“More important are the tech upgrades. Five years is a long time in the world of electrification, and battery energy density is always improving. The entry-level 50 version sees its usable capacity rise from 71 to 89 kWh, while the 55 model (and performance-oriented SQ8 E-tron) goes from 89 to 106 kWh, which may be more than the coming Kia EV9. Now we’re talking.
“The motors have additionally been revised, and the automobile’s aerodynamic potency additional optimized. Audi claims a length of ‘as much as 330 miles’ for the 55, and DC charging speeds are advanced, too. Those have long gone from 150 to 170 kW, despite the fact that that’s nonetheless a way off the 240-kW prohibit loved through the skillful Genesis GV70 and others. The battery will proceed from 10 to 80 % price in 31 mins, however this past that may’t beat the EV9’s 800V electric structure, which is able to do the similar in underneath 25 mins.
“The Q8 E-tron has also gained some dynamic improvements. The steering is faster and more alert, the suspension has been finessed — all versions ride on air springs— and the stability and traction control algorithms have been tweaked. The 55 has a total of 402 bhp and 490 pound-feet of torque, and it sits between the 335-bhp 50 version and the 496-bhp SQ8. That one gains a third motor.
“The twin-motor 55 is a automobile that has an imperious really feel with out being what you could name interactive. However upcoming negative electrical SUV is in point of fact operating off a project remark to entertain — now not least as a result of, irrespective of the chassis wizardry or engineering smarts at play games, the E-tron weighs north of two.5 heaps, and the physics at paintings are immutable.
“It’s certainly up there with the BMW iX, although like all premium German machines of this ilk, there’s still a lurking and spurious emphasis on ‘sportiness.’ For what it’s worth, zero to 62 mph takes 5.6 seconds, and its top speed is 124 mph. Not one for a YouTube-friendly drag race film, then.
“Some distance higher to choose right into a gentler groove, person who’s most effective interrupted through a trip feature that may be a minute company, specifically at the U.Okay.’s appallingly maintained B roads. The powertrain is silky in operation, the controls easily modulated. You’ll regulate the volume of regenerative braking at the fly by the use of steering-column-mounted paddles, or shed the automobile to rush price itself within the adaptive power method.
“During a 100-mile trip that mixed back roads with freeway in unpleasant weather conditions, I was averaging 2.5 miles/kWh, for a total range of around 270 miles. Although some way short of Audi’s claim, it’s about what I’d expect in real-world conditions. And tolerable.”
— Jason Barlow, Stressed out
