Audi 2023 Q8 e-Tron EV Boasts Its Highest-Ever, 373-Mile Range

After teasing(Opens in a new window) “something new and electrifying…on the horizon” last week, Audi has unveiled(Opens in a new window) its most advanced all-electric vehicle yet, the Q8 e-tron.

The car replaces almost all interior buttons with not one, but two dash screens. Audi offers two battery sizes, with 305 to 373 miles of range depending on powertrain and battery size. That’s a big improvement over Audi’s existing lineup of eight EVs, which offer a 200- to 300-mile range.

The German automaker will also offer a gas-powered 2023 Q8(Opens in a new window), but it plans to debut 12 more EVs by 2026 and fully electrify its lineup by 2030. “The new Audi Q8 e-tron, with its improved efficiency and range and refined design, is another important component in our electric portfolio to get people excited about electromobility,” Audi says.

Audi will open reservations for the Q8 e-tron in mid-November 2022, and begin deliveries in Europe in February 2023 followed by the US in April. The vehicle will be available in two body shapes: the Q8 e-tron SUV with a boxier tail and the aerodynamic Q8 e-tron Sportback.

Audi Q8 e-tron
(Credit: Audi)

Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback
(Credit: Audi)

Battery, Range, and Charging

Audi offers three drivetrain options, with varying ranges across the SUV and Sportback models.

“In the new Q8 e-tron, we were able to significantly increase both battery capacity and charging performance,” according to Audi, which attributes the improved performance to “an adjustment in the battery management system.” It previously leveraged software to improve range on its EVs, AutoWeek reports(Opens in a new window).

2020 Audi e-tron charging.
(Credit: Audi)

The three drivetrains are the Q8 50 e-tron, Q8 55 e-tron, and the SQ8 e-tron. The lowest range is the Q8 50 e-tron SUV, with 305 miles. The highest is the Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron at 373 miles.

Charge times are industry standard. It takes four hours and 45 minutes using a 22kW, level 2 charger for the smaller battery size and six hours for the larger one. Fast charging on a public, level 3 charger, takes about 30 minutes.

Most Noteworthy Features

Audi has replaced nearly all interior button controls with two dash screens and voice control. The top screen spans 10.1 inches, with a smaller, 8.6-inch screen below, replacing “nearly all conventional switches and knobs,” Audi says. “Beyond operation with the two touch displays, a lot of features can be activated through natural voice control(Opens in a new window),” the brand adds. The car also acts as a Wi-Fi hotspot for passengers.

Audi Q8 e-tron interior
(Credit: Audi YouTube)

Other interior highlights include a panoramic sunroof, remote-controlled sun shades, contoured seats, and premium ventilation. Many materials inside the car are recycled, which Audi says earns the car “net carbon neutral” status. Audi did not include details on battery recycling for customers at the vehicle’s end of life, as most automakers do not at this point, although without that it’s hard to know the true environmental impact.

On the vehicle’s outside, angular “digital matrix” headlights light up the road in high definition. These advanced lights, used on the rest of the e-tron line as well, “can illuminate the road in high resolution” by using advanced microchips and the same technology found in many video projectors.

Audi Digital Matrix headlights
(Credit: Audi)

Self-driving features are made possible by 17 sensors and five cameras, which “provide environmental information that’s then analyzed by the central driver assistance control unit.”

The biggest new feature is remote park assist, which helps the car “maneuver into even the tightest parking spaces.” You can dictate the parking procedure through the myAudi app, and when the car reaches the specified parking spot it will turn off, engage the parking brake, and lock the doors.

Audi has yet to reveal formal pictures of all the bells and whistle on the Q8 e-tron. For now, the YouTube video reveal offers the most in-depth look.

Price and Competition

Audi hasn’t revealed the price for the US market yet, though the base price in Germany will be 74,400 Euros ($74,700 USD). However, EVs are generally cheaper in Europe than the US, as the market there is more developed and consumers expect lower prices. The SUV version, with a 362-mile range, will likely be cheaper than the Sportback version (373-mile range).

Audi’s EV lineup in the US falls between $48,000 (2023 Audi Q4(Opens in a new window)) and $105,000 (2023 Audi e-tron GT(Opens in a new window)). The cars directly compete with BMW, which offers five similarly priced EVs(Opens in a new window) as well as four popular plug-in hybrids. Buyers interested in BMW and Audi will likely consider Tesla as well, which offers three models in the same price range.

Specs Summary

• Model Year: 2023

• Price: TBA for US, base model starts at 74,400 Euros in Germany (~$74,700)

• Miles of Range: 305 to 373 miles depending on trim

• Charge Time: 4 hours 45 minutes—six hours on a 22kW, level 2 charger. 30 minutes on a public, level 3 charger.

• Battery warranty: e-Tron line has an 8-year/100K mile warranty (whichever occurs first)

• Dash Screen Size: 10.1-inch top screen, 8.6-inch bottom screen

• Self Driving Capabilities: Yes, including new remote parking

• Trunk Size: 20 cubic feet for the SUV, 18.6 for the Sportback. Both versions have a “frunk” with an additional 2.2 cubic feet of storage.

• Torque:  664 Nm – 973 Nm, depending on powertrain

• Time to go 0 to 60: TBA

• Horsepower: TBA