Audi Q 8 e-tron

FIRST UK DRIVE Improvements all round for flagship SUV

- John Mcllroy

Electric motor Power/range 402bhp/322 miles

Practicality Boot (seats up/down) 569/1,637 litres

AUDI'S e-tron was the car that gave the German brand a foothold in the EV market - something to tempt potential customers away from Tesla or even Jaguar's I-Pace. Now there's a hefty update, including not only the typical refreshed look but also a larger battery capacity and, unusually, a new name.

The fundamentals haven't changed; the Q8 e-tron remains a jumbo-sized EV that's based on a modified version of the same platform that underpins the conventionally powered Q7 and Porsche's Cayenne. The exterior changes are most noticeable at the front, where you get a new single-frame grille, different badges and a light bar that stretches between the headlights. The tweaks are even more subtle inside, where there are some new materials and trims on the options list.

Under the skin, Audi has used the car's rebranding to give it an EV jolt worthy of its status as the brand's range-topper. There's a fifth more energy contained in a revised battery pack which, in this 55 trim level, now has a whopping capacity of 114kWh (106kWh usable). Audi claims a range of up to 330 miles, and if you do need to top up when you're out and about, DC charging speeds get a boost too - up from 150kW to 170kW, allowing you to get the charge level from 10 to 80 per cent in about half an hour.