Audi Q8 e-tron

Once known simply as the e-tron, the SUV that pioneered Audi’s line of electric vehicles (EV) has been updated, renamed and launched in Malaysia, the 2023 Audi Q8 e-tron.

Malaysia is the first market in Southeast Asia to receive the e-SUV, which comes fully-imported (CBU) from Audi’s production plant in Brussels, Germany.

Four variants. Q8 e-tron advanced 50 quattro (MYR 383,990), Q8 Sportback e-tron advanced 50 quattro (MYR 389,990), Q8 e-tron S line 55 quattro (MYR 474,990), and Q8 Sportback e-tron S line 55 quattro (MYR 484,990).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) come with a standard two-year, unlimited mileage warranty, an eight-year/160,000 KM battery warranty, and five years of free roadside assistance.

Optional (MYR 13,000) is the Audi Assurance Package (AAP), consisting of an extended five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, and three years of free maintenance.

Nine exterior colours (S line, Sportback S line - exclusive). Magnet Gray, Chronos Gray, Glacier White, Madeira Brown, Mythos Black, Plasma Blue, Soneira Red, Ultra Blue, and Daytona Gray.

Featuring the Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, installed is a 12.3-Inch digital instrument cluster with customisable interface displays (Classic, Sport). Variants S line and Sportback S line add on a Heads-Up Display (HUD).

Interior of the five-seater is upholstered in black leather/leatherette combination and black Valcona leather for variants advanced and Sportback advanced, respectively.

Meanwhile, variants S line and Sportback S line are blessed with the S line Interior treatment, featuring black Valcona leather with embossed ‘S’ logos.

Up front, fitted are standard seats (advanced, Sportback advanced) and sports seats (S line, Sportback S line). The rear gets a bench seat.

All variants feature electric adjustments (front seats) with a four-way lumbar support and a memory function (driver), and a 40:20:40 split-fold configuration (rear seats).

Completing the layout is an Ambient Lighting Plus package for all variants. Whereas, for variants S line and Sportback S line, a panoramic glass sunroof and aluminium scuff plates with ‘S’ logos (front-illuminated, rear-standard).

Mounted is a double-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel for variants advanced and Sportback advanced, and a three-spoke flat-bottom leather-wrapped sport steering wheel for variants S line and Sportback S line.

Incorporated are multi-switches (media, vehicle telematics), paddle shifters, and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic). Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Several charging outlets are present, strategically located all around the cabin. Included are USB ports, 12-V sockets, and a wireless charging tray.

The boot comes with a powered-tailgate feature (contactless), and provides 569-Litres (advanced, S line) and 528-Litres (Sportback advanced, Sportback S line) of load space. For extra loading, standard is a front trunk (frunk) with a capacity of 62-Litres.

The 2023 Q8 e-tron stands at 4,915 MM long, 1,937 MM wide, 1,633 MM (advanced, S line) and 1,619 MM (Sportback advanced, Sportback S line) tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,928 MM.

Sporty and elegant parading the new Audi insignia (2D optics), the front-end combines modern lines and proportions with typical Audi styling cues.

Unique is the honeycomb-patterned grille, which features a single-frame projection light (light bar - top grille) fitment for variants S line and Sportback S line.

Other separating factors, variant advanced gets a High-gloss Styling Package, while Sportback advanced, S line and Sportback S line get a Black Styling Package.

Upgrading that, variants S line and Sportback S line add on an S line Package, featuring a sportier front bumper with sharper trim elements.

Exuding a jointless design, the rear-end furthers the athletically sophisticated appeal with sharply smooth and seamless contours.

Variants advanced, and S line has a high-rising roofline with a roof-edge spoiler, whereas Sportback advanced, and Sportback S line get a coupe-esque roofline with a deck-lid spoiler.

Other separating factors, variant advanced gets a High-gloss Styling Package, while Sportback advanced, S line and Sportback S line get a Black Styling Package.

Upgrading that, variants S line and Sportback S line add on an S line Package, featuring a sportier rear bumper with sharper trim elements.

Forming a seamless one-piece layout, the head lamps are angularly shaped and slanted inwards, projecting a very focused set of eyes.

Installed are Led headlamps (advanced), Matrix LED headlamps (Sportback advanced), and Digital Matrix LED headlamps (S line, Sportback S line).

Featured are auto On/Off, high-beam assistant, dynamic turn signals, and Daytime Running Lights (DRL).

Variants S line and Sportback S line add on a single-frame projection light, adaptive and warning lights, and a coming home/leaving home function (five lighting schemes).

Slim and unified, the arrow-esque tail lamps stretch from left to right, connected by a lightbar across the tailgate. Fitted are LED combination units with dynamic turn signals.

The side mirrors are electronically adjustable and foldable, featuring turn-signals and blind spot-indicators.

Variants S line and Sportback S line upgrade to virtual exterior mirrors (cameras) with 7.0-Inch OLED interior displays (screens - exterior image projection, side mirror controls).

Mounted are 20-Inch alloy rims (advanced - Graphite Gray five-arm dynamic style, Sportback advanced - Diamond-turned Graphite Gray five-arm ‘Aero’ ring style), wrapped in 255/50 R20 tyres, and 21-Inch alloy rims (S line - Diamond-turned Black five-arm turbine style, Sportback S line - Audi Sport Black Metallic five-arm ‘Aero’ structure style), wrapped in 265/45 R21 tyres.

Featuring the Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, installed is a 10.1-Inch central touchscreen display, supporting the Audi Connect Navigation and Infotainment System, Audi Smartphone Interface with Audi Phone Box Light and MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

All variants are equipped with a single-speed two-stage ratio planetary gearbox.

Drive is distributed to all four wheels, via an Electric All-Wheel Drive (e-AWD) system. The Audi Electric Quattro All-Wheel Drive.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 6.0 seconds (advanced, Sportback advanced) and 5.6 seconds (S line, Sportback S line). Top speed is 200 KM/H for all variants.

Juicing up the e-motors is a Lithium-Ion battery, with energy capacity of 95-KWH (advanced, Sportback advanced) and 114-KWH (S line, Sportback S line).

The battery packs provide up to 491 KM (advanced), 505 KM (Sportback advanced), 582 KM (S line) and 600 KM (Sportback S line) of driving range (WLTP).

95-KWH battery, 10% to 80% State of Charge (SoC). AC charging (11-KW - Type 2) takes nine hours and nine minutes, while DC charging (150-KW - CCS2) takes 28 minutes.

114-KWH battery, 10% to 80% State of Charge (SoC). AC charging (22-KW - Type 2) takes six hours, while DC charging (170-KW - CCS2) takes 31 minutes.

As for accessibility, it comes with an additional charging port (AC) on the left front fender.