Audi SQ8 e-tron

Offering a more performance-oriented characteristic unlike its 2023-launched standard-guises, the 2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron, now in Malaysia.

Expanding the e-tron range, the new e-SUV sports a three-motor drivetrain (first in Malaysia) and different body styles (SUV, Sportback).

Two variants (SQ8 e-tron quattro - MYR 520,790, SQ8 Sportback e-tron quattro - MYR 530,790), fully-imported (CBU) from Audi’s production plant in Brussels, Belgium.

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 (Audi Assurance Package (AAP) - MYR 13,000), consisting of an extended five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, and a three-year/45,000 KM free maintenance service.

Seven exterior colours. Magnet Gray, Ultra Blue, Chronos Gray, Mythos Black, Plasma Blue, Daytona Gray and Glacier White.

S-treated, refined and three-dimensional, the new Audi SQ8 e-tron has a driver-centric and highly-advanced cockpit. 

Dominating the regions are screens (four display units - instrument cluster, central infotainment, climate controls, side camera controls).

The black-themed dashboard sees the upper section in Valcona leather, matched to carbon fibre panels with matte brushed aluminium trimmings.

Overall, paired to gloss-black haptic buttons, every accessibility is well-designed and well-arranged, featuring luxurious eco-friendly materials.

Featuring the Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, installed is a 12.3-Inch digital instrument cluster with three customisable interface displays, and a Heads-Up Display (HUD).

Sportily luxurious, the five-seater is blessed with the S-Line Interior treatment, featuring upholstery in black Valcona leather with diamond quilting and ‘S’ embossing.

Fitted are sports seats (front) with electric adjustments (multi-way, four-way lumbar) and memory function (driver), and a bench seat (rear) with 40:20:40 split-fold configuration.

Completing the layout is an Ambient Lighting Plus Package, and LED entrance lights (doors - front, rear - scuff plates with ‘S’ logos).

Front and rear occupants have ample space and mobility. Very comfortable, offering generous head, leg and shoulder rooms.

Mounted is a three-spoke flat-bottom leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, incorporated with multi-switches (media, vehicle telematics), paddle shifters, and column adjustments (electric - tilt, telescopic). Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Numerous storage areas including side door, back seat and armrest pockets, partitioned and caverned spaces in the centre console, and a decent-sized glove box.

Four cup holders, two located in the front centre console and two in the rear seating’s centre armrest, and four bottle holders, located at each side door pocket.

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 (SQ8 e-tron quattro) and 528-Litres (SQ8 Sportback e-tron quattro) of load space. 

For extra storage, included is a front trunk (frunk) with a capacity of 62-Litres.

The new Audi SQ8 e-tron stands at 4,915 MM long, 1,976 MM wide, 1,631 MM (SQ8 e-tron quattro) and 1,617 MM (SQ8 Sportback e-tron quattro) tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,928 MM.

Sporty and elegantly parading the S-Line treatment, its overall exterior combines modern lines and proportions with typical Audi styling cues.

The front-end sees a wide bumper, muscular wheel arches, and Audi’s Singleframe grille (projector lighting - light bar - top grille) and new insignia (2D optics).

Accentuating the layout is a Black Appearance Plus Package, donating sportier trimmings in high-gloss black.

Exuding a jointless design, its rear-end furthers the athletically chic appeal of the S-Line treatment with sharply smooth and seamless contours.

Variant SQ8 e-tron quattro has a high-rising roofline with a roof-edge spoiler, whereas the SQ8 Sportback e-tron quattro gets a sportback roofline with a deck-lid spoiler.

Paired to the wide bumper and muscular fenders is an aerodynamically-functioning diffuser, and accentuating the layout is a Black Appearance Plus Package.

Forming a seamless one-piece design joint by the Singleframe’s projection light (light bar - top grille), the head lamps are angularly shaped and slanted inwards, projecting a very focused set of eyes.

Installed are Digital Matrix LED units with auto On/Off, high-beam assist, dynamic turn signals, adaptive and warning lights, coming home/leaving home function (five lighting schemes), and Daytime Running Lights (DRL).

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 auto On/Off, dynamic turn signals, and coming home/leaving home function (five lighting schemes).

Incorporated are carbon fibre-capped, electronically-powered (adjust, fold) virtual exterior mirrors (cameras) with 7.0-Inch OLED interior displays (screens - exterior image projection, side mirror controls).

Fitted are ventilated discs (front, rear) with high-performance brake callipers finished in red. Also featured is an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Mounted is a set of Audi Sport alloy rims (22-Inch, five-arm ‘Interferenz’ style, Titanium Grey, diamond-turned), wrapped in 285/35 R22 Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 EV tyres.

The new Audi SQ8 e-tron features the following set of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Installed are Audi Pre Sense Front and Rear, Adaptive Cruise Control with Speed Limiter, Efficiency Assist, Swerve Assist and Turn Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Front and Rear Cross Traffic Assist, Park Assist with Park Assist Plus, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Hill-Start Assist (HSA), and Surround View Monitor (360-degree camera).

Passive safety includes eight airbags (driver-passenger, front-rear side, front-rear curtain), seat belts (reminder, pre-tensioner, anchor), ISOFIX (top-tether), parking sensors (six - front, rear), parking camera (360-degree), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system, door ajar warning, Direct Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (DTPMS), and security alarm with anti-theft and engine-immobiliser.

Multiple drive modes selectable under the Audi Drive Select program. 

Featuring the Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, mounted is a dual central display setup (top - 10.1-Inch, bottom - 8.6-Inch), running the Audi Multi Media Interface (MMI). 

The system supports 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.

The suite of ADAS will make travels less fatigue and less of a burden for the driver, as well as much safer at all speeds.

Entertainment is channelled via a 705 W Bang & Olufsen 16-speaker 3D premium sound system.

Powering the new Audi SQ8 e-tron are three axle-mounted (one - front, two - rear), asynchronous motors. Total system output reads at 370 KW/496 HP and 973 NM of torque.

The setup is mated to 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 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 210 KM/H.

Juicing up the e-motors is an underfloor-mounted 114 KWH Lithium-Ion battery, providing 458 KM (SQ8 e-tron quattro) and 471 KM (SQ8 Sportback e-tron quattro) of driving range (WLTP).

DC charging (170-KW - CCS2) takes 31 minutes for a 10% to 80% State of Charge (SoC), while AC charging (22-KW - Type 2) takes nine hours and nine minutes for a 0% to 100% SoC.

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

The new Audi SQ8 e-tron features keyless entry system, engine Start/Stop button, auxiliary air-conditioning, four-zone auto climate control system (8.6-Inch touchscreen - primary controls, rear-vents - dedicated controls), air ioniser and aromatisation, power-assisted cabin door closing, powered-tailgate (contactless), power-adjustable front sports seats, steering wheel (multi-switches, paddle shifters, electric column adjustments, EPS), Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, Ambient Lighting Plus Package, cabin door entrance LED lights, wireless charger, parking cameras (360-degree), parking sensors (six - front-rear), virtual exterior mirrors (interior screens), Blind-Spot Monitor (BSM), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, and auto headlamps (On/Off, high-beam, welcome lights).

There are rear air-conditioning vents present with a dedicated set of controls, located at the rear part of the centre console (primary controls - 8.6-Inch touchscreen - front).

Ride comfortability feels precise and firm at the same time, tuned to provide complete stability and grip to the driver, without losing any of the day-to-day driving comfort.

Propping it up is a setup of double wishbones (front) and multi-link (rear) with Sport Adaptive Air Suspension. 

Ride height is adjustable (automatically up to 76 MM). On the highway, the body can be lowered by 26 MM for enhanced stability and aerodynamic efficiency. 

Whereas, driving on rougher terrain (Off-road mode), the ground clearance can be increased by 35 MM to 50 MM.

Good sound insulation with the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for, preserving the in-car ambience effectively.

A factor contributing to this is the body’s build, featuring steel/aluminium hybrid construction (weight moderation, greater torsional stiffness).

Overall, the cabin is able to suppress unwanted noises and make them barely noticeable, even when cruising through bumpy asphalts or at all speeds.

The new Audi SQ8 e-tron exudes a sporty and energy filled build, a perfect embodiment of Audi's mastery in design and engineering.

An all-rounder, the e-SUV offers an electrifying performance, luxurious interior appointment, and state-of-the-art technology.

Overall, inside and out the build quality is excellent, and with a laundry list of equipment, the 2024 SQ8 e-tron is definitely an Audi to have.