Production of the Audi Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar starts in Brussels

Following its presentation last January, the Audi Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar is already rolling off the assembly line at the Brussels plant in Belgium. This Dakar Edition of the Q8 e-tron stands out as the first electric model from the four-ring brand aimed at 4×4 use, and it is based on the Q8 advanced 55 e-tron quattro.

The German manufacturer will place only 99 units of this special edition on the market, so getting hold of one will not be easy. A serial number engraved on the D-pillar will highlight the exclusivity of each unit sold, which will also project the slogan “Edition Dakar” onto the ground on each side of the vehicle, reminding the driver and passengers that they are getting into a very special car.

This model is available in Magnetic Grey, Mythos Black metallic and Siam Beige metallic. Customers who choose Mythos Black metallic can opt for a decal package inspired by the Audi RS Q e-tron, the Audi racing car for the Rally Dakar. This limited edition also features a Mythos Black Metallic finish on the lower front section, and the doors bear the inscription “Edition Dakar“. In addition, the key is exclusive, with a design clearly differentiated from that of the conventional Q8 e-tron.

What else does this Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar offer?

As for the modifications made by the manufacturer, it should be noted that Audi has adjusted the adaptive suspension of the regular Q8 e-tron to suit off-road driving on any type of surface. This model thus has greater ground clearance – 31 mm more – reaching 206 mm in its base configuration. This height decreases as speed increases, dropping by 15 mm at 85 km/h, a further 17 mm at 100 km/h and another 13 mm at 120 km/h. Audi quotes an approach angle of 20 degrees, a departure angle of 26 degrees and a ramp breakover angle of 19 degrees. The wading depth is 300 mm. The optional virtual camera-based exterior mirrors, meanwhile, allow the vehicle’s width to be reduced by 15 cm.

The Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar comes with 18-inch wheels and General Grabber AT3 all-season tyres. Additionally, it also includes a set of 20-inch wheels with summer tyres. The all-terrain tyres improve traction on uneven surfaces such as gravel, snow, rocky ground, mountain and forest tracks. For road use, customers can switch to the summer tyres.

A roof rack with a load capacity of 40 kg is also included as standard on the Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar. Inside, the vehicle’s MMI system additionally displays the inclination angle together with other information of interest for 4×4 driving. The exclusive screen themes with background images specially created for this model, and the exclusive ambient lighting, enhance the feeling of being in an Audi with 4×4 capabilities. A two-zone automatic climate control system comes as standard, with a four-zone version also available as an option.

The Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar has two electric motors, one on the front axle and one on the rear, which together deliver 300 kW in boost mode with 664 Nm of torque. This model is also capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds when fitted with summer tyres, and in 5.9 seconds with the all-terrain tyres, with a top speed of 200 km/h.

The battery pack is lithium-ion, as in the conventional model, and has a capacity of 106 kWh, which allows it to travel up to 487 km under the WLTP homologation cycle. When charging, it supports a maximum DC charging power of 170 kW, while using a wallbox on AC the maximum charging power is 11 kW.

In Germany, the price of the Audi Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar starts at 119,900 euros.