Audi e-tron: history, nicknames and how to spot one

At a glance

308–496 hpPower

4.5–6.8 s0–100 km/h

190–210 km/hTop speed

540–973 N·mTorque

2,490–2,704 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.^{2,3,6,13,14,15}

Engine: Two asynchronous motors; three in e-tron S and SQ8 e-tron^1,2
Layout: All-wheel drive; S/SQ8 have one front motor and two rear^1,6
Gearbox: Single-speed fixed-ratio drives¹
Built at: Audi Brussels, Forest, Belgium; FAW-VW, Changchun, China¹
Units built: 100,000th assembled in April 2021¹²

The story

Designed to make electric driving feel familiar, Audi's first mass-production EV paired conventional SUV styling with a hushed cabin. It was built at the CO2-neutral Brussels plant.^1,4,5

GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones^1,3,6,21,22

Show the numbers

Year	What happened
2015	Audi e-tron quattro concept
2017	Audi e-tron Sportback concept
2018–2023	Audi e-tron
2023–2025	Audi Q8 e-tron (facelift)
2018	September 17 debut in San Francisco
2019	February: UK debut of the 55 quattro
2019	Sportback debuts; more usable battery
2020	First three-motor production EVs
2020	MY2021: MIB 3 and USB-C arrive
2021	Free range upgrade for early 55s
2022	November 9: e-tron becomes Q8 e-tron
2022	600 km WLTP for Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron
2025	February ends the production run

2018
September 17 debut in San Francisco
The production e-tron premiered in San Francisco, launching Audi's first mass-production electric car.^1,6
2019
February: UK debut of the 55 quattro
The UK launch paired two motors with a 95 kWh battery and up to 402 hp in the 55 quattro.^3,7
2019
Sportback debuts; more usable battery
The Sportback premiered in Los Angeles. Late-year updates raised the 55's usable battery from 83.6 to 86.5 kWh.^8,9
2020
First three-motor production EVs
July's e-tron S combined 496 hp with independent rear-wheel motors and a 4.5-second 0–100 km/h sprint.^2,3
2020
MY2021: MIB 3 and USB-C arrive
August builds switched to MIB 3 infotainment and USB-C sockets, while SIM and SD-card inputs were removed.⁹
2021
Free range upgrade for early 55s
The free update promised up to 20 km more range for 55 quattro cars built from mid-September 2018 through late November 2019.¹⁰
2022
November 9: e-tron becomes Q8 e-tron
The facelift renamed the SUV and Sportback Q8 e-tron; the performance model became SQ8 e-tron.¹
2022
600 km WLTP for Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron
Q8 50 used 89/95 kWh usable/gross; Q8 55 and SQ8 got 106/114 kWh and 170 kW DC charging. Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron range reached 600 km WLTP.^6,11
2025
February ends the production run
Q8 e-tron production ended in February, closing the family's run that began in September 2018.¹

Every generation

Audi e-tron quattro concept2015
Audi e-tron2018–2023
Audi Q8 e-tron (facelift)2023–2025

Power over the years

From 355 hp to 496 hp in 2 years.

^1,2,3,6

Show the numbers

Year	Horsepower	Model
2018	355	55 quattro (normal output)
2018	402	55 quattro (boost)
2019	308	50 quattro
2020	429	e-tron S (normal output)
2020	496	e-tron S (boost)
2022	335	Q8 50 e-tron (boost)
2022	402	Q8 55 e-tron (boost)
2022	496	SQ8 e-tron (boost)

Versions

10 versions worth knowing, with their power.

Standard

e-tron 50 quattro

308 hp
Standard

e-tron Sportback

2020–2023
Standard

e-tron Technik / Sport / S line / Black Edition / Vorsprung
Standard

Q8 50 e-tron / Q8 Sportback 50 e-tron

2023–2025

335 hp
Standard

Q8 55 e-tron / Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron

2023–2025

402 hp
Performance

e-tron S / e-tron S Sportback

2020–2023

496 hp
Performance

SQ8 e-tron / SQ8 Sportback e-tron

2023–2025

496 hp
Special

e-tron S line black edition
Special

e-tron Chronos Edition

2022

402 hp
Special

e-tron Launch Edition / Edition 1 (UK)

2019

402 hp

How to spot one

Look for

Original Sportback: orange charging-flap lettering and optional orange brake calipers.¹³
Original Sportback: linked rear lights and a broad diffuser without exhaust outlets.¹³
Sportback has a falling coupe roof and no rear wiper; the SUV keeps a boxier tail.¹⁷

Year by year

2020
Sportback joins with a sloping roof and no rear wiper, contrasting with the original two-box SUV.^1,17
2020
The new S adds wheel arches widened by 23 mm per side and silver trim at the nose, doors and diffuser.^2,3,17
2022
Chronos gray joins the paint palette; a new black appearance package adds black rings and e-tron badges.^9,12
2023 facelift
Q8 e-tron brings a revised grille and headlights, flat four-ring logos and model lettering on the B-pillars.^3,6,15

Don’t confuse it with

e-tron
Mercedes-Benz EQC
Mercedes-Benz EQC
The EQC links its front lamps with a light bar; the original e-tron has a platinum-gray grille and four-bar running lights.^5,20

Against its rivals

e-tron vs Tesla Model X

EPA range

e-tron328 km

Tesla Model X402 km
⁴
e-tron vs Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

UK starting price lower is better

e-tron87,895 £

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio73,195 £
¹⁷
e-tron vs Jaguar I-Pace EV400 HSE

0–100 km/h lower is better

e-tron5.8 s

Jaguar I-Pace EV400 HSE5 s
²⁰
e-tron vs Mercedes-Benz EQC 400

Est. real-world range

e-tron375 km

Mercedes-Benz EQC 400259 km
²⁰

Prices

Value today $17.4K–$31.8K^31,32

Price when newAuction saleValue today

^{1,4,6,15,18,31,32,33,34,35,36,37}

Show the numbers

Year	Price	Amount	Detail
2019	Launch price	$75,795	US base price, 2019 model year
2019	Price when new	$75,795	US base
2019	Price when new	$85,790	US as tested
2020	Price when new	$78,395	US Sportback base
2020	Price when new	$89,490	US Sportback as tested
2021	Price when new	$65,900	US Premium, MSRP cut nearly $9,000
2024	Price when new	$75,595	US Q8 e-tron base
2024	Price when new	$78,995	US Q8 Sportback S Line base
2024	Price when new	$95,990	US Q8 Sportback S Line, as tested
2025	Auction sale	$30,500	2021 e-tron quattro Prestige, 22k miles, Bring a Trailer
2026	Auction sale	$17,400	2019 e-tron, mileage 44,930, Bidbus
2026	Auction sale	$31,800	2023 e-tron, mileage 15,797, Bidbus
2026	Auction sale	$33,800	2023 e-tron, Bidbus
2026	Auction sale	$15,700	2019 e-tron, mileage 63,358, Bidbus
2026	Auction sale	$24,000	2022 e-tron, mileage 39,231, Bidbus
2026	Auction sale	$22,200	2023 e-tron, mileage 43,441, Bidbus
2026	Value today	$17,400–$31,800

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

Versions
- Why each of the 10 versions matters
Legend
- 13 stories from its legend
- “Fifth place sealed a three-title sweep”
- “An all-e-tron podium in Bohemia”
Generations
- The story of each of the 4 generations
Market
- 3 things to check before buying one
- Where prices are heading, and why

Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 37 sources

Audi Q8 e-tron - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
Electric S | Audi Magazine Australia magazine.audi.com.au
Used Audi e-tron (2018-2022) buyer’s guide: dated electric SUV is still desirable | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
2019 Audi e-tron Is an EV Hiding in Plain Sight caranddriver.com
Audi e-tron: compromisloos elektrisch rijden nieuws.audi.nl
Increased efficiency and range, sharpened design: The new Audi Q8 e-tron | audi.com audi.com
Audi e-tron used review: Price, Specs, Range & Reliability | Electrifying electrifying.com
First look at the Audi e-tron Sportback | Audi Magazine Australia magazine.audi.com.au
Audi e-tron model year changes · Electric has gone Audi electrichasgoneaudi.net
Mehr Reichweite im Audi e-tron 55 quattro: Software-Update - Porsche Holding newsroom porscheholding-newsroom.at
More battery capacity and higher charging power: Battery | audi.com audi.com
Progressive and sporty into the new model year: The Audi e-tron S line black edition | audi.com audi.com
SUV-Coupé für die e-tron-Familie: der Audi e-tron Sportback | Audi Medienportal audipress.ch
Audi e-tron 55 quattro: long-term test review | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback Go Farther, Quietly caranddriver.com
2020 Audi e-tron gets Black Edition and Vorsprung trim levels | Carbuyer carbuyer.co.uk
Audi E-tron S Sportback 2021 review – flawed but fascinating EV with some serious range issues | evo evo.co.uk
2022 Audi e-tron / e-tron Sportback Review, Pricing, and Specs caranddriver.com
Audi e-tron confirmed for early 2019 UK launch - Motoring Research motoringresearch.com
Audi E-Tron vs Jaguar I-Pace vs Mercedes-Benz EQC comparison | Autocar India autocarindia.com
Audi e-tron quattro concept — Wikipédia fr.wikipedia.org
2017 Audi e-tron Sportback Concept - Images, Specifications and Information ultimatecarpage.com
Audi: "Laadstatus in koplampen tonen was niet toegestaan." - ZERauto.nl zerauto.nl
Tripletta mondiale per Audi Team Autotest Motorsport | Associazione Culturale Torino-Pechino torinopechino.com
ECO energy Rally Bohemia for crew Walter Kofler / Franco Gaioni on Audi e-tron / Rally Bohemia 2019 rallybohemia.cz
Audi e-tron extreme: Technikträger auf der legendären Streif - Porsche Holding newsroom porscheholding-newsroom.at
Charging down hill | Audi Magazine Australia magazine.audi.com.au
Audi Hires Marvel Studios on “Avengers: Endgame” - AutoInformed autoinformed.com
Audi expands movie product placement of electric cars, e-tron will be in new Spider-Man | Electrek electrek.co
Audi en Maisie Williams gaan voor duurzame toekomst in ‘Game Day’-commercial nieuws.audi.nl
2019 Audi e-tron Auction Result #2737 - Bidbus bidbus.com
2023 Audi e-tron Auction Result #5449 - Bidbus bidbus.com
2021 Audi e-tron Adds Range and Lowers Base Price - MotorWeek motorweek.org
2021 Audi e-tron Quattro Prestige for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $30,500 on January 29, 2025 (Lot #178,636) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
2019 Audi e-tron Auction Result #12817 - Bidbus bidbus.com
2023 Audi e-tron Auction Result #6792 - Bidbus bidbus.com
2022 Audi e-tron Auction Result #8847 - Bidbus bidbus.com

en.wikipedia.org
magazine.audi.com.au
autoexpress.co.uk
caranddriver.com
nieuws.audi.nl
audi.com
electrifying.com
electrichasgoneaudi.net
porscheholding-newsroom.at
audipress.ch
carbuyer.co.uk
evo.co.uk
motoringresearch.com
autocarindia.com

At a glance

The story

September 17 debut in San Francisco

February: UK debut of the 55 quattro

Sportback debuts; more usable battery

First three-motor production EVs

MY2021: MIB 3 and USB-C arrive

Free range upgrade for early 55s

November 9: e-tron becomes Q8 e-tron

600 km WLTP for Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron

February ends the production run

Every generation

Power over the years

Versions

e-tron 50 quattro

e-tron Sportback

e-tron Technik / Sport / S line / Black Edition / Vorsprung

Q8 50 e-tron / Q8 Sportback 50 e-tron

Q8 55 e-tron / Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron

e-tron S / e-tron S Sportback

SQ8 e-tron / SQ8 Sportback e-tron

e-tron S line black edition

e-tron Chronos Edition

e-tron Launch Edition / Edition 1 (UK)

How to spot one

Look for

Year by year

Don’t confuse it with

Mercedes-Benz EQC

Against its rivals

Prices

The rest of the story is in the app

Versions

Legend

Generations

Market

Sources

Photo credits

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