Although some people refer to Audis as a ‘posh Volkswagen’, the irrefutable point is that the folks in Ingolstadt just get design so damn right. If you need proof, cast an eye over the brand-new Audi Q8 e-tron.
Launched in March in SUV and Sportback versions, here is an electric car that looks like a real-steel automobile. Something that is important in an age when luxe EVs have started looking distressingly bulbous or, in some cases, downright ugly (I mean this with full offense to the Tesla bros).
The Q8 e-tron SUV on the other hand is elegant, clean, and most importantly, actually ‘futuristic’ without being all showy and Musk-y about it. Not much has changed in this early lifecycle update of the e-tron Audi that is barely five years old.
However the sportier design — a big thumbs up from Esquire for the new alloys — also means improved aerodynamics. And if shiny bells and whistles get you all excited, this one also sports the new two-dimensional logo.
The Q8 e-tron is among the spearheads of Audi’s electric portfolio which is scheduled to grow to more than 20 by 2026, when the brand plans to make its transition to go all-electric. Globally.
Interior wise, the Q8’s cabin is customarily slick and plush (something that they need you to know, and what they make clear is that you are still very much in an Audi). There’s four-zone automatic climate control, three stage ventilation on the seats, and a tonne of more-than-welcomed options that include massage seats, an ambient light package, and decorative inlays of porous wood veneers – standard luxury basic essentials with a shiny, new and intuitive UI. Plus, a glass panorama sunroof that should elevate the joys of driving on crisp, wintery mornings when the sky in UAE looks like steamy Karak Chai.
Similar to the petrol-fuelled Q8 and A8, you’ll still find twin central touchscreens for infotainment, in-car functions that are catered towards the driver’s experience, along with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit/Digital-Instrument Cluster (a fancy term for ‘digital dashboard’). Some markets also have additional displays on the door for the cameras that stand-in for traditional wing mirrors.
Honestly, we’re unsure if we love or hate the look of these side-views just yet. There is just something hippo-esque about the ‘mirrors’, frankly.
Like the mighty hippopotamus, however, this thing is an unassuming beast. The e-tron SUV is powered by two motors, develops 300 kW in boost-mode and has a deliciously commanding 664 Nm of torque.
Range? You’re looking at a cool 582 kilometers.
Audi also has an SQ8 Sportback e-tron coupe, which sees three motors generating 378 kW in boost-mode and 973 Nm of torque.
With a top speed of 210kph, there is nothing unsurprising about the way the e-tron goes about its business: Throttle response is instantaneous, and has you desperately searching for any words that won’t get you kicked out of a child’s birthday party.
Despite being an SUV, its snappy handling is noticeably impressive. Ask Audi about it and it’ll tell you that it’s tediously worked on the steering response, and tweaked the suspension for better body control. And it certainly shows.
The e-tron doesn’t only get bigger batteries and increased range compared to its predecessor, it also benefits from higher charging performance. Something that EV drivers have historically complained about to the delight of gasoline-gear-heads around the world.
The SUV’s max charging performance rises up to 170kW, and it can be charged from under 10 to 80 percent in 31 minutes, Audi claims.
At a standard AC charging station, the e-tron charges up to 11kW. Something that’s insanely convenient to UAE drives, as lot of malls parking in the country offer charging stations for free. Free energy, we thought, was unheard of.
Eat that, gas-guzzlers.
To cut a long story short, if you are in the market for a plush electric SUV that checks almost all the important boxes, take a good look at this one.