Audi: First drive with the Q8 e-tron for the desert 🎥
WOULD YOU LIKE A LITTLE MORE? Raised body, rustic add-on parts, graphic effects. The Q8 e-tron edition Dakar will be presented just in time for the start of the 2024 Dakar Rally on January 5, 2024.
Visually, the special series is based on the RS Q e-tron rally car. 70 parts of the chassis were modified to raise the car by 6.5 centimetres. The track has been extended by 5.7 centimetres and the wheel arches have been widened accordingly. Roof racks and an outdoor bag are standard; up to 40 kilograms can be loaded on the roof. The camera exterior mirrors, which are available at extra cost on the regular Q8 e-tron, reduce the width of the vehicle.
Off-road tires type General Grabber AT3
From the outside, the Dakar edition can be recognized by the grille in the vehicle color and the contrasting sill, but above all by the 18-inch wheel rims supplied, which are fitted with General Grabber AT3 off-road tires. For use in the urban jungle, the summer tires on conventional 20-inch wheels, which are also included, are sufficient. They extend the range of the electric drive by 50 kilometers.
The regular Q8 e-Tron already has very good off-road characteristics, but the Dakar Edition goes one better. We were able to see this for ourselves during extensive test drives in the desert of Oman - at the wheel of a Limited Edition 99.
The interior largely offers the regular S-Line equipment and you will look in vain for a badge. Instead, the serial number is noted in the foil on the C-pillar. Special floor mats and stainless steel overlays on the pedals provide a rustic flair.
Screen with its own off-road graphics
For extreme off-road situations, we selected the new Offroad mode introduced for the Dakar edition. It must be consciously switched on again each time the car is restarted. The maximum altitude is maintained up to 50 km/h, above which the Q8 e-Tron gradually lowers. The screen background has its own off-road graphics.
At first, we get down to business quickly on a wide gravel road. The Edition Dakar is very easy to handle, even at well over 100 km/h, allowing light drifts, while at the same time the air suspension irons out the worn washboard in an astonishing way. Despite weighing 2.6 tons, the car is surprisingly light and fun to drive. The Edition Dakar also masters challenging terrain, but remains comfortable. Twice we drive through waters with a depth of 30 centimeters. No problem for the four rings.
The Dakar is based on the Q8 e-Tron 55, which delivers up to 300 kW (408 hp). Equipped in this way, it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, with a top speed of 200 km/h. Last but not least: it has a range of up to 450 kilometers in the WLTP cycle.
Source: Car-Medienportal.net
