The 2023 Audi Q8 e-tron has just arrived in the UAE in a blaze of … well, quietness.
As the less-loud sibling of the brand’s fossil-fuel-powered SUVs, the new arrival showed just how subtle a car with power going to four wheels could be.
Anyone who has driven through Dubai knows that the city provides plenty of drama on the tarmac whatever time of day you’re out, but the Q8 e-tron makes rush hour seem almost hassle-free (almost, admittedly, being the operative word here — we don’t want to exaggerate).
When I took a spin in it, I found that the quiet, well-appointed cabin is a pleasant and serene place to be, with a feeling of protection definitely in evidence.
That sense of seclusion seems as if it would be a given in any sizeable electric SUV, but you’d be surprised how often this isn’t in the case.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that is an indicator that the Q8 e-tron is slow, though. While the standard car isn’t as zippy as some of its electric SUV rivals, a 0-100kph time of 5.6 seconds will certainly get you where you’re going speedily enough, and its instant surge of power makes you realise why headrests are a good thing.
However, it’s worth noting that the time to reach 100kph drops down to 4.5 seconds if you’re behind the wheel of the line-up’s top dog, the SQ8.
All very good so far, but many would consider one of the headlines about the Q8 e-tron to be its range.
Audi is touting a possible figure of nearly 600km in the high-spec version, which is on the extensive side for any electric vehicle, light, heavy or otherwise.
The manufacturer's tech team tell us they achieved this by making the car lighter, more aerodynamic and upping the efficiency of the battery.
If you had access to one of these during the Fifa World Cup, that could easily be enough range to get you from Abu Dhabi in the UAE to Doha in Qatar on a single charge.
It’s an Audi so, as you’d expect, the Q8 e-tron looks and feels very tidy inside and out.
There are three distinct versions available — the standard, classic SUV model; the Sportback, which, as the name suggests, has a sleeker appearance; and the SQ8 at the top of the pile.
All Q8 e-trons offer four-zone climate control and various optional extras that include an air quality package, massaging seats and ambient lighting. A panoramic sunroof is also available.
The seats are perforated to allow for further ventilation, and interiors can be decked out with wood veneers or aluminium, both equally shiny.
You can also opt for a sustainable technical material made partially from recycled plastic bottles, if you really want to up your green credentials.
The Q8 e-tron is clearly a vehicle that shows the strides manufacturers are taking to improve their electric offerings, and hats off, or bonnets up, to them for that.
As an SUV with quattro drive, it feels like a car you could successfully take off-road, though that might not be its forte.
Urban tarmac is likely to be where the Q8 e-tron reigns supreme, albeit in a quieter and more restrained fashion than some of its rivals.
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Price: base / as tested: From Dh632,225
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 540hp @ 8,250rpm
Torque: 540Nm @ 6,500rpm
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
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- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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On Women's Day
Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action
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The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?
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Tomorrow 2021
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
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Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
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Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
