Audi Q8 e-tron

The Audi e-tron is based on the e-tron quattro concept that was unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. It has an EPA range of , or in the updated model. The Sportback variant has of EPA range, entered production in early 2020. In 2018, it was reported that the car's certification in Germany by the KBA (Federal Motor Transport Authority) was not obtained until required changes were made to the car's software. In January 2019, United States market deliveries were due to commence in June. The first customer in Germany received his e-tron in March 2019. In late April 2019 it was reported that prospective customers faced waiting lists of 6–7 months (putting the expected delivery date close to the end of 2019). The delays caused controversy in Norway, where customers were informed that their cars would be delivered up to 6 months later than originally promised unless they paid extra for a significantly more expensive "Fast Track" car. Further to this, some customers were also informed that were they to cancel their reservation they would be liable for a fine equal to 8% of the purchase price. In Norway, the e-tron was the best-selling car or truck of any kind in October 2019. In November 2019, it ranked #3. It was also the best-selling car or truck of any kind in Norway in the year 2020, outselling the Tesla Model 3. In the Netherlands, the e-tron was the #2 most registered car of any kind in December 2019. In 2020, the New Zealand government started purchasing e-trons as official government cars. Audi paused production of the e-tron in February 2020 due to supply chain problems including issues with adequate supply of batteries for the e-tron. Production resumed in early May. In 2022, Audi announced that the facelifted e-tron would be renamed to Audi Q8 e-tron (unrelated to the existing Audi Q8), which was revealed on 9 November 2022. File:2019 Audi e-Tron 55 Quattro Rear.jpg|Rear view (e-tron) File:Audi e-tron IAA 2019 JM 1491.jpg|Interior (e-tron) File:Audi Q8 e-tron IAA 2023 1X7A0616.jpg|Q8 e-tron File:Audi Q8 e-tron IAA 2023 1X7A0612.jpg|Q8 e-tron rear view File:2023 Audi e-tron interior.jpg|Q8 e-tron interior ==Specifications==

The Audi Q8 e-tron is powered by a 114 kWh battery, of which 106 kWh is usable. This is true for the 55 e-tron variant and the performance SQ8 e-tron variant, while the 50 e-tron variant has a smaller battery. Previously, the Audi e-tron was powered by a 95 kWh battery pack, of which 86.5 kWh (formerly 83.6 kWh) was usable. It can be charged from zero to 80% in around 30 minutes using 150 kW DC fast-chargers. For home charging in the EU, a standard 11 kW charger recharges the pack in 8.5 hours, while an optional 22 kW charger halves this time. In the US, a 40A 9.6 kW J1772 charger is supplied by Audi, but 11 kW can still be achieved using a 3rd party 48+ amp J1772 charger. A thermal management system (also serving the motors and power electronics) keeps the battery between 23 and 35 degrees Celsius, and battery modules (twelve 60 Ah cells each) can be replaced. The car uses an energy recuperation system that, on average, contributes 30% to the range. Recuperation can be achieved both when the driver releases the accelerator and when applying pressure to the brake pedal. The e-tron also sits slightly lower than a traditional SUV; at high, it is lower than the Audi Q5. It has of boot space, more than the Mercedes-Benz EQC, along with of storage space in the front. The real winter range drop might be slightly higher, because in the aforementioned tests the "winter" car had the advantage of more aerodynamic wheels than the "summer" car. This stands well in comparison to other EVs. Five other electric vehicles, including the 2017 Tesla Model S 75D, were tested at the temperature of with cabin heating on, and all of them had a range drop of at least 30%, and 41% on average (compared to when the temperature was and cabin heating/air conditioning was off). The e-tron is, in summer driving, less efficient than the Tesla Model X in terms of distance covered per kWh of energy. The e-tron is less affected by low temperatures, however, so driving in the winter brings the results of these two vehicles closer. In a test done at temperatures in the range and including high-speed highway driving, the e-tron's efficiency was about 12.4% worse than in the Model X. In slightly below-freezing conditions, the difference was smaller and the e-tron's efficiency was only about 8.6% worse than in the Model X. Charging The e-tron Audi of America is more cautious with their estimates, saying that of range can be added in 10 minutes when using a 150 kW charger. At 90%, charging rate is about 82 kW and it remains above 50 kW until reaching 100%. Using a 50 kW charger, the car can be charged at a constant rate of 50 kW, up until reaching 100%. In 2022, with the introduction of a larger battery (and the renaming of the vehicle, which is now known as the Audi Q8 e-tron), the charging speed was increased to 170 kW (150 kW in the low-end variant). Safety ANCAP Euro NCAP ==Equipment==

Standard equipment for the e-tron includes 12-way heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic moonroof, and 20-inch wheels. Upgrades include massage seats, power door closers, leather upholstery, 21-inch wheels and orange brake calipers. The interior is in line with other Audi models with a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, a smaller 8.6-inch touchscreen display, Amazon Alexa voice control, Virtual Cockpit system, and an optional head up display. Other equipments include a Bang & Olufsen sound system, and an available Driver Assistance package with enhanced adaptive cruise control, automatic parking assist and night vision. The e-tron is the second production car to offer optional virtual side mirrors, which replaces the traditional side-view mirrors and instead use cameras transmitting images to a high-contrast 7-inch OLED embedded in the door panels. ==Sportback==

In addition to the conventional SUV body style, Audi released a 'Sportback' version with a sloping rear part of the roof, similar to the BMW X6 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe. Audi decided to compete with these ICE-powered rivals by offering only a pure electric vehicle. It entered production in early 2020 and became available in Europe and in the US in 2020. The production version debuted at AutoMobility LA in Los Angeles in November 2019. The length and width are the same as in the standard model, while the height is lower. A drag coefficient is lower than in the standard model (0.25 vs. 0.27), while the powertrain and battery are the same as in the original model. The 2020 e-tron Sportback has an EPA range of . It is better than in the 2019 e-tron conventional SUV, partially because a larger percentage of the battery capacity is usable. The e-tron's battery management system keeps part of the battery capacity as a buffer, which is not part of the usable capacity; now the size of that buffer is decreased to unlock more usable capacity. This change (as well as some others like reducing usage of the AWD mode) was introduced in the e-tron conventional SUV during the production run; while the Sportback already had these modifications when it first went on the market. Cargo space measured by European standards is reduced from to . American sources, however, measure cargo space in a different way and indicate that the original e-tron has as much as of cargo space, so the reduction to is substantial. ==Powertrain==

The e-tron logo can be seen in the last scene of Iron Man 3 but the car is not revealed, probably since it wasn't publicly released as concept by then. The e-tron made an appearance in an Audi commercial tied to Avengers: Endgame, where it was introduced to Captain Marvel who was briefed about the events of Avengers: Infinity War and the things that had changed on Earth while she was gone, although it never made an appearance in the movie itself. Later, the e-tron appeared in Spider-Man: Far From Home where it was used by characters played by Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders. ==Production issues and recall==

Reports surfaced in April 2019 that the e-tron was subject to production delays and a cut in production targets due to supply of batteries and electric motors. Subsequently, weekly production hours at the assembly plant were foreseen to be reduced from 30 to 24. Audi announced a recall of certain e-tron models in early June 2019. The recall relates to a water leak that could lead to the high voltage electronics shorting, potentially causing a fire in extreme cases. == Markets ==

Asia-Pacific India The facelifted Q8 e-tron and Q8 Sportback e-tron was launched in India on 18 August 2023. Australia The e-tron and e-tron Sportback were launched in Australia in June 2020. Pakistan The e-tron was launched in Pakistan in March 2020. It is the best selling electric car in Pakistan and Audi's most successful car in Pakistan. It was offered in standard body styling as well as the Sportback model. Thailand The e-tron will be launched in Thailand by Meister Technik in 2019. On 15 October 2020, the e-tron Sportback will be introduced as well. Malaysia The Q8 e-tron was introduced in Malaysia on 17 May 2023. It was offered in advanced 50 quattro spec. On 16 June 2023, the Q8 e-tron was later launched along with the S line 55 quattro spec. The Sportback version was also launched as well, with two variants (50 quattro and 55 quattro). North America Canada The e-tron went on sale in Canada in late 2019. Mexico The e-tron was launched in Mexico for the 2021 model year. United States Deliveries to American customers started in early 2019. There were 3,540 e-trons registered in the United States during the first three quarters of 2019, ahead of Germany (2,997 units), though still less than in Norway (3,824 units). ==Sales==