New electric benchmark

It seems like a very long since Audi first unveiled its first series production, all-electric model, the Audi e-tron in 2018. Since arriving in Australia in 2020, the luxury all-electric e-tron SUV models have since been joined by performance S variants and most recently by the high-performance electric GT models.

Now the natural successors to the original Audi e-tron models are on their way Down Under, bringing with them a host of new technology, equipment, increased battery range and driving dynamics as well as introducing a new naming system for the band’s future electric models.

The top specification Audi Q8 55 e-tron & Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron will touch down in Australia in the coming weeks, taking their place as the new flagship SUV models of the brand’s electric range. Priced from $153,900* for the Q8 55 e-tron and $165,900* for the Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron, the addition of the Q8 designation signifies these as the benchmark e-tron SUV models, just as the Q8 designation represents the pinnacle of the brand’s Q family of vehicles.

Audi Australia will also introduce a special launch edition to mark the arrival of this new benchmark electric SUV, available in Q8 55 e-tron specification with addition styling and equipment at $165,900*.

The Q8 55 e-tron and Q8 55 Sportback e-tron will make their Australian debut at the Melbourne Electric Vehicle Show in September (22nd to 24th) before going on sale in Audi dealers in the fourth quarter of the year.

Other variants from the Q8 e-tron range will follow in 2024, including the Audi Q8 50 e-tron and the performance-oriented SQ8 e-tron and Audi SQ8 Sportback e-tron.

Quite aside from the new name, these new luxury battery electric SUVs bring a wealth of changes and improvements to the e-tron range. From new styling and even new treatment of the Audi four-ringed logo on the vehicles, to improved aerodynamics, higher charging performance and expanded battery capacity as well as sharper driving dynamics.

In keeping with the brand’s design philosophy, the styling changes represent an evolution as opposed to a revolution, yet the new three-dimensional treatment of the brand’s logo on the front and rear is distinctive. So too is the lighting treatment, with a distinctive new light signature that spans the front of the vehicle and also serves to accentuate the vehicle’s width and road presence. 

Treatment of the front grille and indeed the large air intakes add significantly to the more aggressive look as well as serving a practical purpose, as do many hidden elements which improve the overall aerodynamics and as a result, add to the improved range.

In fact, design changes result in a reduction in the drag coefficient from the previous e-tron models, from 0.26 to 0.24 for the Q8 Sportback e-tron and from 0.28 to 0.27 for the Q8 e-tron.

The Q8 55 e-tron features a new 114kWh battery (gross) which delivers greater capacity than before and faster charging performance. Capable of being charged from 10 percent up to 80 percent in 31 minutes, it offers an improved range of up to 454km (WLTP) which is aided by the aerodynamic changes.

Its advanced cell technology and new cell chemistry, increases the maximum DC charging performance by 20 kW to 170kW, while brake recuperation also plays an important role, with around 90 percent of everyday braking duties (up to 0.3 g) carried out by the electric motors.

In terms of charging, the Q8 55e-tron comes with a 7.2kW onboard charging system, a second AC charging port on the passenger side for road-parking convenience, an e-tron compact charger and the required wall bracket. 

It also comes with a charging cable with single phase 230V 32A plug, an additional charging cable with single phase 230V 32A CEE Industrial plug and a Type 2 to Type 2 charging cable for public charging. Thanks to Audi’s partner JETCharge, the Q8 55 e-tron also comes with a complimentary standard installation for charging at home.

As is the case with all of Audi’s e-tron models, the Q8 55 e-tron is offered with a comprehensive customer offer that includes a six-year subscription to the ever-expanding Chargefox charging network which uses 100 percent renewable energy for all its ultra-rapid chargers. It also includes a six-year Audi scheduled servicing and six-year Audi roadside assistance with each vehicle as well as a five-year warranty and 12 years manufacturer warranty for bodywork against corrosion perforation for new vehicles, as well as an eight-year battery warranty.

As befits its position as the benchmark all-electric SUV offering, the Q8 55 e-tron models come with significant standard equipment and state-of-the-art technology. Likewise infotainment and connectivity is of the highest order, as are safety and driver assistance systems. The Q8 55 e-tron features MMI navigation plus with a 10.1” touch screen with haptic feedback for infotainment and smaller 8.6” screen for vehicle functions. 

The Audi virtual cockpit with 12.3” high resolution screen is likewise standard and keeps the driver informed of navigation and infotainment functions, while standard head-up display is an invaluable addition in all day-to-day driving situations.

Of course the extensive functions offered by of Audi connect are standard, enabling the Q8 55 e-tron to connect to the outside world to make use of myriad additional services from parking information to restaurants and local places of interest. 

The Q8 e-tron offers Android Auto and wireless Apple Carplay and connectivity is further supported for accessories with Audi phone box light for wireless charging and two USB ports in the front and in the rear. 

The Q8 55 e-tron also an extensive suite of some 40 assistance systems, with up to five radar sensors, five cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors supplying the central driver assistance controller with information on the surrounding environment. The full suite of safety assistance systems include parking sensors and 360-degree camera that includes kerb view function, while adaptive cruise control and traffic jam assist make light work assisted driving on the highway and in heavy town traffic.

Additional systems include lane departure warning, lane change warning (side assist), rear cross-traffic assist, intersection assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) including pedestrian and cyclist detection, collision avoidance assist, turn assist and exit warning. 

Audi hold assist is invaluable on steep inclines and tyre pressure loss indicator allows you to monitor tyre pressure from inside the sumptuous cabin.

In addition, features such as remote park assist plus mean that the Audi Q8 e-tron can manoeuvre into even the tightest of parking spaces and customers can even control the parking manoeuvre using the myAudi app on their smartphones.

After its initial unveiling at the Carsales Melbourne Electric Vehicle Show, the Audi Q8 55 e-tron and Q8 55 Sportback e-tron will be available in Audi showrooms in the fourth quarter of the year. As part of its Australian arrival, a special Launch Edition will be available featuring exterior and interior upgrades. These will include an S line exterior styling with larger 21” Audi Sport alloy wheels in metallic black, a black exterior styling package with Audi rings, mirror caps, and roof rails in black. Additionally it features the S line interior package which adds an S line steering wheel, S sport front seats, Valcona leather upholstery, electric steering wheel adjustment, coloured interior ambient lighting and the headlining in black. 

(*Manufacturer List Pricing [MLP] – excludes dealer delivery and government statutory charges.)

The vehicle shown is an overseas model for illustration purposes only. Some specification may differ from final Australian-delivered vehicles.