Electric Flagship Reborn

The Audi e-tron will always be remembered as the car that marked the inception of the e-tron range. Is the Q8 e-tron a worthy successor? We find out

- Joshua Varghese

THE AUDI E-TRON WAS THE T manufacturer's first production electric SUV. It was a significant car for India as well, being featured among the first luxury electric cars in the country. Audi India's commitment to electric vehicles (EV) is strictly limited to the top-tier luxury and supercar segment and that continues to be the case. The eponymous e-tron SUV has reached the end of the line and its replacement is the new Q8 e-tron range; essentially a significantly upgraded version of the outgoing e-tron duo. The Q8 e-tron is also being offered in both SUV and Sportback body-styles. We got to experience these cars on the highway and quiet switchbacks and here is our first impression.

The simple "e-tron" moniker never properly conveyed that it was the brand's flagship electric SUV, especially to buyers who were making the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) cars to EV. Therefore, adding its replacement into the Q8 family was a great move. The Q8 e-tron does not look apologetically electric and that is refreshing. Audi have re-written the rules of EV design in their favour and the result is a nice and big car that is elegant in form and true to its function. This also happens to be the first car that dons Audi's new emblem, a two-dimensional version of the four rings. To drive the point home further, they have placed it under a small lip of lighting below the bonnet that gives it a halo effect. Tasteful, just like the subtle badge on the B-pillar.

Excellent illumination with a touch of playfulness was one of the e-tron's hallmarks and that has been retained in these cars as well. Both the Q8 e-tron and the Q8 e-tron Sportback are slightly longer than the cars they replace. The former has the typical German SUV stance while the latter offers most of that poise along with a sloping roofline. Although both look the part of luxury flagships, I took a liking to the more streamlined Sportback.