2023 Audi Q8 E-Tron revealed: 600km EV confirmed for Australia

The updated 2023 Audi Q8 E-Tron has been revealed, with an Australian release expected within six months of its European on-sale date in February.

Previously known as the E-Tron, Audi was tipped to change the electric SUV’s name to Q8 E-Tron, but we expected it to coincide with a new generation in 2026, rather than a mid-life refresh.

The update brings more than just a new name, though. A lightly restyled exterior and interior improve its appeal, but that's overshadowed by an increase in driving range to 600km for the Sportback 55 Quattro.

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Audi has refined a whole host of things for the Q8 E-Tron with more efficient motors and aerodynamic improvements, but there’s also a bigger battery – the largest fitted to an Audi EV yet at 106kWh for the E-Tron 55 Quattro and SQ8 E-Tron.

The larger range and bigger battery should help the non-MEB-based Q8 E-Tron against rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz EQC, BMW iX and Jaguar I-Pace.

Outside, the Q8 E-Tron’s updates are relatively minor. There’s a new grill design that, in S Line trim, is painted body colour. At the rear, there’s new Q8 badging and an updated lighting signature, but it's still recognisable as the E-Tron it once was.

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Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed, but Audi will launch the facelifted Q8 E-Tron in every market within six months of it hitting European dealers in February.

JUMP AHEAD

• Driving range improvements
• Charging and power
• Dynamic updates
• Safety and technology
• Australian pricing and availability

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How Audi improved the Q8 E-Tron’s driving range

Audi says the Q8 E-Tron in 55 Quattro guise is capable of 582km on a single charge for the wagon, and up to 600km for the slipperier Sportback in combined WLTP figures.

These are up by about 170km, or 12 per cent over the old car – Audi has achieved this in a number of ways.

Starting with aerodynamics, the redesigned grille and diffuser are the obvious visual cues, but underneath Audi has been hard at work optimising the Q8 E-Tron.

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The result is a 6 per cent drag reduction to 0.24Cd for the Sportback and 0.27Cd for SUV – that sounds small, but every little bit counts when it comes to range.

The upper-trim 55 Quattro variants receive a new 106kWh lithium-ion pack that uses a different chemistry for greater energy density, resulting in greater driving range.

Using the same battery but more powerful motors, the SQ8 E-Tron (replacing the E-Tron S), has a driving range between 494 and 513 kilometres.

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Additionally, the battery packs are bigger across the board with the base 64.7kWh pack dropped, meaning the Q8 E-Tron 50 Quattro equipped with an 89kWh pack is good for 491-505km from a charge.

Finally, the rear motor is more efficient, according to Audi. It uses 14 instead of 12 coils to provide the same amount of torque for a lower current draw from the battery in the updated Q8 E-Tron.

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Q8 E-Tron charging and power

This new battery also allows faster recharging. DC electricity can now be taken on at a rate of 170kW (up from 150kW), for a 10-80 per cent (60-480km) recuperation time of 31 minutes for the larger battery.

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The improvements in charging are thanks to the new 106kWh battery pack, which packs 72Ah cells where 50Ah cells were before. The more expensive nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA) chemistry also helps with faster charging compared to the old nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries still found in 50 Quattro variants.

Power and torque remain the same for all variants. All models have at least two motors, with the 50 Quattro kicking things off with 250kW and 664Nm in boost mode.

The 55 Quattro steps power up to 300kW while torque remains the same. The tri-motor SQ8 E-Tron develops 373kW of power and 973Nm of torque. All use a single-speed reduction gear, unlike the J1-platformed E-Tron GT which gets a two-speed transmission.

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Q8 E-Tron dynamics

Audi says along with power efficiency, that the upgraded rear motor gives greater torque vectoring for a sporty feel.

The standard-fit adaptive air suspension has been reprogrammed for the facelifted Q8 E-Tron for greater focus on dynamic prowess with a revised ESC tune to match.

Audi has also recalibrated the electric steering with a quicker rack, and stiffer top mounts in the front suspension for a more athletic response.

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Safety and technology

Audi has added remote park assist functionality for the 2023 Q8 E-Tron GT. There are five cameras and five radar sensors combined with 12 ultrasonic sensors.

The Q8 E-Tron GT, therefore, has provisions for level two autonomy with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist, junction and motorcycle detection.

There are also new digital matrix LED headlights fitted to the Q8 E-Tron GT and redesigned LED tail-lights.

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Inside, the Q8 E-Tron features a 10.5-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the lower screen is used for ventilation. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with satellite navigation integration remains ahead of the driver.

Following customer feedback, the entry-level leather seats now have contrast stitching as standard, while there are also two new choices for decorative inlays including walnut wood, and the carpets are made from recycled PET bottles.

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Availability

The 2023 Audi Q8 E-Tron is gearing up for a February launch in its home market of Germany.

At the Q8 E-Tron’s reveal, an exact Australian release wasn’t given but Audi is aiming to roll the new electric SUV out to all markets within six months of its German launch.

As for availability, Audi noted the E-Tron SUV and Sportback had remained relatively sheltered from chip shortages, and in solid supply that looks to continue into Q8 E-Tron sales.

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Pricing will start from EU€74,400 in Germany for the E-Tron 50 Quattro, which equates to AU$115,000 at the current rate.

It’s unlikely Audi would drop $20K from the price of the previous car, which started at $138,323 before on-road costs with the smaller battery. Instead, expect the E-Tron 50 Quattro to start from $140-150K before on-roads in Australia.

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