Q8 55 (which was formerly known as the base E-Tron) and SQ8 (which was formerly known as the E-Tron S), the electric vehicle sport utility vehicle (EV SUV) did not receive any significant power or performance upgrades.
You can anticipate numbers that are comparable to those of the current lineup of 2023 E-Tron SUVs, which in the base model delivers 355 horsepower and 414 pound-feet of torque (402 horsepower and 490 in boost mode, and 5.1 seconds to 60 miles per hour) and in the E-Tron S delivers 429 horsepower and 596 pound-feet of torque (496 hp and 717 hp in boost mode, and an Audi-claimed 4.3 seconds to 60 mph).
Audi promises that the Q8 E-Tron will have a faster steering ratio and better suspension arms, despite the fact that the power will remain relatively the same. Audi has received feedback from customers indicating that the steering feel and tune of the E-Tron might be more sporty. The reaction from Audi was “We made the necessary adjustments.” Audi experts have said that they returned the air suspension system for the new model, and going forward, all Q8 E-Trons sold anywhere in the globe would come equipped with it by default.
As in the past, the Q8 E-Trons will be Quattro all-wheel-drive electric vehicles. The difference between the Q8 55 and the SQ8 is that the Q8 55 will use a front and rear motor, while the SQ8 will use a single front motor and two rear motors that each power a rear wheel and can split torque between axles depending on the situation. A modification that was made to the asynchronous rear motor of the new vehicle is that it now has 14 coils to create its electromagnetic field, up from the previous total of 12 coils. This is one of the changes that were made to the vehicle. According to Audi, the modification enables the motor to create a more powerful magnetic field while using about the same amount of energy. Because of this, there is a somewhat greater torque when it is required, but the motor consumes less energy while it is functioning normally. This contributes to reduced consumption and an increased range.
According to the manufacturer, the impressive brake energy recovery system that is standard on other Audi vehicles is also standard on the Q8 E-Tron. This is a feature that allows you to set the level of effectiveness for one-pedal driving and can be used for approximately 90 percent of the typical braking activities. In addition to this, the system includes a coasting mode, and Audi claims that it has further tweaked the car to make it so that the wheels spin more easily when there is no weight on them.
Motors and Performance
Although Europe will get a base model with a smaller battery and less power, the only configurations that will be sold in the United States are the Q8 e-tron 55 and the SQ8 e-tron, which replaces the e-tron S. This is in contrast to Europe, which will get a base model with a larger battery and more power. The power outputs are the same as they were previously. In Sport mode, the 55 is capable of producing a maximum of 402 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque. It has all-wheel drive and is powered by a dual-motor arrangement. In Sport mode, the SQ8 e-tron is equipped with three electric motors, one providing 166 horsepower up front and two producing 131 horsepower each on the back axle. This configuration results in a total output of 496 horsepower and 718 pound-feet of torque. According to the manufacturer, the 55 model can reach 62 miles per hour in 5.6 seconds, while the SQ8 can complete the same sprint in 4.5 ticks. The 55 has a maximum speed of 124 miles per hour, while the SQ8 e-tron can reach 130 miles per hour.
Both versions make use of a battery that has a capacity that may be used of 106.0 kWh. According to Audi, it is the company’s goal for certain iterations of the revised model to have an EPA-estimated range of more than 300 miles. This would represent a 30 to 40 percent improvement over the EPA range of the current model, which is 222 miles at its maximum. According to the WLTP testing protocol used in Europe, the range of the Q8 e-tron lineup is rated at between 307 and 373 miles. Additionally, Audi claims that the Q8 e-tron will be capable of charging at a rate of up to 170 kW, and that the battery will be able to charge from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 31 minutes when using a DC fast charger.
The increased driving range of the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron is the result of improvements made to the vehicle’s aerodynamics and rear motor. Increased from 12 to 14, the number of coils used to create the electromagnetic field by the asynchronous motor on the rear axle is now 14. Since this change, the motor is now more efficient because it can generate the same amount of torque while using less power, or it can generate greater torque while consuming the same amount of energy as the previous 12-coil design.
The aerodynamics of the vehicle is also quite important. The new front-end design has resulted in a modest reduction in the coefficient of drag, which is now 0.24 for the Sportback and 0.27 for the SUV. In addition, the Q8 e-tron has bigger wheel spoilers up front on the underbody of the vehicle. These spoilers serve to channel airflow over the front wheels, which enables the massive crossover to cut through the air.
Redesign
A new mask-like grille design makes its debut on the Audi Q8 e-tron, which visually connects the vehicle to the Audi e-tron GT and the Audi Q4 e-tron. The general body contour of the vehicle does not change. A light strip that connects the headlights is another addition to the redesigned grille, which is located above the Audi emblem. A fresh iteration of Audi’s four-ringed insignia is shown on the grille, and the logo, as well as the model identification, are also laser-etched onto the B-pillar of the vehicle. The body height of the Q8 e-tron may be changed by about 3 inches, and an air suspension system is included as standard equipment. Additionally, the tuning of the air springs has been adjusted, and the steering ratio has been modernized.
The remote park assist plus feature, which can maneuver the SUV into tight places while the owner controls the process from outside the car through a smartphone app, is the most notable addition to the array of driver-assistance technologies that come standard on the Q8 e-tron. The Q8 e-tron also has digital Matrix LED headlights that can individually illuminate different sections of the road depending on the conditions; however, due to different regulations in the United States, these headlights are not yet available for use in the United States and are currently only available in Europe.
You may be wondering why the car is called a Q8 at this stage. Isn’t there already an SUV from Audi called the Q8 that runs on gasoline? Why, sure, it does, and it’s at the very pinnacle of its SUV class when it comes to both its pricing and its fashion. Given that Audi is transitioning to an all-electric portfolio, it would seem that the timing is ideal to place the E-Tron SUV under a halo designation similar to that of the Q8. At first look, it does not seem to be a significant change in terms of styling from the current E-Tron series, and it is still offered in basic and Sportback variants; but, depending on the variation, there are some notable modifications that have been included. When you look more closely, you’ll see that the front and rear fascias have been upgraded with new grille inserts and matrix LED headlights, as well as new wheel spoilers, an adjustable air intake meant to enhance cooling and aerodynamics, and an updated matrix LED headlamps. In addition, Audi claims that the 2024 Q8 E-Tron will be the company’s first model to feature what it refers to as a “new corporate identity.” This “new corporate identity” will be displayed on the 2024 Q8 E-Tron in the form of two-dimensional Audi rings in the grille and a model badge on the B-pillar.
The cabin is organized around two touchscreens, one measuring 10.1 inches and located atop an 8.6-inch display. These touchscreens are responsible for practically every function, although drivers also have the option of using voice commands. There are a variety of amenities available as options, including a head-up display, four-zone temperature control, and chairs that massage the user. The inside trim is brand new and has a light brown walnut wood. Seats upholstered in synthetic leather and a microfiber called Dinamica, which is produced from recycled plastic bottles, fiber remnants, and previously used textiles, are included in the S-Line package as optional extras.
When It Will Be Available and Its Cost
At the end of April 2023, the Q8 e-tron will be available for purchase in the United States. Pricing information will be provided at a later date; however, we do not anticipate a significant jump from the base price of $71,995 for the basic model to the base price of $89,395 for the S model.