Audi on Tuesday revealed an in depth refresh for its giant E-Tron electrical SUV, with a renewed push towards higher vary and effectivity.
It additionally will get a reputation change: The E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback will from 2023 on be referred to as the Q8 E-Tron and Q8 E-Tron Sportback.
The renaming technique is a part of what Audi is looking a brand new company id, centered round prime quality and trendy design—and a transfer upscale and upmarket for this mannequin—because the smaller, extra inexpensive This fall E-Tron SUV and Sportback sidle as much as it.
The extra formal SUV physique model and the Sportback, with its considerably tapered, coupe-like roofline, each carry over to the Q8 E-Tron lineup. Refreshed trims, colours, and supplies, in addition to a broadened tech characteristic set ought to all go a protracted method to asserting that extra upmarket place.
2023 Audi Q8 E-Tron Sportback
Cosmetics apart, Audi is aiming a lot larger for vary this time: “round 300” miles, it mentioned, noting how vital it’s to have “a variety quantity that begins with a 3” by U.S. EPA requirements.
Extra vary, sooner charging
“Far and away, the number-one want from our Audi E-Tron prospects was merely extra vary and effectivity,” Carter Balkcom, a product advertising and marketing knowledgeable for E-Tron, in a background session outlining a number of the fundamentals for the Q8, referring to follow-ups that the model did with early E-Tron SUV patrons.
The Q8’s predecessor, the outgoing E-Tron household, features a 71-kwh battery and a 95-kwh battery. With the refresh, the Q8 E-tron, globally, will supply 95-kwh and 114-kwh battery packs, with the 114-kwh pack the one measurement provided for North America.
Audi says that together with the 6% effectivity increase it’s discovered within the propulsion {hardware}, the larger battery allows a 30 to 40% increase in vary versus the outgoing 95-kwh fashions—permitting a WLTP vary of as much as 600 km.
2023 Audi Q8 E-Tron
Additionally regardless of the better battery-pack power capability, it’s additionally set as much as cost faster. Audi boosted the cost curve the place individuals are more than likely to note it. The Q8 E-Tron’s charging peak has been elevated from 150 kw (formally, though we noticed 155 kw a number of instances) to 170 kw, proper in the course of the battery’s state of cost. Audi says that this assured a ten% to 80% cost in as little as 31 minutes—much more significant given the extra battery and vary.
It is utilizing the very same battery field and site as earlier than, in addition to the same-size cells, however so as to match extra power into it, the corporate is utilizing a brand new stacking know-how for the prismatic cells. Identical measurement cells however filling 20% extra within the pack house.
2023 Audi Q8 E-Tron
Cells had been nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) within the outgoing mannequin, whereas within the new one the cells change to a nickel cobalt aluminum (NCA) chemistry.
No weight achieve (nicely, nearly)
Even contemplating the extra power, Audi has saved the burden achieve to a minimal. The 114-kwh pack, at 1,602 kilos, is simply about 44 kilos heavier than the earlier 95-kwh pack. It’s offset most of that weight achieve in different components of the automotive, like a brand new light-weight underbody shielding configuration that saves about 15 kilos.
The bigger battery pack is 20% bigger, but Audi sees a variety increase of 30% or extra. That’s as a result of it’s picked up effectivity a variety of different methods, some extra granular than you may count on for a mid-cycle refresh.
2023 Audi Q8 E-Tron
As an example, the variety of windings for the E-Tron’s rear induction motor unit have been elevated from 12 to 14, permitting the motor to supply torque with much less present than earlier than, aiding effectivity. Likewise, there are some “new methods,” the corporate says, that enable the motors to spin extra freely when there isn’t a load. And it’s modified the way in which that the E-Tron makes use of its entrance versus rear motor.
Audi is renaming the three-motor E-Tron S the SQ8 E-Tron, though efficiency numbers carry over—a 0-60 mph sprint of 4.5 seconds for the SQ8, whereas the 55 variant anticipated for the U.S. will handle it in 5.6 seconds.
Tuned to be sportier
Audi has labored to enhance the Q8 E-Tron’s dynamics, too. A faster steering ratio and new steering calibration, plus new suspension arms collectively goal for a sportier really feel on the street—and the air suspension has been retuned to assist that. Additional, now 100% of all Q8 E-Trons worldwide could have the air suspension setup.
It is bringing digital matrix headlight know-how over to the Q8 E-Tron, with new performance for flip indicators and lane lights, together with particular black arrows for motorway use. The lamps now assist inform and react as a result of upcoming accidents or breakdowns.
Audi emphasised that it’s nonetheless making an attempt to get a few of these superior capabilities accepted for the U.S.—together with digital aspect mirrors—so don’t count on them at launch.
2023 Audi Q8 E-Tron
2023 Audi Q8 E-Tron
2023 Audi Q8 E-Tron
The inside of the Q8 E-Tron is probably what carries over probably the most, though Audi notes that it’s shifted its emphasis on coloration and trim, with a brand new sort of walnut wooden for inlays, in addition to a plastic cloth fabricated from PET bottles and a brand new purple stitching bundle. All of the seats now have distinction stitching, and there’s additionally a suede substitute fabricated from recycled supplies.
Positioned as extra of a flagship
Audi hasn’t but detailed the E-Tron lineup for the U.S., or indicated how costs may change. But it surely’s honest to imagine they’ll go up considerably. The lineup now begins with the mid-level Superior line now, Audi mentioned, with no extra base-model E-Trons within the Q8 translation.
2023 Audi SQ8 E-Tron
The brand new Q8 E-Tron lineup will go into manufacturing for Europe in mid-November, with first deliveries in late February there and U.S. deliveries arriving simply two months later.
