Attending to drive Audi’s quickest electrical SUV—the all-wheel-drive, tri-motor 2024 SQ8 E-Tron—on sunny, Southern California highways for a couple of hours this previous week was shaping as much as be a formality.

However then darkish clouds moved in and the skies opened up, simply as I used to be given a demanding canyon-road drive route and handed a keyfob to the SQ8. 

Oh, that’s a great factor. My drive alternative had all of a sudden change into far more fascinating. Audi has constructed its fame, gasoline or electrical, on Quattro all-wheel-drive and its surefootedness in adversarial climate situations. That soaker of a day, a greasy sheen on the street, and a puddled, sometimes-gritty winding route chosen for dry situations altogether added as much as an excellent check of the poise, grip, and confidence that this method brings—even when the floor is slick. 

The expertise permits me to explain with much more conviction the distinction that having three motors versus two really brings—different than simply faster acceleration. Actually, it’s the SQ8 E-Tron’s energy versus every other electrical SUV, together with different three-motor fashions.

However first, the sporty variant has some spectacular specs. As a substitute of the two-motor system within the Q8 E-Tron, offering one motor for every axle, the 2024 Audi SQ8 E-tron packages two motors collectively on the rear wheels, including 94 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque for a complete of 496 hp and 718 lb-ft. Audi notes that the SQ8 can launch from 0-60 mph in simply 4.2 seconds (versus 5.1 seconds for the Q8 E-Tron), and its 130-mph prime pace may be maintained in Autobahn-type high-speed driving for not less than 12 miles throughout a spread of situations.

There’s no bodily connection between the 2 rear wheels, and that permits the 2 rear motors to ship totally different ranges of energy in cornering. As much as 162 lb-ft extra torque can go to the skin rear wheel than the within one, whereas making use of the brake pads on the entrance inside wheel to help cornering. 

Audi SQ8 E-Tron tri-motor system

Audi SQ8: Dynamic push-pull between rear motors

Merely put, meaning all three motors are capable of proceed offering ahead propulsion, whereas the system helps push-pull with torque-vectoring in a approach that will get you across the nook faster, with out dropping composure.

That lack of interruption in ahead momentum is the signature dance transfer of the tri-motor system. On the moist canyon roads, pushing proper up in opposition to the traction limits of the tires, the SQ8’s techniques reeled within the dynamics of this 6,118-pound SUV, making it really feel nimble nearly past perception. Sure, within the rain. 

On a few particularly tight corners, with a lot of area and throwing a bit extra zeal into it, I managed to get some wiggle out of the tail whereas operating in Dynamic mode, which faucets into all 496 hp, doubtlessly. However once more, it was shortly restrained as I felt these motors do their job volleying the SQ8 again to stability. 

With each stability help turned off this can be a tail-out torchbearer, however what the entire package collectively allows whereas barely sliding is wonderful. 

Why the SQ8 E-Tron’s drive techniques work so properly has loads to do with response time: Torque vectoring is 5 instances extra responsive with electrical motors than with an inside combustion powertrain, in line with Audi. 

2024 Audi SQ8 E-Tron

2024 Audi SQ8 E-Tron

2024 Audi SQ8 E-Tron

SQ8 E-Tron: Optimizes an already nice bundle

Physique management and friskier-feeling steering are additionally a part of the improved dynamics. Versus the E-Tron, the 2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron household will get a faster 14.6:1 steering ratio with stronger on-center response, revised damper tuning, stiffer anti-sway bars and control-arm bushings, and revised tuning of the chassis and stability management techniques. A four-wheel air suspension is included within the SQ8, with longitudinal elements reworked for improved dynamics. Plus the Q8 E-Tron lineup carries over the E-Tron’s very easily blended braking system. 

The 2024 Q8 E-Tron mannequin lineup  additionally will get extra vary. Audi has boosted the battery capability to 114 kwh gross (106 kwh usable)—up from 95 kwh gross (about 84 kwh usable) within the earlier E-Tron, bringing an EPA vary enchancment of about 20% all through the lineup. The pack is similar measurement and even has the identical case as its predecessor, however the enchancment comes from greater cell-level vitality density plus a shift within the inside configuration of the modules. 

Audi emphasizes that as one among its S fashions, the SQ8 is a performance-oriented automobile however isn’t supposed to be one among its most excessive RS efficiency halo automobiles. That stated, it delivers much more efficiency than its S-Line fashions, which basically simply carry a efficiency look. 

2024 Audi SQ8 E-Tron

The SQ8 is obtainable in SUV and Sportback physique types, with the important thing distinction being the roofline. Sportback fashions get extra of a steady arc beginning behind the entrance seats, whereas SUV variations get one thing nearer to a conventional SUV roofline. The 2 are literally fairly shut in usable inside area, though getting in or out of the again seats of the Sportback is a little more difficult. Large-box retailer consumers can even admire the higher cargo peak of the SUV. 

The SQ8 E-Tron features a panoramic sunroof, plus the dual-pane acoustic window glass that’s optionally available on the Q8 E-Tron. Audi claims it’s as quiet or quieter than the A8 sedan, and it felt that option to me. 

On the best way from the Q8 S E-Tron—the very limited-delivery mannequin that briefly launched the three-motor format with the previous mannequin—to the SQ8 E-Tron, Audi has improved aerodynamic effectivity by as a lot as 6%, aided by new entrance air curtains, lively grille shutters, wheel spoilers, and underbody aerodynamics. It helps with effectivity and in addition in holding the cabin quiet.

Audi SQ8: Spicier design particulars, wide-track look

The SQ8 additionally will get a coordinated set of spicier design particulars. Purple-painted fender flares add 1.5 inches of physique width to permit an extra 1.5 inches of  monitor width that mix to provide this mannequin simply sufficient of a distinction in stance. The grille apertures are bigger—sure, there may be one right here—and a matte-metallic materials with simply the appropriate trace of gloss is utilized in entrance, on the rear, and for rocker-panel accents. The Q8 E-Tron can be the primary ‘S’ automobile from Audi that shifts to black-edged badging. 

2024 Audi SQ8 E-Tron

Inside, the SQ8 E-Tron has upgraded upholstery, plus carbon-square sprint trim instead of the Q8 E-Tron’s open-pore wooden, and a three-spoke steering wheel (spherical, thanks!). The entrance seats are incredible, with simply the correct quantity of thigh and aspect help to carry you in place for high-g cornering however to not squeeze too tightly. 

Two totally different trim ranges of the SQ8 are supplied: Premium Plus and Status. 4-zone local weather management, a warmth pump, and pre-conditioning are all included, whereas LED matrix headlights, a head-up show, and soft-closing doorways are a part of the Status bundle. 

My tester, an SQ8 E-Tron SUV in Status guise, with a Magnet Grey exterior and Arras Purple inside (with properly coordinated contrasting grey stitching), added as much as $102,345 with the inclusion of the optionally available 22-inch five-arm titanium-finish wheels carrying sticky Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 rubber that decrease its EPA vary ranking to 218 miles. Over almost 70 miles, my check SQ8 E-Tron indicated I’d averaged 1.7 miles per kwh—driving fairly shortly up and down grades and with no regard for effectivity, and operating the defogger a few of the time. That implies a worst-case-scenario vary of round 180 miles.

A dual-port charger is on the market on the E-Tron, bringing an improve from the usual 9.6-kw onboard charger to a 19.2-kw functionality—and the flexibleness to plug in for 240-volt charging on both aspect of the automobile for the height cost fee. All Q8 E-Trons additionally embody a cell cost cable that may deal with 120- or 240-volt charging. 

The CCS/Combo port for fast-charging is just on the motive force’s aspect, and with the next 170-kw cost fee it will probably get from 10-80% in simply 31 minutes. The SQ8 E-Tron comes with two years of limitless Electrify America charging, and with Plug & Cost performance you’ll be capable of plug into greater than 3,500 fast-chargers within the U.S. and never want to fret about cost particulars. 

2024 Audi SQ8 E-Tron

Audi SQ8: The rest so fast and composed within the corners?

How does the SQ8 E-Tron measure as much as rivals? The BMW iX M60, Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE SUV, and Tesla Mannequin X Plaid all present extra straight-line punch than the SQ8, and the Plaid additionally presents a tri-motor format. But it surely’s onerous to think about the latter remaining as calm and composed whereas being hustled alongside moist canyon roads fairly just like the Audi.

Rolling on to drier roads—briefly as I did, by the tip of my drive—the SQ8 dialed in greater, jaw-dropping cornering gs and pin-you-into-your seat acceleration with out beating me up. With all of the traction and poise constructed into its drive and chassis techniques, it’s a reminder that in the actual world, no drama is the most effective drama. 

—
Audi coated journey and lodging bills for Motor Authority to carry you this firsthand report.