Audi reveals plug-in hybrid variants for the Q8

The new Audi Q8 TFSI e quattro goes above and beyond to provide the most superlative driving experience in the Audi SUV range. As Audi's seventh plug-in hybrid, it goes to even greater lengths to do so as environmentally sensitively as possible.

The new version in the Q8 family will be available in two forms - the Q8 55 TFSI e quattro and the Q8 Competition 60 TFSI e quattro. Both combine a 3.0-litre V6 TFSI engine with an electric motor that enables them to travel for up to 45km under electric power and up to a top speed of 133km/h.

The Q8 e quattro has a permanently excited synchronous electric motor with a 134bhp output that is compact enough to be integrated in the housing of the eight-speed automatic transmission. Together with the coupling, which connects the engine to the drivetrain, it forms what is known as the hybrid module.

The lithium-ion battery is installed under the luggage compartment and contains 104 of the latest generation pouch cells arranged in 13 modules. Each of these cells with flexible outer skin provides an electrical capacity of 48Ah, and the battery system has an energy capacity of 17.8kWh.

Power flows to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system that distributes 40% of the torque to the front axle and 60% to the rear under normal operating conditions. If needed, it can redirect power to the axle with better traction. Up to 85% power can be distributed to the front axle and up to 70% power to the rear.

The Q8 Competition 60 TFSI e quattro has a total system output of 456bhp and 700Nm of torque and accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds, while the Q8 55 TFSI e quattro has a total system output of 376bhp and 600Nm of torque and accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds. Both have an electronically limited top speed of 240km/h.

Equally importantly, the Q8 55 TFSI e quattro has the potential to return up to 42.5km/litre with CO₂ emissions of as little as 65g/km, while the Q8 Competition 60 TFSI e quattro can return up to 41.2km/litre with a minimum CO₂ output of 66g/km.

The Q8 starts in fully electric 'EV' mode, when at low speeds the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System can be heard by surrounding road users thanks to loudspeakers located in their right front wheel arches. The petrol engine is activated only when the driver presses the accelerator pedal beyond a specific level of resistance.

'Hybrid' mode, which is the main operating strategy of the Audi Q8 TFSI e quattro, comprises three operating modes: 'Auto', 'Hold', and 'Charge'. In 'Auto' mode, the car automatically selects the optimum drive type: Fully electric at low speeds, the TFSI engine at higher speeds, and often a combination of the two. An 'EV' mode can also be selected in the central MMI display.

In 'Hold' mode, the car will retain the battery's existing state of charge at the current level for use at a later point. In 'Charge' mode, the aim is to charge the battery as fully as possible while driving. This is beneficial if a journey ends in an urban area because it enables the final miles to be covered under purely electric power.

When the driver releases the accelerator pedal, it determines whether the car enters freewheeling mode with the engine deactivated (coasting) or whether it decelerates via the electric motor, recuperating energy for the battery. It can regain up to 25kW of power just by coasting.

In addition, the electric motor performs all brake applications up to 0.3g - the vast majority in everyday driving. The hydraulic wheel brakes intervene virtually imperceptibly only when heavier braking is required. The Audi Q8 TFSI e quattro can harvest up to 80kW of recuperation power while braking.

Adaptive cruise assist is one of the highlights of driver assistance systems the Q8 TFSI e quattro models can draw on. It can assist the driver with steering, accelerating and braking over long distances within the limits of what is currently legally permissible.

The Audi drive select system is another very influential component in the Audi Q8 TFSI e quattro driving experience. It offers a choice of seven driving profiles - comfort, efficiency, auto, dynamic, individual, offroad and allroad - allowing the driver to tailor the characteristics of the drivetrain individually.

The new Q8 TFSI e quattro models are equipped with charging cables for use with household three-pin plugs and AC wallboxes and at public charging points. With a maximum charging capacity of up to 7.4kW, an empty battery can be fully charged in around two-and-a-half hours.

With the myAudi app, the driver can remotely check the battery and range status, start charging processes, program the charging timer and view charging and consumption data.