Audi’s new flagship Q8 e-tron SUV boasts a most vary of 373 miles | Engadget

Audi has launched seven, nicely, now eight, electrical SUVs below the e-tron banner since they started manufacturing in 2018 — with one other dozen already within the works for launch by 2026. After months of teasing, the corporate lastly, formally launched the newest iteration of its luxurious EV line with Wednesday’s reveal of the upcoming Q8 e-tron crossover SUV.

Available for order beginning subsequent spring, the Q8 e-tron and its Sportback model will each supply three AWD powertrain choices: a Q8 50, a Q8 55, and the highest of the road SQ8. The base mannequin Q8 50 e-tron delivers 250 kW (335 HP) with 490 lb-ft of torque alongside a 0-60 of 6 seconds flat, a max vary 306 miles for the SUV physique fashion and 313 miles for the Sportback.

The step up Q8 55 e-tron, once more each the SUV and Sportback, outputs 300kW peak (402 HP) with 490 lb-ft of torque. The SUV ranges out to 361 miles whereas the Sportback can hit 600 km (372 miles), due to their bigger battery pack. The top-of-the-line SQ8 e-tron boasts three motors to the others’ pairs so it may well generate 370 kW (496 HP) and 717 ft-lb of torque with 307 miles (SUV) and 319 miles (Sportback) of vary. The S mannequin is software program restricted to a high velocity of 130 MPH and a 0-60 of 5.6 seconds.

The Q8 50s will come outfitted with a net-89 kWh battery pack that may cost at as much as 150 kW. The Q8 55s, nonetheless, are outfitted with an even bigger net-106 kWh pack that may obtain 170kW charging charges (larger charges equals sooner charging occasions which implies much less sitting round a roadside energy station). The 55s will have the ability to refill from 10 to 80 p.c (~260 miles of vary) in simply over a half hour utilizing an L3 DC quick charger, although the speed drops to only 11 – 22kW, relying on the wall field choices, for dwelling charging. You’re going to have to depart a Q8 50 on an 11kW socket for about 9 and 1 / 4 hours to totally replenish it, and a whopping 11 and a half hours for the larger Q8 55. Those numbers drop to only below 5 hours for the 50 and 6 hours for the 55 at 22 kW.

The new e-tron line boasts extra environment friendly motors than its predecessors, providing 14-coil energy crops that may generate a stronger magnetic subject for roughly the identical quantity {of electrical} enter because the older 12-coil motors required. A stronger subject can generate extra torque when essential but additionally step that energy again when it isn’t wanted to assist prolong the automobile’s vary. What’s extra, the automobile’s exteriors have been designed to reduce air resistance, with the Q8 Sportback providing a drag coefficient of simply 0.24 — that’s the identical because the Polestar 2 — and the Q8 e-tron providing 0.27, barely higher than the VW ID.4.

“Looking at the current Audi e-tron, it’s clear that we’re starting with a very solid base of technical features as we move forward into the Q8 e-tron family,” Audi spokesperson Benedikt Still mentioned throughout a press preview final week. “We’ll be carrying over retaining this strong character in the new model, groundbreaking features such as the digital matrix headlights or the virtual side mirrors are still at the technical forefront today.”

As is the way in which within the luxurious automobile phase, the Q8 is full of high-tech options. The automobile presents almost 4 dozen driver help options based mostly on knowledge gathered from as many as 5 radar sensors, 5 optical cameras and a dozen ultrasonic pickups. This plethora of incoming data is sufficient to let the Q8 park itself. Available for order in 2023, distant park help plus will autonomously information your seventy-some odd thousand EV “into even the tightest parking spaces,” in response to Wednesday’s launch, in a course of managed by the motive force’s myAudi app.

And as with each e-tron launched for the reason that line went electrical in 2018, the Q8 will come outfitted with Audi’s Matrix LED headlights. But in contrast to earlier mannequin years, the Q8’s headlights will lastly be ADB succesful following a long-awaited NHTSA ruling this past February and, as such they’ll have three new options: enhanced visitors data, a lane mild with a course indicator and an orientation mild on nation roads.

If you had been anticipating the inside to be something wanting opulent, you’re going to be upset. The two-part roof is panoramic and managed electronically, as are the built-in sunshades. Audi can be providing four-zone computerized local weather management as an possibility in addition to massaging features for the artificial leather-clad seats. You’ll be hard-pressed to discover a bodily button to push as just about the entire cabin’s options are managed by the pair of central infotainment screens — a ten.1-inch higher and a 8.6-inch decrease — or through voice command.

Order home windows for each the Q8 e-tron and the Q8 Sportback open mid-November. Audi is aiming for an preliminary market launch in Germany and main European markets on the finish of subsequent February with arrivals to the US taking place by the top of April. Audi has introduced a base MSRP of 74,400 euros or round $72,500 US at present alternate charges.