Once known simply as the Audi e-tron, the SUV that pioneered Audi’s line of electric vehicles (EV) has been updated and renamed the Audi Q8 e-tron late last year. To all those who are fans of this EV SUV and have been waiting, good news! The 2023 Audi Q8 e-tron has finally been officially launched in Malaysia. With two body styles and four variants available in total, prices for the new flagship EV SUV from Audi start from RM397,790, OTR with the Audi Assurance Package (AAP).
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As mentioned, there are a total of four variants of the 2023 Q8 e-tron offered in Malaysia, this includes:
- Audi Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 Quattro – RM397,790 (OTR with AAP)
- Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron Advanced 50 Quattro – RM403,790 (OTR with AAP)
- Audi Q8 e-tron S Line 55 Quattro – from RM488,790 (OTR with AAP)
- Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55 Quattro – RM498,790 (OTR with AAP)
On the outside, the new Audi Q8 e-tron range features Audi’s new electric design language. The Q8 e-tron series is also the first to wear the brand’s new two-dimensional four-rings logo.
In order to make its new logo even more striking, Audi has used the Singleframe light spoiler to highlight its updated four rings. However, this feature is only available with the Audi Q8 e-tron S Line 55 and Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55 variants. The Q8 e-tron series is also the first to be fitted with the new Audi and model name lettering designs on the B-pillar.
Audi also boasts about the Q8 e-tron’s improved aerodynamics – 0.26 to 0.24 for the Q8 Sportback e-tron, and 0.28 to 0.27 for the ‘regular’ Q8 e-tron. This is made possible thanks to the Singleframe grille’s controllable cool-air intake and camera-based virtual side-view mirrors found in the S Line 55 models, as well as the SUV’s air curtains and wheel spoiler.
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Exterior features that are fitted as standard with the Malaysian-spec 2023 Audi Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 include:
- LED headlamps with high beam assist
- LED rear combination lamps
- 20-inch Graphite Grey five-arm dynamic style alloy wheels
The Q8 Sportback e-tron Advanced 50 adds on:
- Digital LED headlamps
- Black styling package
- 20-inch Graphite Grey five-arm “Aero” ring-style alloy wheels
- Red callipers
The Q8 e-tron S Line 55, adds on:
- Sharper bumper garnishes
- S Line tread plates
- Digital Matrix LED headlamps with active adjustment and masking
- Singleframe projector lighting
- Virtual side-view mirrors
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- Door entrance LED projector lights
- 21-inch five-arm black turbine-style alloy wheels
The Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55 tops the line with:
- Audi Sport 21-inch Black Metallic five-arm “Aero” structure style alloy wheels.
Dimensions-wise, the Audi Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 and Q8 e-tron S Line 55 measure 4,915 mm long, 1,937 mm wide, 1,633 mm tall, and are underpinned by a 2,928 mm long wheelbase. The Sportback variants measure the same length, width, and wheelbase-wise, however, they are slightly lower in height than the ‘regular’ non-Sportback variants, measuring just 1,619 mm tall.
Performance-wise, the Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 and Q8 Sportback e-tron Advanced 50 are powered by a dual-motor setup, paired with a single-speed 2-stage ratio planetary gearbox. Battery capacity is rated at 95 kWh, giving 410 km of WLTP range for the e-tron Advanced 50, and 415 km (WLTP) for the Sportback e-tron Advanced 50. Power is sent to all four wheels via Audi’s Quattro AWD system, producing 340 hp and 664 Nm in boost mode.
Sprinting from a standstill to 100 km/h takes 6.0 seconds, and the top speed is set at 200 km/h. Suspension-wise, the Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 range features Audi’s adaptive air suspension.
Charging the Advanced 50 variants can be done via 11 kW (AC), which will take 9.15 hours to fully charge. For even quicker charging speeds, the Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 series can support up to a maximum of 150 kW DC charging. Going from 10% to 80% of charge takes around 31 minutes, and a 10-minute quick charge can provide 123 km of WLTP range. Full technical details of the Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 variants are as such:
- Drivetrain: Dual-motor AWD
- Combined output: 340 hp (in boost mode)
- Total torque: 664 Nm (in boost mode)
- 0-100 km/h: 6.0 seconds
- Top speed: 200 km/h
- Battery: 95 kWh
- Range (Q8 e-tron Advanced 50): 410 km (WLTP)
- Range (Q8 Sportback e-tron Advanced 50): 415 km (WLTP)
- Suspension: Adaptive air suspension
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Powering the 2023 Audi Q8 e-tron S Line 55 and Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55 are a set of dual-motor setups, paired with a single-speed 2-stage ratio planetary gearbox as well. Battery capacity is rated at 114 kWh, giving 481 km of WLTP range for the e-tron S Line 55, and 487 km (WLTP) for the Sportback e-tron S Line 55.
Power is also sent to all four wheels via the Quattro AWD system, giving the SUVs a total of 408 hp and 664 Nm in boost mode. The century sprint can be done in under 5.6 seconds, while top speed is also capped at 200 km/h. In terms of suspensions, the ‘regular’ e-tron S Line 55 utilises the same adaptive air suspension as the Advanced 50 variants, while the Sportback e-tron S Line 55 uses Audi’s sport adaptive air suspension.
Like the Advanced 50 variants, the S Line 55 variants take 11 kW AC charging as well. A full charge takes 11.30 hours with the 11 kW charger. 22 kW AC charging is also available for the S Line 55 range and can charge to full in six hours.
The 2023 Q8 e-tron S Line 55 and Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55 also take DC charging up to 170 kW. Like the Advanced 50 variants, charging the cars from 10% to 80% takes approximately 31 minutes, and a 10-minute quick charge can give up to 123 km of WLTP range. Full technical details of the Q8 e-tron S Line 55 variants are as such:
- Drivetrain: Dual-motor AWD
- Combined output: 408 hp (in boost mode)
- Total torque: 664 Nm (in boost mode)
- 0-100 km/h: 5.6 seconds
- Top speed: 200 km/h
- Battery: 114 kWh
- Range (Q8 e-tron S Line 55): 481 km (WLTP)
- Range (Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55): 487 km (WLTP)
- Suspension (Q8 e-tron S Line 55): Adaptive air suspension
- Suspension (Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55): Sport adaptive air suspension
The 2023 Audi Q8 e-tron series in Malaysia come with the complimentary e-tron Compact Chargers, and RM1,000 worth of JomCharge Credits are given to all e-tron owners, with a validity period of one year.
To further enhance the ownership experience, all models also come with the mobile e-tron Charging System Compact, in order to provide charging convenience, no matter the location.
The system essentially consists of an intelligent compact charger and power cables – one that plugs into the vehicle and the other to the standard household power socket with an output of 1.8kW to 2.3 kW, or via a three-phase power supply with an output of 11 kW. Charging can be set to 100 and 50 percent charging power on the charging unit to avoid potentially overloading the home’s electrical system.
Moving inside, the 2023 Audi Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 in Malaysia is equipped with Audi’s Multi-Media Interface (MMI) touch response operating system. This is made up of a two-display setup – an upper 10.1-inch display, and a lower 8.6-inch diagonal display. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit Plus with full HD display also comes with the 2023 Q8 e-tron as standard.
List of equipment you get as standard with the Audi e-tron Advanced 50 includes:
- “Mono.Pur 550” leather and leatherette combination seat
- Electrically adjustable front seats
- Memory function for the driver seat
- 4-way lumbar support for the front seats
- Leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with shift paddles
- Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus
- MMI touch response operating system
- 10.1-inch + 8.6-inch diagonal display
- Voice control
- Head-up display (HUD)
- Audi Phone Box Light
- Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System
- Four-zone climate control system
The Q8 Sportback e-tron Advanced 50 adds on:
- Valcona leather seats
- Decorative inserts in dark matte brushed aluminium
The Q8 e-tron S Line 55 and Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55 adds on:
- S Line interior with red stitchings and stainless steel pedals
- Valcona leather seats with embossed “S”
- S Line seat inlays
- Illuminated scuff plates with aluminium inserts
- Sports contour flat-bottomed leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with shift paddles
- Power-assisted door closing
In the safety department, all variants of the 2023 Audi Q8 e-tron in Malaysia are equipped with these features as standard:
- 8 airbags
- Audi Pre Sense for both front and rear
- Adaptive Cruise control (ACC) with speed limiter, efficiency assist, swerve assist, and turn assist
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Front and Rear Cross Traffic Assist (FCTA & RCTA)
The 2023 Audi Q8 e-tron series come with a 5-year unlimited mileage manufacturer warranty, an 8-year battery warranty, and 3 years of maintenance via AAP. Customers can also opt for the standard 2-year unlimited mileage warranty.
To recap, the Audi Q8 e-tron series has just been launched in Malaysia. With prices starting from RM397,790, the Q8 e-tron range is available in four variants – Q8 e-tron Advanced 50, Q8 Sportback e-tron Advanced 50, Q8 e-tron S Line 55, and the Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55.
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GALLERY
Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 Quattro
Q8 Sportback e-tron Advanced 50 Quattro
Q8 e-tron S Line 55 Quattro
Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55 Quattro
