Audi Renames the e-tron the Q8 e-tron

Audi’s electric lineup was starting to develop a convoluted naming structure, so the company took the 2024 refresh of the e-tron crossover as an opportunity to straighten things out. Going forward, it will be known as the Q8 e-tron or Q8 e-tron Sportback. Audi says this name solidifies the model as the pinnacle of Audi electric vehicles (though technically that title belongs to the e-tron GT), and it makes sense considering we already have a new Q4 e-tron as well as a Q6 e-tron on the way. Without the Q8 in its name, the regular e-tron was starting to feel irrelevant. Not anymore.

With the new name comes updated electric specs. There will be three variants (available in both e-tron and e-tron Sportback guises): Q8 50, Q8 55, and SQ8. Q8 50 models will be all-wheel drive or ‘Quattro’ in Audi speak, with two electric motors producing a total of 335 horsepower and 490 lb.-ft. of torque in Boost mode. The 50 will be powered by the smaller of two available batteries, an 89-kWh unit, while the Q8 55 in SQ8 will get the larger 104-kWh battery. Q8 55 models produce 402 horsepower and 490 lb.-ft. of torque in boost mode. The SQ8 adds an extra electric motor on the rear axle for a total of 496 horsepower 718 lb.-ft. of torque.

Range was a sore spot for owners of the outgoing e-tron, so Audi has improved those numbers as well. The longest-range Q8 e-tron will be the Q8 55 Sportback with 373 miles, according to the European WLTP test. This means the EPA figure will likely be closer to 330-350 miles, but that’s still a massive jump over the most frugal outgoing e-tron Sportback at 225 miles. It’s also worth mentioning that the Q8 ushers in a tweaked exterior design over its replacement, particularly in the grille area.

More on the new Audi Q8 e-tron here.