New Audi SQ8 e-tron goes on sale from £97,500

• Black Edition and top-of-the-range Vorsprung trims
• SUV and Sportback coupe-SUV bodystyles
• Up to 496bhp

Audi has announced prices and specs for the updated Audi SQ8 e-tron electric SUV. It will still be offered in SUV and coupe-SUV body styles and each model gets a two-tiered lineup consisting of entry-level Black Edition and flagship Vorsprung trims.

Black Edition SUV models start from £97,500, with that price increasing to £100,000 for the Sportback version. The entry-level SQ8 gets a generous amount of standard equipment, such as 21-inch alloys, matrix LED headlights, leather sports seats, four-zone climate control and a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system.

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Black Edition models can also be specced with a range of optional packages, such as the Technology Pack Pro S for £2,595, the Tour Pack for £1,995 and a City Assist package for £1,125.

Fully-loaded Vorsprung models sit above the Black Edition trim, costing £114,500 or £117,000 for the Sportback body style. This trim gets Audi’s Digital Matrix LED headlights, larger 22-inch alloy wheels, soft-close doors, a panoramic glass roof, virtual door mirrors – using cameras to project rear-facing images through a screen on the interior – plus a leather interior package that extends to the upper dashboard and door cards.

The SQ8 e-tron’s three-motor EV powertrain has been improved – the single front-axle and dual rear-axle electric motor configuration has a peak power figure of up to 496bhp with a huge 973Nm torque figure, propelling the SUV from 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds. The rear axle’s secondary electric motor also gives the SQ8 the ability to send power solely to the rear wheels.

Audi has also improved the battery technology for the updated SQ8 e-tron – it now gets a larger 106kWh battery with a claimed 267-mile range. Charging speeds have also been improved, with a maximum 170kWh charging capability on a DC charge, meaning a 10-80% top-up will take around 31 minutes.

The SQ8 e-tron is expected to reach buyers by summer 2023 and will rival other premium electric SUVs now on the market, such as the BMW iX, Mercedes EQE SUV and upcoming Maserati Grecale Folgore.

For our in-depth review of the standard Audi Q8 e-tron, read our in-depth review...